COP26

#OneWeeThing ahead of COP26

We are inviting individuals, community groups, schools and businesses to get involved in a new social media campaign to raise awareness of the climate crisis.

The campaign is calling on people across the city to do #OneWeeThing.

We are encouraging people to join the conversation on social media in the hope that it will inspire others to make one simple environmental change to their daily lives.

It will act as a catalyst for mobilising local action in the run up to COP26.

People can get involved in the campaign by joining the conversation on Facebook and Twitter, using the hashtag #OneWeeThing

Watch our COP26 playlist

Visit each day to watch a new video for our COP26 campaign. 

What is Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26)?

We are leading the local climate change by conveying, celebrating and collaborating for COP26.

From 1 - 12 November this year (2021), the UK Government will host one of the most important climate conferences of the decade in Glasgow - COP26.

At this conference of the parties, up to 200 world leaders will come together with business and civil society to address the global climate crisis.

Important targets will be set for carbon reduction throughout the world over the next three decades which will have a transformative effect on the social, economic and environmental future for us all.

The UK is aiming to secure a global plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as from cars and factories, to zero by 2050.

What is net zero?

Net zero means finding a balance between the greenhouse gases that an individual or organisation puts into the atmosphere, and those that are ‘taken out.’ The first step to achieve this is to reduce your emissions.

In other words, it is making sure that for all gases emitted, the same amount is being removed – making yourself carbon ‘neutral’

What is Belfast doing?

We have already taken a leadership role in preparation for COP26.

We have:

• declared a climate emergency in October 2019.
• produced an Environmental Sustainability Review which sets out a pathway to become a carbon-neutral organisation.
• established an All Party Working Group on Climate Crisis.
• commissioned a Belfast Mini Stern Report: A Net Zero Carbon Roadmap for Belfast, which sets out the steps we have to take as a city.
• became co-chairs of the Belfast Climate Commission alongside Queen’s University.
• joined a number of climate-related networks including Resilient Cities Network, Core Cities, UK100 and APSE Energy.
• joined the Carbon Disclosure Project, a global platform for cities to measure, manage and disclose their environmental data.
• joined the global TRACE data service platform pilot programme to quantify, track and drive down supply chain emissions.

What can you do?

We are encouraging communities, businesses and individuals to get involved in the run up to COP26.

We want you to be part of the conversation and we encourage you to follow the list of planned activities before and during the week-long event.

• View our events list

The first step to becoming net zero is to avoid emitting greenhouse gases in the first place. This could mean using less energy at school, walking or cycling and by reducing food waste.

Keep updated

For updates on COP26 and if you would like any more information on upcoming events:

• Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIN and Instagram
• Contact us by email resilient@belfastcity.gov.uk

What's going on?