Belgium studies feasibility of hosting COP26

Belgium studies feasibility of hosting COP26

Belgium’s Council of Ministers on Friday approved the conduct of a preliminary study on the organisation of the 26th Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26), according to the offices on the ministers of Energy and Economic Affairs. Belgium’s candidature to host the event in 2020 was proposed at a meeting of the Consultative Committee on 27 March 2019 at the initiative of the Government of Wallonia.

The study will focus on the cost of organising the conference, organisational aspects and spinoff effects for the economy.

A task force will supervise the preparation and implementation of the study. Among other things, it will determine whether an external study is needed and draw up terms of reference for a possible public tender. Its report is expected within the month.

In late November 2018, before COP24 in Katowice, the Walloon Government had announced, through Climate Minister Jean-Luc Crucke, that Belgium was willing to host COP26.

Its candidature would have to be announced officially at COP25, set for December 2019 in Chili. Given the resources organising such a conference would entail, this means the various components of the candidature would have to be prepared over the coming months, despite the election phase, which has already begun.

Wallonia does not have the capacity to organise COP26 on its own, but the proposal to hold the conference in Belgium does not have the support of Flanders thus far.


The Brussels Times


Copyright © 2024 The Brussels Times. All Rights Reserved.