COP26 Glasgow

What was COP26?

The 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, was hosted by the UK in November 2021. This was the latest Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The major goals of COP26 were to:

  • review indicators of global progress towards limiting climate change
  • review progress towards meeting the goals of the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement

What happened at COP26?

COP26 was the first occasion when countries submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement. These are enhanced commitments to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. During COP26 a number of agreements were made followed by the Glasgow Climate Pact, which "recognizes the importance of the best available science for effective climate action and policymaking". View our Glasgow Climate Pact webpage for more information. 

COP26 in Glasgow

Glasgow was the host for COP26, at the Scottish Event Campus. This venue includes five exhibition spaces, a 3,000-seat auditorium and the 14,300-seat SSE Hydro, one of the world’s busiest concert and sporting venues.

COP26 dates

  • Youth Summit, Milan, 28-30 September 2021
  • Pre-COP, Milan, 30 September - 2 October 2021
  • COP26, Glasgow, 1-12 November 2021

Road to COP26

Ahead of COP26, negotiations and talks took place around the world to promote the goals of the conference. There were pre-COP events, including several organised by the UK’s COP26 partners, Italy. These included a ministerial meeting in September 2021 and a youth summit in October 2021, both in Milan.

How to find out more about COP26

You can find out more information on COP26 from many sources: