Cop26: The event timetable, where it's taking place and the key players

The Cop26 site in Glasgow (Pic: Andrew Cawley)

The world’s eyes will be on Glasgow for the next two weeks as the Cop26 climate summit comes to town.

Here, we take a look at what will be going on during the event, where it’s taking place, and who are the key figures.

Timetable

Security will be tight around the summit site (Pic: Andrew Cawley)

WEEK ONE

Today

Speeches from campaigners’ umbrella group Cop26 Coalition as summit begins.

Monday

Speeches from Boris Johnson and Prince Charles before start of two-day World Leaders’ Summit begins. US President Jo Biden, who arrives today, will speak later.

Tuesday

Talks between nations continue with announcements expected on policies.

Wednesday

Talks on financing climate change battle.

Thursday

Focus on transition to clean energy.

Friday

Talks on public empowerment and 10,000-strong march.

Saturday

Up to 100,000 expected at march to Glasgow Green. Talks focus on nature and sustainable land use.

WEEK TWO

Sunday

Rest day

Monday

Talks on finding practical solutions to adapt to the impact of climate change around the world.

Tuesday

Gender is the focus, looking at participation of women and girls in climate action, science and innovation.

Wednesday

Talks on zero carbon emissions transport.

Thursday

Taking about climate change action.

Friday

Cop closes. More announcements expected.

Cop26 in Glasgow - read more:

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Cop26: What happened in week one, and what’s to come in the next seven days
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The Blue Zone

The site of Cop26 at the SEC in Glasgow (Pic: Jane Barlow / PA Wire)

Glasgow’s Scottish Events Campus (SEC) has officially been handed over to the United Nations for Cop26. Named the Blue Zone, it becomes official UN territory for the duration of the summit and will be patrolled by armed UN officers. Here is what’s happening where.

Temporary buildings

The most important meeting rooms, known as Plenary Rooms, where delegates will meet. Opening ceremony for World Leaders’ Summit will take place in Plenary Cairn Gorm.

The SEC

Delegates’ offices. The press conference room. A meditation room. A bank. Catering including the Clydebuilt Bar and Kitchen, Tweed Cafe, restaurants and coffee bars.

Hydro

Workshops, discussions and speeches. Broadcast studio and TV centre. Recharging facilities and services including lost property. More catering.

Armadillo

Side events and displays, talks and workshops by campaign groups, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and businesses.

Five leaders and a teenager: The change-makers

Joe Biden

He has made climate change a key plank of his presidency and one of his first acts after taking office was to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord. The US is the world’s second-biggest emitter after China. However, there has been constant haggling in Congress over legislation to advance Biden’s climate goals and he left Washington without an agreement in place to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% by 2030.

Alok Sharma

As designated Cop president, the UK Government Minister has the unenviable task of getting 196 nations to agreeing national plans on greenhouse gas emissions that will limit temperature rises to 1.5°C. In a recent interview he said he had given up meat as a personal contribution to cutting carbon emissions and described himself as the Cop26 shepherd-in-chief who hopes to build a consensus with world leaders.

Ursula von der Leyen

The EU negotiates its climate targets as a bloc so the Commission president will be a key player. Von der Leyen has promised to show contemporaries that economies can grow while emissions are cut. The EU has reduced emissions by 31% since 1990. She warned last week that action must be taken now, not in 30 or 40 years, calling the conference in Glasgow a moment of truth.

Xi Jinping

China’s president won’t be in Glasgow but he will attend via video link and a team of delegates will be directed from Beijing. Xi is under intense pressure from world leaders to promise more on climate. He has committed China to peak emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2060. However, China is the world’s biggest emitter and the pledge won’t keep the world to 1.5°C.

Scott Morrison

Australia is heavily dependent on coal and other carbon-producing industries and has been called a rogue nation on the climate. Prime Minister Morrison initially decided not to travel to Glasgow before performing a U-turn under pressure at home and abroad. Last week he announced a commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050, which has been criticised as the least he can do.

Greta Thunberg

The activist will lead thousands of demonstrators on a protest march through Glasgow on November 5. She has inspired millions of people to take climate change seriously through school strikes which sparked global youth movement Fridays For Future. However, she is not optimistic about the ability of world leaders to reach meaningful agreement in Glasgow. She said recently: “We can have as many Cops as we want but nothing real will come out of it.”