GLOBAL leaders and delegates could be on their way to Helensburgh later this year – if council plans for an event to mark the COP26 climate change conference become reality.
An event in the town involving delegates from the climate change conference is among the ideas being considered by Argyll and Bute Council.
The conference is due to take place in Glasgow from November 1-12, subject to Covid restrictions, and is expected to be attended by around 120 world leaders - potentially including US president Joe Biden, Chinese president Xi Jinping, and Pope Francis.
A meeting of the council’s policy and resources committee on Thursday, May 13 heard of plans for an event, which would be most likely to be held in either the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre or in Hermitage Park’s Passivhaus pavilion.
The Helensburgh and Lomond area was chosen to host an event due to its proximity to Glasgow.
Council leader Robin Currie told the meeting: “I think there will be a day, should COP26 get the go-ahead, when the local authority hosts something.
"We are very keen to do this, particularly in the Helensburgh area, because we are not far from Glasgow.
“People attending face to face could easily go to Helensburgh and we could have a very good showcase for people visiting the country. I am looking forward to developing that.”
Other councillors also welcomed the plans, with the Conservatives' Alastair Redman, the authority's policy lead for business, regeneration and commerical development and the vice-chair of its climate change environmental action group, stating: “I would certainly agree that with Helensburgh being a commuter town, if there is any benefit to Argyll and Bute we should make the most of it.
“It does seem strange that they have a conference talking about reducing climate change while flying world leaders on jets to one area, especially with Zoom calls taking place these days.
“But Argyll and Bute should look to benefit from it and promote the constituency as best we can.”
Helensburgh and Lomond South SNP councillor Richard Trail added: “I also welcome very much the enthusiasm which is being shown to milk this conference as much as we can for the benefit of Argyll and Bute.
“It would be great to see something happen in the Helensburgh and Lomond area – that would be superb.”
A report in advance of the meeting by council executive director Douglas Hendry said: “Originally due to be held in 2020, it [COP26] has already been postponed due to the global pandemic but current advice from the UN and UK Government is that it will go ahead as a face-to-face conference and expecting several hundred thousand delegates across the fortnight to attend and be present in the west of Scotland.
“Around 120 global leaders are expected to be present, potentially including President Biden, President Xi Jinping and the Pope.
“There is significant opportunity for Argyll and Bute Council to use COP26 as a catalyst for promotion and learning of climate change activities and a suggested programme of activity has been formulated by the Climate Change Board.”
Educational activity also forms part of the plans, with Cowal Conservative Councillor Yvonne McNeilly, the council’s policy lead for education, keen to see it followed through.
She told the meeting: “I encourage all of you to find out what is going on in your own local schools, because young people are fanatical about climate change issues.
"It is amazing how seriously they take them.”
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