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Herculean task to find new host for UN meet
Why in news?
- With Chile withdrawing its offer to host the 25th edition of United Nations Conference of Parties (COP), it’s unlikely that there will be a meeting this year, according to experts.
More in news
- What is COP:
(1) A preeminent climate meet
(2) World leaders decide on actions to address global warming.
(3) It was first held in 1995 Berlin, Germany, since then has never once been cancelled.
(4) COP Presidency rotates among the five recognized UN regions - that is, Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe and Others – there is a tendency for the venue of the COP to also shift among these groups.
- Chile Issue:
(1) COP 25 was to be held in Santiago, Chile from the 2nd-13th December
(2) Chilean President Sebastián Piñera announced that Chile would not be hosting the talks.
(3) Reasons: Student protests in Santiago since October 18, over a hike in rail metro fares and wealth inequality.
- Originally was to be hosted by Brazil, but they themselves backed out before Chile stepped in.
- UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa informed about currently exploring alternative hosting options.
- Why it’s so difficult to find a new host:
(1) Heavy Logistics requirement: A typical COP has participants in the tens of thousands and includes ministers, bureaucrats, activists and journalists from nearly 200 countries.
(2) Ease of accommodation and smooth transport to the venue and places of residence are critical factors in a country’s ability to organise the COP.
(3) In 2017, the COP was held in Bonn (the seat of the Secretariat) even though the presidency of the quorum was held by Fiji.
Sources
The Hindu