Britain announced its plan to host the annual global climate change summit in 2020. A final decision will be made next year as Italy also expressed a similar interest. 

At the ongoing Conference of Parties (COP24) climate summit, at Katowice, Poland, UK energy and industrial strategy minister Claire Perry maintained that the country is bidding to host the summit in 2020. 

“We have to make sure we can deliver a good COP, as 2020 will be a really vital COP, and we absolutely want to be part of that process,” she said.  

The 2020 climate summit is crucial as countries will start implementing the Paris Agreement to limit global temperature rise within two degrees Celsius. At Katowice, delegates and negotiators from more than 198 countries are meeting to prepare a “rulebook” to enforce the Paris pact. 

"I would very much like the UK to be the place where we come together in 2020 and see if we can get those NDCs and Rulebooks together," Perry maintained. The UK government made a formal bid for hosting the climate talks. 

"So, today I am announcing I have officially written to express the UK government's interest in formally hosting COP in 2020," she added. According to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) rules, it will be the turn of a European country to host COP in 2020. 

The COP26 would also be an opportunity for the UK to showcase its efforts to reduce heat-trapping emissions. The country has reportedly reduced emission by nearly 40 percent since 1990. 

Meanwhile, uncertainty still prevails over the host of next year's climate summit. Brazil refused to host COP25 in 2019 citing financial constraints and inauguration of the new government. Chile and Costa Rica are in the race to host the conference.