It is only right that the Government postpone COP26
2 min read
Given the current global health crisis that we are experiencing, it is only right that the Government postpone COP26, whilst the focus of Government Departments and the Civil Service are rightly on the response to Covid-19 and ensuring that people remain safe and protected.
T the co-ordinated response to this pandemic demonstrates what is possible when a determined objective is set from No10. Let us learn from this and push for a similarly driven focus to be applied in due course to ensure a successful COP.
Throughout its history, successful COPs, such as Kyoto in 1997 or Paris in 2015, delivered because of the substantial amount of pre-event engagement that the host country undertook. Less successful events, such as Copenhagen in 2009, occurred due to a lack of planning and engagement, which enabled important decisions to be put off.
Following COP 25 in Madrid last year, decisions on a carbon market and emissions reduction were to be the main focus of this years COP. This would help inform Government policy, which would in turn help companies like Cadent support the long-term plans of regional and national government. Long term policy stability is needed for business and consumers to adapt successfully to a Net Zero world.
When the threat from Covid-19 starts to recede, we urge the Government to ensure that one eye is kept on next years’ COP event; so we can build on actions currently being taken to fight the our current health crisis and address the longer-term health and environmental threats posed by global climate change.
