联合国气候大会因新冠疫情延至明年

摘要：英国政府1日宣布，原定于今年11月在苏格兰格拉斯哥举行的第26届联合国气候变化大会延期至明年，具体日期待定。

英国政府1日宣布，原定于今年11月在苏格兰格拉斯哥举行的第26届联合国气候变化大会延期至明年，具体日期待定。这一决定由《联合国气候变化框架公约》缔约方大会主席团、英国和意大利共同做出。

主办国英国政府当天在一份声明中说，“鉴于新冠肺炎疫情正在全球范围内蔓延，在2020年11月举办一场充满雄心和包容性的气候大会已不可能。”  

担任大会主席的英国商务大臣阿洛克·夏尔马说：“我们将继续与合作伙伴一起努力，实现应对气候变化所需的雄心壮志。我期待为这次会议商定一个新的日期。”  

苏格兰首席大臣妮古拉·斯特金在社交媒体“推特”上说，这是一个“令人失望的决定，但绝对正确，因为我们都在集中精力与新冠病毒斗争。”   

联合国气候办公室主任帕特里夏·埃斯皮诺萨认为，会议推迟不可避免，但新冠肺炎疫情不应转移世界对气候变化挑战的注意力。她说，新冠病毒“是人类当前面临的最紧迫威胁，但我们不能忘记，从长远来看，气候变化是人类面临的最大威胁”。

联合国秘书长发言人斯特凡·杜哈里克说：“我们的地球正处于前所未有的危险之中。现在比以往任何时候都需要团结和更大的雄心，以过渡到一个可持续、有弹性的低碳经济，把全球气温上升幅度控制在1.5摄氏度以内。”

英国去年8月获得2020年联合国气候变化大会举办权，原定包括200名世界各国领导人在内的约3万人参加为期10天的会议。

2015年在法国巴黎举行的气候大会上，近200个缔约方一致同意通过《巴黎协定》，承诺加强应对气候变化威胁，把全球平均气温较工业化前水平的升高幅度控制在2摄氏度之内，并为把升温幅度控制在1.5摄氏度之内努力。

美国政府去年正式通知联合国，宣布退出《巴黎协定》。
来源：新华社

UN CLIMATE PRESS RELEASE / 01 APR, 2020

COP26 Postponed

Bonn, 1 April 2020 - The COP26 UN climate change conference set to take place in Glasgow in November has been postponed due to COVID-19.  

This decision has been taken by the COP Bureau of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), with the UK and its Italian partners. 

Dates for a rescheduled conference in 2021, hosted in Glasgow by the UK in partnership with Italy, will be set out in due course following further discussion with parties. 

In light of the ongoing, worldwide effects of COVID-19, holding an ambitious, inclusive COP26 in November 2020 is no longer possible. 

Rescheduling will ensure all parties can focus on the issues to be discussed at this vital conference and allow more time for the necessary preparations to take place. We will continue to work with all involved to increase climate ambition, build resilience and lower emissions.

COP26 President-Designate and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma said:

“The world is currently facing an unprecedented global challenge and countries are rightly focusing their efforts on saving lives and fighting COVID-19. That is why we have decided to reschedule COP26.

“We will continue working tirelessly with our partners to deliver the ambition needed to tackle the climate crisis and I look forward to agreeing a new date for the conference.” 

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa said:

“COVID-19 is the most urgent threat facing humanity today, but we cannot forget that climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity over the long term.

“Soon, economies will restart. This is a chance for nations to recover better, to include the most vulnerable in those plans, and a chance to shape the 21st century economy in ways that are clean, green, healthy, just, safe and more resilient. 

“In the meantime, we continue to support and to urge nations to significantly boost climate ambition in line with the Paris Agreement.”

Italian Minister for the Environment, Land and Sea Protection, Sergio Costa, said:

"Whilst we have decided to postpone COP26, including the Pre-COP and ‘Youth for the Climate’ event, we remain fully committed to meeting the challenge of climate change.

“Tackling climate change requires strong, global and ambitious action. Participation from the younger generations is imperative, and we are determined to host the ‘Youth for the Climate’ event, together with the Pre-COP and outreach events.

“We will continue to work with our British partners to deliver a successful COP26.”

COP25 President, Minister Carolina Schmidt, said:

“The decision of the Bureau on the postponement of COP26 is unfortunately a needed measure to protect all delegates and observers. 

“Our determination is to make sure that the momentum for climate ambition will continue, particularly for the preparation and submissions of new NDCs this year”.