While the world rightly focuses on fighting coronavirus, the challenge of climate change has not gone away, and the ministers expressed their shared desire to see increased activity in this area over the coming 18 months.COP26 President Sharma particularly welcomed the positive collaboration between the UK and Egypt on Adaptation and Resilience (A&R), including the recent creation of the UN ‘Group of Friends on Climate Adaptation and Resilience’, launched jointly by the UK and Egypt in June. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. Promoting nature-based solutions. (The chances of that great climate change denier Donald Trump doing the right thing are so vanishingly slim that they were not ever even worth considering).Now, if Dominic Raab is to be believed, progress was being made on the road to COP26. Tom Tugendhat, the chair of the foreign affairs committee, surely hit the nail on the head when he said: “It won’t be in November that the talks are held – they will be held from now.“I believe the French took two years to get to COP21. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Alok Sharma, the former international development secretary, is the surprise choice to take on the role of president of the crunch UN climate talks to be hosted by the UK this November. And we will do that, working with all parts of the global economy and society.But there are some areas which need particular attention in 2020. Alok Sharma (center), newly appointed president of the COP26 United Nations climate change conference. Many congratulations on your appointment as President of CoP26. I believe the Mexicans took a similar time for their moment. Projects such as Benban solar park, Africa’s largest, will be central to a green and resilient recovery from COVID-19, and both ministers saw the significant potential for economic recovery packages to focus on investing in clean energy technologies.I was delighted to speak again to my good friend Egyptian Environment Minister Dr Yasmine Fouad. From solar panels, to electric vehicles and tree planting, it is often finance that turns good intentions into action.All of you here are in a unique position to drive the transition to a zero-carbon economy. COP26 President Alok Sharma spoke at the launch of the COP26 Private Finance Agenda at Guildhall, London, on Thursday 27 February Published 27 February 2020 From: With COP26 this year, we want to do what John Croxton did all those centuries ago. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone. Then, of course, late last night from Alok Sharma (President of COP26) came the confirmation that the conference was postponed. In this year, the Year of Climate Action, it will be the top international priority for this Government. With huge opportunities for those who are prepared to act now. Photo by: UNICEF Ethiopia / CC BY-NC-ND LONDON — … COP26 President Alok Sharma. This platform will be key to building on A&R outcomes from the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019 - where the UK and Egypt co-led a coalition of countries to commit to raising ambition on A&R - and in the lead up to COP26 itself, which will be hosted by the UK, in partnership with Italy, in Glasgow from 1 to 12 November 2021.The two ministers also discussed Egypt’s key role as a thought-leader and early-adopter of renewable energy in the region. And, of course, this transition must be fair and inclusive, leaving no-one behind.To achieve this, all countries must commit to significant further cuts to carbon emissions by 2030, and to reach net zero as soon as possible. COP26 President-Designate and Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma said: "The world is currently facing an unprecedented global challenge and countries are rightly focusing their efforts on saving lives and fighting COVID-19. COP26 President Alok Sharma spoke at the launch of the COP26 Private Finance Agenda at Guildhall, London, on Thursday 27 FebruaryLadies and gentlemen, Sir David, Governor Carney, Tanya.Let me start by thanking the Lord Mayor for hosting us today. LONDON, England - COP26 president Alok Sharma and Egyptian environment minister Yasmine Fouad held a call to discuss collective ambitions …