We respond to the COP 26 climate change conference news

Daniel, our Head of Rural Economy and Communities, comments on the announcement of a delay of the COP 26 UN climate change conference.

The UN and UK have today announced a delay of COP 26, the UN’s major conference on climate change in Glasgow originally planned for November 2020. Daniel Carey-Dawes, our Head of Rural Economy and Communities, commented:

‘While we all stay indoors to slow the spread of the coronavirus, it’s critical that we maintain the groundswell of momentum to tackle the climate emergency. The delay of COP 26 is disappointing, but it’s clear this is the right call to protect our health and slow the spread of coronavirus.

‘The government is rightly prioritising beating coronavirus, but we mustn’t lose sight of the climate crisis, which continues to deepen. Rescheduling COP 26 must allow ministers time to redouble efforts to encourage ambitious climate action from countries around the world. We urgently need major cuts to the UK’s carbon emissions and long-lasting solutions to tackle the climate emergency. The countryside will be central to this.’