The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP26, is the world’s most important conference on climate change. The first conference was held in 1995 in Berlin, Germany, and over 25 years later, the conference is now being held in Glasgow, Scotland.
Starting Oct. 31 through Nov. 12, leaders and diplomats from around the world are convening to work out the details of new climate accords and set the course for the phasing out of fossil fuel use. Amid a year marked with climate extremes and devastating environmental disasters, COP26 has taken on special importance as a potential turning point in the fight against climate change.
The USC Global Policy Institute’s COP26 series will explore the conference, issues related to climate change and the environmental movement altogether. Follow along as we publish articles throughout the duration of the conference and host COP 26-related events and programs.
In November, the UK, together with our partners Italy, will host an event many believe to be the world’s best last chance to get runaway climate change under control.
COP26 UK Organizers
Conference
If you’re interested in learning more about the COP26 summit and how the conference will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement, read more here.
Watch Live
Throughout the conference, the United Nations YouTube channel is live streaming the conference and meetings.
Tune in here:
USC Initiatives
How else are USC students and faculty focusing on the COP 26 conference?
Check out this USC News article on recent initiatives, classes and programs.
Editorials
Read more about the conference and the global state of climate action through our editorial work. As the conference progresses, GPI’s editorial team will continue to publish up-to-date news, opinion and face-off articles.
Nature is healing — or is it?
COVID-19 is impacting climate change, and vice versa. In both scenarios, wildlife is feeling the impacts.
COP26 or FLOP26: What happened at this year’s UN Climate Change Conference?
Was Glasgow a success? GPI fellows analyze the wins and losses of COP26.
Making room for public health at COP26
Delegates sought to address the intersection of climate and health — but is it enough?
Hit or Miss: A comparison of climate goals among G20 countries
Canada. Russia. Germany. Argentina. All members of the G20. All tackling wildly varied climate actions plans.
Small Island Developing States fight for survival at COP26
SIDs contribute the least to climate change, and yet, are most impacted by it.
Conflict and Climate: How the changing environment is creating a human security crisis
The climate crisis is creating the conditions under which extremism and conflict thrive.
Why the climate migrant narrative is problematic
Alarmist language about climate migrants too often ignores the crisis’ nuance.
Negotiations in Glasgow seek to build on the Paris Agreement
It’s been five years since COP21 — how did we get here?
Clean skies ahead? The economic solutions to climate problems
World leaders unveil market solutions at the COP26 conference.
Upcoming Events
GPI will be partnering with the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies to host an event on the conference and its climate change objectives.
Stay tuned for more information TBA.
GPI COP26: What’s At Stake Project
Editors: Matt Slade, Delarai Sadeghitari, Mia Speier
Contributors: Ben Blum, Aaron Smith, Sabrina Pierre, Si Yun Ee, Amanda Wilson, Lan Duong, Ezi Ogbuli, Sangeeta Kishore, Mane Berikyan, Tianze Li, Darcy Bond, Bea Heard, Vincent Hultsch, Emily Morris, Arshia Alguneh, Diana Cantini, Isabel Lobo, Allison Walsh, Leo Chu, Eva Hartman, Liam Rinehart, Mallory Willson, Ava Motamedi, Delarai Sadeghitari, Matt Slade