INTERNATIONAL climate change talks in Glasgow may have to be delayed due to the coronavirus outbreak, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has warned.
Raab said the UK Government had not given up hope that it could still host the COP26 summit in November as planned, but warned that it would be a "challenge".
"I can't give you a cast-iron guarantee, things are moving so quickly," he told the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee.
"Obviously it is not until November. We will keep it under close review. We would of course want it to go ahead but I can't give you any guarantee on that."
The United Nations-led talks – expected to bring 30,000 people to Scotland – are considered to be crucial to global efforts to curb emissions.
READ MORE: Scottish and UK Governments insist COP26 WILL go ahead
Raab said whether they could be held this autumn would depend on the "trajectory" of the Covid-19 outbreak over the coming weeks.
"It is going to be a challenge which is why we will keep striving to make it a reality. Obviously we would rather avoid delay if we possibly can.
"We haven't got to the stage where I can tell you we have given up on it. We are still hoping we can deliver on it.
"I think we are all waiting to see right now quite what the timing is going to be on the coronavirus.
"It is still possible of today that it might be doable. As long as that is the case I think we would want to try to give it a go."
Raab said, however, that the Government remained committed to securing a post-Brexit free trade deal with Brussels by the end of the year.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been adamant that he will not seek an extension to the Brexit transition period to enable talks to continue if there is no agreement by the December 31 deadline.
"I can't say any more than the PM did," Raab told the committee.
"The negotiating texts have been exchanged. I would have thought in the 21st century there is scope for this to be done through teleconferencing and remotely – at least for the period it is required.
"I won't go any further than the PM at this point. We don't want to extend, we want to get this done. We don't want any more uncertainty than we have already had from this process."
His comments came as the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, disclosed that he had tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.
"I am doing well and in good spirits. I am following all the necessary instructions, as is my team," he tweeted.
"For all those affected already, and for all those currently in isolation, we will get through this together."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here