“In view of the current effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the world, it is no longer possible to ensure an ambitious and inclusive celebration of COP26 in November 2020” have expressed the leaders of the United Nations Framework Convention, who They have decided to postpone this meeting that was to be held at the end of the year in Glasgow (UK). The announcement comes shortly after news of the postponement of a first preparatory meeting that was to take place in June in Bonn, Germany, and which is currently scheduled for October.
“Since hundreds of thousands of people fall seriously ill and many die from the COVID-19 disease, the need to suppress the virus and save lives is our priority, ” said António Guterres, Secretary General of the UN, in a statement issued after the news was known.
The coronavirus reinforces the importance of science
Until now, international commitments to reduce emissions have been well below what would be expected to avoid temperature increases of more than 1.5 or 2 ° C above pre-industrial levels and that was the goal declared in the Paris Agreement . At the Climate Summit, countries were expected to update and strengthen their commitments.
If one thing we should have learned from this crisis, it is the importance of scientific evidence when making political decisions. Scientists have been warning for years that the problem of climate change is serious, and that its consequences could be much more disastrous than those caused by the global epidemic due to the new SARS-CoV-2. For this reason, and despite the postponement of COP26, the United Nations authorities remind us that greenhouse gas emissions do not stop growing and that they will aggravate the socioeconomic challenges for the coming years.
“Science makes it clear that human behavior disrupts the natural planetary order and impacts lives and livelihoods, from health to the global economy. This dramatic human crisis is an example of how vulnerable countries, societies and economies are to threats to existence ”, Guterres insisted.
An opportunity to do things differently
The coronavirus pandemic has changed everything, and many experts indicate that this is an opportunity to do things differently. While COVID-19 is the most urgent threat facing humanity right now, climate change remains the greatest long-term danger. “As the threat of the coronavirus recedes, nations must look for ways to strengthen their climate efforts,” said Patricia Espinosa, UN executive secretary for climate change. ” This is an opportunity to shape the economy of the 21st century in a clean, green, healthy, fair, safe and more resilient way .”
During this time, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will continue to work to secure the necessary commitment to address the climate crisis. Rescheduling the conference will also ensure that all participants can better focus on the issues to be discussed and will also allow more time to carry out all the necessary preparations for the event.
