Preparatory meetings for the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) on Climate Change

In view of the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which will be jointly organized by Italy and the United Kingdom in the autumn of 2020, the Italian Embassy and the British High Commission started the first preparatory meetings to define a common strategy and events to be jointly organized to better engage Singapore in this global challenge. The first occasion was a business lunch on 28 February 2020 at the Italian Embassy Residence. In addition to the Italian Ambassador Raffaele Langella, the Italian Scientific Attaché Nicola Bianchi, the British High Commissioner Kara Owen and the British Head of Southeast Asia on Climate and Energy Camilla Fenning, 8 eminent representatives and experts who represented several local climate and environment organizations were invited. The discussion was very stimulating, full of useful ideas and suggestions to define a common vision and a coherent action. The meeting took place precisely in conjunction with the announcement by Singapore government on enhancing the National Determined Contribution (NDC) which now foresees a 36% reduction in CO2 emissions in 2030 compared to 2005 and a halving by 2050 with a view to achieve a zero net emission in the second half of the century.