London/Brussels:
The world’s poorest nations have stated they may well struggle to meet visa specifications and cover all COVID-19 quarantine charges for the COP26 climate summit, raising issues that some could not be in a position to attend in individual.
The UN conference, meant to spur nations to make larger commitments to slash greenhouse gas emissions, is due to commence in Glasgow on Oct. 31.
“We’re still concerned about the possibility of getting our delegates to COP26, to negotiate key issues about the global response to climate change that will have such a profound effect on our people,” Bhutan’s Sonam Phuntsho Wangdi, chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) group, told Reuters.
Britain stated last week that government ministers travelling to COP26, plus two employees members, would be exempt from quarantine specifications when they arrive.
But other delegates from nations on Britain’s coronavirus “red list”, such as Angola, Ethiopia and Haiti, need to quarantine in a hotel for up to 10 days prior to attending the summit.
The government has stated it will cover the expense of hotel quarantines for delegates from poorer nations.
Wangdi stated some countries’ delegations have been not led by ministers, which means they would will need to pay a visit to a visa centre to comprehensive their application to attend COP26.
Delegates from 25 of the poorer nations would have to leave their territories to go to visa centres in a different state – a difficult procedure for the duration of the pandemic.
“Whether or not a minister is attending COP26 should not determine the possibility of technical negotiators and government representatives getting to Glasgow,” Wangdi stated.
Asked about the LDC group’s issues, a COP26 spokesperson stated: “The participation of ministers from all nations in all parts of the world will be fundamental for achieving global agreement on climate outcomes.”
Britain has resisted calls from campaigners to delay the COP26 summit more than issues that poorer nations battling COVID-19 will struggle to attend. COP26 has currently been postponed by a year mainly because of the pandemic.
The LDC group stated it was unclear if the UK would cover the expense of extended hotel stays and rearranging flights if delegates from poorer nations contract COVID-19 at the summit and will need to self-isolate prior to travelling home.
“Without this assurance it will be difficult for delegates to accept that financial risk,” the group stated.
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