THE eyes of the world will be on Glasgow over the next week as COP26 gets under way. The climate conference, taking place at the city’s SEC, will officially start today with a “procedural opening”.
Tomorrow the World Leader’s Summit will begin, with around 120 heads of state and government due to attend. Prime Minister Boris Johnson will host an opening ceremony attended by dignitaries including the Prince of Wales, and both will give speech to leaders.
World leaders will set out the action they are taking in national statements, with US President Joe Biden, German chancellor Angela Merkel, Canada’s Justin Trudeau and Scott Morrison from Australia set to speak tomorrow afternoon. In the evening the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay and the Earl and Countess of Strathearn will attend an evening reception with world leaders, which had been due to be hosted by the Queen.
READ MORE: Greta Thunberg arrives in Glasgow ahead of COP26 summit
Other leaders, including Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida and Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin will speak on Tuesday. There will be events with heads of state and government on protecting forests and using land more sustainably, and green energy and infrastructure.
Once the leaders leave, delegates are left for discussions which will focus on mobilising public and private finance on Wednesday and accelerating the global transition to clean energy on Thursday.
Sessions on Friday will look at the role of elevating the role of young people and how to empower the public in climate action, while on Saturday it is nature day with a focus by campaigners and businesses on how protecting the natural world can boost wildlife and avert the climate crisis.
Away from the official programme, there will be many demonstrations, including young people marching through Glasgow in the Fridays for Future Scotland protest on 5 November, which Swedish activist Greta Thunberg is expected to join.
On Saturday between 50,000 to 100,000 people are expected to take to the streets of the city as part of a Global Day of Action.
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