2. Who will chair COP26 and what are their roles?

Alok Sharma was appointed as president of COP26, on January 8, 2021, during the 26th edition of States, UN Conference. Among its functions prior to the COP is to set the summit agenda and promote ambition at the international level. Already at the summit he must lead the negotiations and supervise the overall COP package, including political statements.

Prior to this appointment, Sharma was Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy in 2020 and January 2021. Previously, he was Secretary of State in the Department of International Development Affairs, Minister of State for Employment in the Department of Labor and Pensions and Minister of State for Housing and Planning of the Department of Communities and Local Government. Between 2010 and 2019 he was a Member of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Sharma, along with the personalities that make up the COP26 steering group (see question 10) since his appointment, have been intensely active to ensure the success of the crucial summit. The team has held working meetings with civil society and businesses to pave the way to COP26 with a view to advancing consensus for crucial climate action before the start of the event.