Alok Sharma
(Picture: PA Wire)The government will fund the hotel stays of vaccinated delegates arriving from red list countries to attend the COP26 conference, it has been announced.
The summit will take place in November as countries come together for crucial UN climate talks in Glasgow.
In a statement, the government confirmed those eligible for funding for quarantine hotel stays include party delegates, observers and media who are arriving from red list areas and would otherwise find it difficult to attend COP — including all those from the Global South.
Delegates who would otherwise struggle to get vaccinated have been offered Covid-19 vaccines by the government and the first jabs will be taking place this week.
Vaccinated delegates from red list countries will need to quarantine for five days upon their arrival in line with government guidelines.
Those who are unvaccinated will need to quarantine for 10 days.
COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma said: “We are working tirelessly with all our partners, including the Scottish Government and the UN, to ensure an inclusive, accessible and safe summit in Glasgow with a comprehensive set of COVID mitigation measures.
“This includes an offer from the UK Government to fund the required quarantine hotel stays for registered delegates arriving from red list areas and to vaccinate accredited delegates who would be unable otherwise to get vaccinated.
“Ensuring that the voices of those most affected by climate change are heard is a priority for the COP26 Presidency, and if we are to deliver for our planet, we need all countries and civil society to bring their ideas and ambition to Glasgow.”
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the government did not know how much its hotel offer would cost but denied it amounted to a “blank cheque”.
The No 10 official told reporters: “This is limited to a set and small number of people who will be coming from a select number of countries who wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend.”
He said the funding was being made available because “it is important we have a broad contingent of people from across the globe present to tackle this global issue”.
