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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Shauna Corr

COP26: Schedule of events including Northern Ireland exhibitors

We are on the countdown to the world's biggest environmental summit, which is being held in Glasgow this year.

Thousands of politicians, religious leaders, climate activists and journalists are expected to arrive en masse in the Scottish city for October 31.

What will follow is 12 days of talks and discussions about what needs to happen to stave of the worst of climate change which will hopefully end in an agreement that what will enforce the changes needed.

Read more: The Earth's Corr: COP26 is our last best chance - let's hope they deliver

But what's actually on the table?

Here's the full schedule of what will be talked about, and when, during COP26:

Sunday, October 31 - Procedural opening of negotiations.

Monday, November 1 and Tuesday, November 2 - World leaders summit: Welcoming world leaders to COP to put forward high level ambition and action towards securing global net zero and keeping 1.5 degrees in reach; adapting to protect communities and natural habitats; and mobilising finance.

Armagh Planetarium is also due to hold talks about their 'Our Place in the Cosmos' documentary about the special, fragile place of the Earth in our Galaxy on November 1.

Wednesday, November 3 - Finance: Mobilising public and private finance flows at scale for mitigation and adaptation.

Translink will also speak about its journey to decarbonise public transport in Northern Ireland at 11am.

A zero emissions Translink bus. (Aaron McCracken Photography)

Thursday, November 4 - Energy: Accelerating the global transition to clean energy.

Friday, November 5 - Youth and public empowerment: Elevating the voice of young people and demonstrating the critical role of public empowerment and education in climate action.

Saturday, November 6 - Nature: Ensuring the importance of nature and sustainable land use are part of global action on climate change and a clean, green recovery.

Sunday, November 7 - Rest day

Monday, November 8 - Adaptation, loss and damage: Delivering the practical solutions needed to adapt to climate impacts and address loss and damage.

Tuesday, November 9 - Gender: Progressing gender equality and the full and meaningful participation of women and girls in climate action.

Science and innovation: Demonstrating that science and innovation can deliver climate solutions to meet, and accelerate, increased ambition.

Wednesday, November 10 - Transport: Driving the global transition to zero emission transport.

Thursday, November 11 - Cities, regions and built environments: Advancing action in the places we live, from communities, through to cities and regions.

Friday, November 12 - Closure of negotiations.

DUP MLA Edwin Poots. (Jonathan Porter/PressEye)

Who's going from NI?

It's understood both Environment Minister Edwin Poots and Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon will be among seven delegates heading to Glasgow from Stormont. We are still waiting on confirmation of the full list of those attending.

Nichola Mallon said: Minister Mallon said: "I look forward to attending the COP26 Summit myself to further highlight what we are doing here and to learn from the global community on what other steps we urgently need to take."

The NI representatives will be part of the overall UK delegation to the summit.

Activists and MLAs gather at the steps of Stormont to highlight the need for a climate bill in NI. (Jonathan Porter/PressEye)

The NI groups exhibiting

As well as politicians, Translink and Armagh Planetarium are hosting events the public will be able to attend in the summit's greenzone.

Armagh Planetarium will be hosting its 'Our Place in the Cosmos' documentary in the COP26 planetarium on November 1. It's about the special, fragile place of the Earth in our Galaxy, the only habitat we yet know able to sustain life. Meanwhile, Translink will be talking about its 'Transformative Journey to Decarbonise Public Transport in NI' in the Science Show Theatre on Wednesday 3rd November.

Nichola Mallon, Minister for Infrastructure; Chris Conway (R), Translink Group Chief Executive and Buta Atwal, Wrightbus Chief Executive. (Aaron McCracken)

Minister Mallon said: "The north will have a strong presence at this important global summit. The climate crisis is one of the gravest challenges facing civilization. Our people, our environment, our planet deserve and need radical action now to tackle this very real crisis. This is an opportunity for Translink to showcase our innovative and transformative work in the transport sector."

Translink chief Chris Conway added: "We have already introduced the first hydrogen buses on the island of Ireland and with a further 100 zero emission electric and hydrogen buses on order due to start arriving soon, Translink is expected to have the 4th largest zero emission bus fleet across all UK regions in 2022."

South West College which has delivered a world first with its new £30m Passive House premium rated Erne Campus will also be exhibiting the project in the greenzone, as will Wrightbus who have said they "are delighted to have been chosen to exhibit our world-first zero-emission Hydrogen bus in the COP26 Green Zone".

If you have an environment story, please get in touch at shauna.corr@reachplc.com, @ShaunaReports on Twitter or https://www.facebook.com/ShaunaCorrJournalist

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