The Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology (POST) is inviting anyone with expertise in COP26, the areas it will consider, or the UN climate summit process, to sign up to the COP26 Expert Database and complete a short survey on the priorities for COP26. Those who sign up to be on the database of experts may be contacted by parliamentary staff, Members of either House of UK Parliament or their staff, in order to help them scrutinise government preparations for COP26 over the next 16 months. Survey submissions will feed into an inquiry. 

COP26 is the 26th meeting of the UN's annual climate change summit and is scheduled to be held in Glasgow between 1st - 12th November 2021 under the joint presidency of the UK and Italy, following postponement due to COVID-19. The summit is widely considered to be the most important COP since the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement was reached at COP21. The postponement means that the COP26 will now take place after the ‘by 2020’ deadline for numerous components of the Paris Agreement. This is the first year in which countries are due to present new ‘Nationally Determined Contributions’ (NDCs) – pledges outlining how they will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions over the coming decades.

Our pathway to COP26

In the lead up to COP26, the IES is focussed on championing the work of professionals in the environmental sciences, promoting the work of experts and evidence around climate change and driving change to ensure adaptation measures are accurate, ambitious and achievable. We will support our members involved in COP26 and those working in related areas through tailored discussions, events and resources. If you are interested in contributing your time and expertise to assist us in our work around COP26 please get in touch.