Guest essay by Eric Worrall
According to outgoing COP26 conference manager Claire Perry O’Neill, “Whitehall “can’t cope” with an Indy cop unit.”.
Climate change: UK sacks its UN conference president
By David Shukman Science editor
1 February 2020
In a surprise move, the woman appointed to run the crucial UN climate summit in Glasgow in November has been sacked.
Claire Perry O’Neill, a former climate minister, had been assigned the post of “president” of the event, known as COP 26.
The British government has confirmed that the job will now be handled by the business department, Beis.
In a tweet, Mrs O’Neill said she was “very sad” to lose the role, and went on to criticise the government.
It couldn’t “cope” with an independent unit managing preparations for the conference, she said.
And in a sharp dig at No 10’s green credentials, she also added: “A shame we haven’t had one climate cabinet meeting since we formed.”
https://twitter.com/Cop26President/status/1223294506843410436
In response, a Cabinet Office statement said the prime minister thanked Mrs O’Neill for her work so far.
“Preparations will continue at pace for the summit, and a replacement will be confirmed shortly,” it said.
“Going forward, this will be a ministerial role.”
…
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51334031
The BBC story goes on to discuss alleged disarray and infighting over the COP26 conference, scheduled to occur in Glasgow in November this year, with British government ministers fighting behind closed doors for control of the conference.
What a shame. Claire’s uncompromising green fanaticism promised to make her a thoroughly entertaining COP chair, like putting an older version of Greta Thunberg in charge. She had already made a good start with a traditional “last chance” announcement. I had high hopes for lots more fun as the year progressed.
Now the British Government will probably pass the job of managing the conference over to someone boring.
She is threatening to sue the government and it could move to London https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-51357200
They should move it to the Isle of Mann
with accommodations on the Isle of Wight then every morning they could row over to the Isle of Mann for the days meetings
Perhaps Boris should appoint the Downing Street cat as the new head of COP 26; it would probably talk more sense!
“…penultimate chance…” would suit me, forever.