FOCUS COP 26
➜
companies invited into the process will do a very good job.” In terms of security, Police Scot-
land will be tasked with delivering a ring of steel around the venue, and the force said detailed planning was underway. Commanders refused to go into further detail, though, and one of the main sticking points has been in relation to the costs of providing that security cordon. Fears have been raised the event
may even be relocated to London’s ExCeL conference centre, appar- ently after the UK Government was dismayed at a figure forecast to be in the region of £250m. Tat dispute appears to have settled down, with a revised policing forecast of £180m having been submitted by the Scottish Police Authority. However, further rows have erupted between Whitehall and the Scottish Govern- ment over the latter’s booking of the Glasgow Science Centre for its own fringe events during the conference, despite UK officials’ insistence that it is required as part of the main event. Te two governments were said to be cooperating on a plan to share the venue and Scottish Gov-
Delegates from the last UN climate summit in Madrid
ernment costs relating to transport and healthcare provison have also reportedly been reduced from £110 to £40m. But at the time of going to press, a fresh disagreement came to light as Scottish climate change secretary Roseanna Cunningham demanded that a new venue be found for the Scottish Government after another fractious twist in behind-the-scenes negotiations. Assistant Chief Constable Bernard
Higgins said: “Police Scotland has an enviable reputation for successfully and safely policing major events. Detailed planning is already well underway with a range of partners for what will be a complex policing
operation to support COP 26 and ensure a safe and secure event.”
IN ADDITION TO the plenary ses- sions taking place, there will also be a busy exhibition space cover- ing 10,000 square metres, where around 50 countries will have a pavilion area to highlight their own climate change challenges. Observer organisations will also be able to take advantage of the ‘com- mercially bookable’ spaces. In terms of catering, there will be a 1,500 square metre food court including kitchen and seating, two to three restaurant areas, ‘catering spaces’, ‘coffee corners’ and ‘banqueting
areas’. For private one-to-ones, a VIP lounge will be required as well as bilateral meeting space for con- versations between world leaders. Te event will also see perhaps the largest gathering of global media in Scotland ever, and two press conference rooms should be able to accommodate up to 300 accredited correspondents, as well as media backdrops for live broadcasts. Almost four pages of the 20-page document are devoted to specifica- tions for camera crews, plug and play desks, infra red sound distribu- tors and a ‘satellite farm’, and there are sections in the document detail- ing how Climate Action Rooms and an Amphitheatre will provide facilities for ‘innovative, interactive and multimedia activities’. With techology at the forefront
of delivering not only a successful event, but also playing a central role in mitigating climate change it is, as both the national events agency and the Scottish Government’s digital directorate acknowledge, COP 26 really is an opportunity for Scotland to put its ‘best foot forward’ on both fronts. n
12 | EVENTSBASE | SPRING 2020
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76
