What is COP26? - 1st November 2021

The UK is holding an international conference called COP26. The conference will discuss climate change. They will try to agree ways of reducing carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 is a gas which causes global warming.

The conference is held every year. But 2020's event was cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

In 2021, Glasgow in the UK, is holding the conference from 31st October to 12th November. 25,000 people are expected to visit Glasgow. They include thousands of environment campaigners and businesses who will meet and network.

The conference has representatives from 200 countries. They will decide their plans to reduce carbon dioxide by 2030. And a plan to make zero CO2 by 2050. This is to help reduce global warming.

At the conference in 2015 countries agreed to keep global temperature increase "well below" 2C. And to try to limit it to 1.5C. This was called the Paris Agreement.

COP26 should end with each country agreeing how to reduce CO2. This may change our everyday lives. For example, the kind of cars we drive and the heating systems in our homes.