A host of the country’s largest energy firms have backed the UK’s bid to host next year’s COP climate conference and called on the government for further support.

A joint letter signed by BP, Shell, Centrica, Drax Group, innogy Renewables UK, ScottishPower and National Grid today says the government should do “everything in its power” to host the landmark conference in November 2020.

The UK has formally bid to host the 26th Conference of Parties and a decision is expected to be made towards the end of next month.

COP26 is to be the most globally significant climate conference series since COP21 in 2015, where the landmark Paris Agreement was signed. It comes amidst increasing awareness of the climate crisis across the globe, evidenced by renewed climate activism and calls for more significant climate action.

Last month the Committee on Climate Change published its recommendation for the UK to set a net zero economy target for 2050 which, if legislated for, would end the UK’s contribution to climate change by that date and place it within the leading pack of countries in terms of environmental issues.

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