THE Cop26 conference in Glasgow represents “perhaps one of our last chances” to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, Scotland’s Net Zero Secretary has said.

Michael Matheson was speaking after a report from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) highlighted the “very real threat and heightened risk” the climate emergency poses to the world.

He said the report also made clear that with immediate, concerted international action to cut emissions, the global temperature rise could still be limited to 1.5°C in the longer term.

“We will carefully consider the latest advice contained in the report and encourage others to do so too. We will not get many more warnings before time runs out,” said Matheson.

“COP26 in Glasgow represents the world’s best chance – perhaps one of our last chances – to avert the worst impacts of climate change.

“We must deliver on the principles of the Paris Agreement with lasting action to secure a net zero and climate resilient future in a way that is fair and just for everyone.”

The Scottish Greens said the report’s “stark and urgent warning” made the Scottish and UK governments’ support for the expansion of the oil and gas sector “obscene”.

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres described the report as a “code red for humanity”.

Patrick Harvie, the Scottish Greens’ co-leader, said: “This report confirms what the Scottish Greens put front and centre of our campaign: that the time to act is now.

“With wildfires and floods sweeping the world, for governments to be considering further expansion of fossil fuel extraction is obscene.

“[Cop26 president] Alok Sharma himself describes this as a ‘catastrophe’ yet his government continues to plough millions into the causes of this crisis, while cutting aid to the countries who are most impacted.

“It’s a disgusting gap between rhetoric and reality, compounded by the apparent willingness to open a vast new oil field off the coast of Shetland. It's also time for the Scottish Government to finally recognise that business as usual for the oil and gas industry can't go on.”

The report found that “unless there are immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, limiting warming to close to 1.5°C or even 2°C will be beyond reach”.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would be writing to the Prime Minister to encourage more cooperation between the governments of the UK on climate change in light of the report, which she described as “a grim wake-up call”.

Scottish Labour's net zero spokesperson Monica Lennon said the First Minister must oppose the Cambo oil field proposal near Shetland, which would release an estimated 135 million tonnes of carbon during its lifetime.

“To avoid the worst-case climate scenarios, it's vital that our governments act on the findings of the IPCC report,” she said.

“For starters, Nicola Sturgeon must loudly oppose the proposed Cambo oil field and stop hiding behind Boris Johnson, who treats climate emergency and the need for a just transition for workers and communities like a big joke.

“If we start meeting our own climate targets in Scotland, we'll be in a better position to demand quicker progress from other governments.

“The climate emergency is the biggest challenge of our time, and that's why Scottish Labour will continue to fight for the bold and urgent action that the public rightly expects both the UK and Scottish governments to take.”

Liam Kerr, net zero spokesperson for the Scottish Tories, said: “We have heard warm words from the SNP Government on hitting net-zero, but that must be backed up by urgent action.

“They have failed to meet their own critical emission reduction targets for the last three years running, which is simply unacceptable.”

Caroline Rance, climate and energy campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland (FoES), said the report should make alarming reading for everyone on the planet.

She said: “The conclusions of the world's best scientists make it clear that if we are to avert further climate breakdown we must urgently phase out fossil fuels. That means rejecting new oil and gas developments like the Cambo field and for Governments to sit down with workers and communities to plan a fair transition away from oil and gas.

“The Scottish Government should be acting on the advice of these climate scientists not listening to oil companies and big polluters who are putting their profits above the survival of millions of people.”

Claire Mack, chief executive of Scottish Renewables, said the report’s findings were “stark” and that urgent action on climate change was vital.

“Renewable technologies like wind, solar, hydropower, tidal and more are already combating climate change – providing the equivalent of 97.4% of Scotland’s electricity consumption and delivering economic benefits across the country, as well as displacing more than 13 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year,” she said.

“The arrival of Cop26 in Glasgow in November gives us the perfect opportunity to tell the world about those successes and use the skills, knowledge and technologies which have been developed here to help the rest of the world decarbonise its economies and meet commitments made under the Paris Agreement.”