UN climate summits, or so-called COPs (Conference of the Parties), are global conferences at which action on climate policy is negotiated. Poland has hosted them twice – in 2008 in Poznań and in 2013 in Warsaw.

In December 2018, the Climate Summit will be held in Katowice for the first time. In April 2017, the delegates of the UN technical mission visiting the Upper Silesian capital appreciated the city for being very well prepared to host the event, including infrastructure that meets high requirements.

Among those who spoke highly of Katowice’s candidature were the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Development – Mateusz Morawiecki, as well as the Minister of the Environment – Professor Jan Szyszko, who emphasised that “the entire Upper Silesia and Zagłębie region is a very important example of what can be achieved through a consistent policy of sustainable development and economic transformation”.

This year’s summit will include: The 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP24), the 14th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 14) and the Conference of the Signatories of the Paris Agreement (CMA 1).

The event will be attended by some 20,000 people from 190 countries, including politicians, representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the scientific and business communities.