COP26 chief hedges questions about Glasgow climate-summit costs

COP26 boss Rosalyn Eales today hedged questions about the likely final bill to stage this year’s global climate summit in Glasgow, having come under close questioning from Scottish parliamentarians.

Addressing the Scottish Affairs Committee, Douglas Ross MSP pressed the COP26 chief operating officer about the summit’s final costs. But no clear answer was forthcoming.

Eales and minister of state for BEIS Anne-Marie Trevelyan came in for close questioning this morning (June 23) from the committee regarding the readiness of the UK and Scottish governments and other organisations to deliver a successful COP26.

Eales and Trevelyan assured the committee that COP26 will work with Scottish government and delivery partners to “refine costs”, as Eales put it, to deliver an event that offers “value for money”.
But the actual costs? Watch this space.

Eales and Trevelyan were happier to discuss whether COP26 is sustainable. Trevelyan said COP26 has a “robust” carbon-management plan and in areas where carbon emissions can’t be reduced, government will work with energy provider EDF to offset them.

Eales pressed the point that COP26 will embrace innovations to become more sustainable. Asked whether sustainability planning extended to COP fringe events however, her answer was no.

COP governance is keen to share its learnings, knowledge and expertise with others holding events during the summit and will work “hand in glove” with Glasgow City Council.

Keep checking in to ciwem.org, for more news about what COP26 needs to deliver in terms of ambition and wider climate action.