UK backs plans for in-person COP26 climate meeting

LONDON (AP) — Britain hopes to host the U.N.'s delayed COP26 climate summit in person in November despite the challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the U.K. official leading the preparations said Friday.

Alok Sharma, the U.K.’s president-designate of COP26, said “every possible” measure was being explored to see how the talks could be held safely, including involving COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.

In less than six months’ time, delegates from across the world are due to arrive in Glasgow for the United Nations’ annual climate conference.

The summit was originally set for November 2020, but the pandemic forced it to be postponed for a year. A year later, there are still issues, and limits on international travel remain in place.

“For me, it is vital that developing countries are able to sit at the same table, face-to-face with the larger countries, the big emitters,” Sharma said. “The desire for (an in-person summit) is what I’ve been hearing loud and clear from governments and communities around the world.”

Sharma said the world had not done “nearly enough” to act on the emission-cutting commitments of the 2015 Paris climate accord. The treaty seeks to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial times.

The president-designate said COP26 was the “last hope” to keep that commitment.

“We have come to the moment of truth,” Sharma said. “This is our last hope of keeping 1.5 degrees alive, our best chance of building a brighter future. future of green jobs and cleaner air.

“I have faith that world leaders will rise to the occasion, and not be found wanting in their tryst with destiny.”

Climate activists around the world have remained skeptical about their governments’...