Belfast will invest in a number of climate projects to support the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference to be held in the UK this autumn.
At the recent meeting of Belfast City Council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee (Friday 20th August), elected members agreed to funding for a programme of climate activity.
They agreed a £20,000 contribution towards the delivery of the Festival of the Circular Economy, in the Linen Quarter, which will align with COP26, and a £10,000 contribution towards the delivery of the “Common Purpose Legacy” programme which will focus on young leaders’ roles in relation to climate.
The council will give also £45,000 to the Woodland Trust for volunteers, community outreach and PR for the Belfast One Million Trees Programme.
The Linen Quarter Festival of Circular Economy will promote a business model based on principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. It will include Belfast’s Lord Mayor and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool as speakers.
The Common Purpose Northern Ireland Legacy programme will secure 10 places for young persons in Belfast (18-25 year-olds) – in and out of work, studying, campaigning and volunteering – to shape the future of their communities.
The UK will host the 26th UN Conference of the Parties in Glasgow from October 31st to November 12th, where leaders from 196 countries will meet, and it is hoped, will agree action to limit climate change and its effects, like rising sea levels and extreme weather.
The summit is seen as crucial if climate change is to be brought under control, and will also look at whether enough has been done since the 2015 agreement at the Paris summit, where plans were made to limit global warming.