8. What is the Pre-COP26 and the 2021 Youth Summit?

The Pre-COPs and the youth summits are annual preparatory meetings for the COPs, which have been held for some years about thirty days before each conference. In 2021, it will be the city of Milan’s turn to host both events, between Sept. 30 and Oct. 2.

Within the framework of COP26, it will be Italy’s turn to host this series of preparatory meetings, prior to the conference, such as the Youth Summit and the Pre-COP.

Pre-COP26, Sept 30-Oct 2.

This Conference, the prelude to COP26, will be attended by between 35 and 40 countries; representatives of the UNFCCC Secretariat; the chairpersons of the subsidiary bodies of the Convention and a number of stakeholders who play a key role in the fight against climate change or in the transition to sustainable development.

The purpose of the meeting is “to provide a group of countries with an informal setting to discuss and exchange views on some key political aspects of the negotiations and to offer political guidance for subsequent negotiations.” As read on the United Nations Pre-COP Milan page.

Youth Summit 2021, 28-30 Sept.

Some 400 young people between 18 and 29 years old will meet to prepare proposals on issues related to the negotiation process of Pre-COP26 and COP26.

Pre-COP26, Sept 30-Oct 3, is an event that takes place from COP21, about 30 days before COP. Its purpose is to provide a group of countries with an informal environment to discuss and exchange views on key policies of the negotiations and to provide guidance for subsequent negotiations.