Glasgow activists sign open letter demanding 'big polluters' kept out of Cop26

Glasgow Calls Out Polluters is among the organisations from across the UK demanding action ahead of the delayed United Nations' Cop 26 in November. 

The letter, sent to Cop 26 president and UK Government minister Alok Sharma, lays out five steps to kick "big corporations most responsible for the climate crisis" out of the event. 

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Isla Scott, a representative of Glasgow Calls Out Polluters, which initiated the action, said that: “The UN Climate Talks have for too long protected business as usual at the expense of meaningful action and now people across the world are living with the consequences.

The letter was sent to Alok Sharma

"This letter sends a clear message that big polluters - whose profits are dependent on inaction - have no place influencing the talks.

"The UK Government, if they take the climate crisis seriously, should stand up to these vested interests and remove them from the talks.” 

Leaders from around the world are due to descend on Glasgow in November for the crunch talks with American president Joe Biden, prime minster Boris Johnson, and even Pope Francis expected in the city. 

The event was originally due to take place last year but was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, although there remains some doubt over whether or not it will take place fully face-to-face. 

READ MORE: Boris Johnson 'fighting for Glasgow COP26 to go ahead' amid Covid fears

Eilidh Robb, of UK Youth Climate Coalition and another signatory, added: “Although we’ve all become pretty accustomed to delayed events recently, that is no excuse for the UK government to remain asleep at the wheel on climate action.

"To speed things up we need to stop the preferential treatment of large polluters, by clearing the space to make room for people-centered solutions to climate change.”

The Glasgow Times contacted the UK Government for comment.