COP26 will be “our last hope” at limiting global warming to 1.5C, the president of the Glasgow summit will say in a speech today.
Alok Sharma will speak outside the city ahead of the November 1-12 meeting which will bring world leaders together to tackle the issue.
He will also say that the conference must consign coal to history, warning: “This is our last hope of keeping 1.5C alive. Our best chance of building a brighter future.
Sharma is expected to continue: “A future of green jobs and cleaner air, I have faith that world leaders will rise to the occasion and not be found wanting in their tryst with destiny.
“That, in six months time, when we are packing up and going home, we will be able to say that at this critical juncture, each of us took responsibility. That we chose to act. And that we kept 1.5C alive.”
A UK Cabinet member, Sharma was appointed president for the conference by Boris Johnson in January.
In his speech, he will say he enlisted the help of his daughters in creating a message to deliver to world leaders.
He will say: “Their response was simple: ‘please, tell them to pick the planet’. And that’s the message I want to leave you with today. A message from my daughters. A message from future generations.
Sharma will add that Glasgow “must be the COP that consigns coal to history”. He will say: “We are working directly with governments, and through international organisations to end international coal financing.
“This is a personal priority.
And to urge countries to abandon coal power, with the G7 leading the way.”
He will add: “The days of coal providing the cheapest form of power are in the past. And in the past they must remain.”
Kate Blagojevic, head of climate at Greenpeace UK, welcomed Sharma’s commitment to the 1.5C goal but said more action was needed.
“The UK can’t claim climate leadership overseas whilst at home the Government continues to entertain a new coal mine in Cumbria or maintains the planning block on English onshore wind,” she said.
“With only six months left the clock is ticking, if the Government wants to be climate leaders it’s time they act like it.”
Ahead of the speech, UK Government Minister for Scotland David Duguid said the conference would be “a crucial opportunity for all parts of the UK, and indeed all nations globally, to work together to create a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future for our children”.
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