COP21 gets green light despite Paris attacks
The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also referred to as the twenty-first session of the Conference of Parties (COP21), will still go ahead – despite the attacks on Paris
Many worried whether this year's Paris Climate Conference would go ahead because of the recent terrorist attacks on the city
The COP21, also known as the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, is set to start on November 30. With the cooperation of over 190 countries, negotiators will attempt to ratify a legally binding and universal agreement that aims to prevent global warming exceeding a 2°C rise in temperature.
The event will see more than 50,000 participants and over 25,000 delegates from governments, intergovernmental organisations, UN agencies and NGOs – as well as key members of the international business community – descend on Paris.
After the terrorist attacks that occurred in the French capital on Friday 13 November, some worried that the event would not go ahead
The event will see more than 50,000 participants and a little over 25,000 delegates from various governments, intergovernmental organisations, UN agencies, NGOs, as well as key members from the international business community will descend on Paris for the conference.
After the terrorist attacks that occurred in the French capital on Friday 13 November, some worried that the event would not go ahead due to security concerns and the decision by the national government to issue a state of emergency, which restricted entry in and out of the country.
Despite this, organisers have said that the show must go on, with Climate Action CEO, Nick Henry, explaining that COP21 will “proceed as planned”.
“Such violent acts of terror against innocent people are incomprehensible and abhorrent, and my thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones or are caring for the many injured,” said Henry.
“Laurent Fabius, France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, and Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC, have already confirmed that COP21 will proceed as planned and we support them in the decision not to let terrorism derail what will be one of the most important environmental conferences of our lifetimes.
“France has reinstated border controls and will increase police deployment during COP21, so we feel assured that security in Paris will be appropriate to the level of threat. We are currently reviewing event security with Stade de France in the light of Friday’s events to ensure the safety of all participants.”
