UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) & EU Side Events

This year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) will take place from 31 October to 12 November in Glasgow, under the presidency of the UK, with the EU and its Member States as Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Governments from around the world come together to agree on cohesive action to fight against climate change. The conference serves as a space for governments, businesses, local authorities and civil society to discuss, display and accelerate climate action.

EU Side Events

1 November – Science, technology, research and innovation Day

• 10.00 – 11.00 What does transforming the energy system really mean? Adaptation, resilience & transition challenges – European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA); Horizon Europe Climate, University of Exeter; Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to the European Commission
• 16.00 – 17.00 Digital solutions as an enabler for climate action – European Commission – DG CONNECT and DG CLIMA; UNFCCC; European Green Digital Coalition; GIZ- Make IT Alliance

2 November – Regional perspectives and international partnerships, local actors

• 14.30 – 15.30 Inspire, Inform, Innovate – EU regional climate adaptation opportunities for global action – EIT Climate – KIC; European Committee of the Regions

4 November – Climate and sustainable finance / Carbon markets

• 16.00 – 17.00 Upscale energy efficiency financing – identifying and overcoming the investment gap – European Commission – DG ENER; EEFIG; Cool Up

5 November – Energy transition

• 14.30 – 15.30 Driving Climate Action with Data – the Role of the International Methane Emissions Observatory – European Commission – DG ENERGY
• 19.00 – 20.00 The role of cities in the energy transition – Hydrogen for urban climate neutrality – City of Dortmund; German Energy Agency (DENA) and E.ON SE

6 November – Circular economy, sustainable industry

• 13.00 – 14.00 Circular economy & local governments: sustainable resource management to mitigate climate change – ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, European Secretariat & ACR; HESAM University; UN Habitat; European Circular Cities Declaration
• 16.00 – 16.30 Between Adaptation and Mitigation: the Role of Circular Economy in tackling Climate Change – Veneto Region Regional Council; Regional Council’s political groups; Presidency of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region; Policy Lab for a Europe made by Circular Regions
• 16.30 – 17.00 Leading the effort: Regional Policymakers enabling the transition toward a circular economy – Veneto Region Regional Council; Regional Council’s political groups: Liga Veneta p.S.P. and Zaia Presidente; Presidency of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region

8 November – Agriculture, land use, forestry

• 19.00 – 20.00 Energy Community’s Contracting Parties vital role towards the 2050 target of a carbon-neutral European continent – Climate Action Network Europe; Energy Community Secretariat

9 November – Adaptation and resilience / Cities

• 11.30 – 12.30 How to turn a city into a smart and net-zero city? – TU Berlin; Smart Cities Marketplace; Arctik; Accenture
• 13.00 – 14.00 Facta, non verba: How cities & regions can deliver the EU Green Deal for a climate neutral future – ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability, European Secretariat; European Commission – DG GROW; City of Aarhus; City of Mannheim; Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions; Eurocities; European Committee of the Regions; Région Centre Val de Loire
• 16.00 – 17.00 From policymaking to implementation: regional innovative solutions for climate change adaptation – Overseas Countries and Territories Association; The Basque Government; The Government of the Balearic Islands and the Portuguese Government’s Ministry of Environment and Climate

10 November – European Green Deal, climate-neutrality, just transition

• 13.00 – 14.00 New European Bauhaus: a global dimension – European Commission – JRC, New European Bauhaus Unit
• 14.30 – 15.30 Green Deal as tool/ example for green recovery in developing countries and subnational governments – The Council of European Municipalities and Regions; The Global Green Growth Institute

11 November – Citizens, youth, gender

• 14.30 – 15.30 Ice Box Challenge Glasgow: The results of a public experiment – International Passive House Association

12 November – Sustainable Transport

• 16.00 – 17.00 A Green Mobility and Transport system at the service of Carbon Neutral EU local communities – International Association of Public Transport; European Union Agency for Railways (ERA); International Union of Railways (UIC); Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER)
• 17.30 – 18.30 Transitioning to zero carbon mobility in our cities: linking transport to energy, climate and health – UN Habitat; GIZ; ISGlobal; UBER