The next UN climate summit Cop 26, scheduled to take place in Glasgow in early November, should be postponed because of vaccine inequity, pricey accommodation, travel restrictions and new surges in the number of Covid-19 cases barring delegates from developing countries, non-governmental organisation Climate Action Network (CAN) has said.
CAN, a network of more than 1,500 climate organisations in more than 130 countries, today said in-person global climate talks from 31 October-12 November de facto exclude many government delegates, campaigners and journalists falling under the UK's list of restricted countries owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. CAN said a safe and inclusive climate conference is now "impossible", notably as a result of the failure to allow vaccines to reach poorer countries.
"Those countries most deeply affected by the climate crisis and countries suffering from the artificial shortage created around vaccines will be conspicuous in Cop 26 — by their absence. It is difficult to imagine fair participation from the Global South under safe conditions and it should therefore be postponed," CAN's executive director, Tasneem Essop, said.
CAN noted that the UK presidency of the conference had promised to fast-track vaccines for delegates in need in time for the meeting. But the UK has been "too slow" in delivering vaccine support to delegates in vulnerable countries and quarantine requirements have led to high hotel costs.
