Stop Climate Chaos Scotland has put together a really useful Frequently Asked Questions section on their COP26 campaign page all about what COP26 and why it is important.

The next UN climate talks, COP26, will be held in Glasgow from 1-12 November 2021.

SCCS have identified COP26 a key opportunity to work towards, using it as a moment to build and diversify the climate movement in Scotland and as a lever to deliver on our policy aims. Where appropriate, SCCS will use positive examples of climate action in Scotland to encourage other countries to commit to greater ambition.

What is COP and why is it important

COP is shorthand for ‘Conference of the Parties’. The term COP refers to the supreme decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as well as to the global talks on climate change matters. At these talks, governments negotiate rules for addressing and tracking their progress on climate change. There are also platforms outside the negotiations for others to share information, build capacity and discuss policy solutions to climate change.

COP takes place typically every year over two weeks. The 2020 event ‒ delayed to 2021 ‒ will be the 26th climate meeting, which is why it is called COP26.

The location and presidency of COP tends to change for each meeting. The UK Government successfully bid to host the COP26 talks in Glasgow and has appointed Alok Sharma as President. The role of the ‘COP Presidency’ is to be a neutral overseer of the agenda and tone for COP, and to deliver outcomes.

Amelia Guy-Meakin, WWF Scotland

Read more about what is COP