NICOLA Sturgeon has said “history may well judge” Boris Johnson as she criticised the Prime Minister for a lack of leadership during the COP26 summit.

It comes after campaigners attacked the final climate agreement, with Greta Thunberg labelling it more “blah, blah, blah”.

Scottish Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie also labelled the talks a “failure” said the conclusion reached by the global UN climate summit in Glasgow is “shameful”.

Harvie, Scottish minister for zero carbon buildings, active travel and tenants’ rights, said: “The failure of governments to deliver an agreement that puts the planet on course for a 1.5C rise is shameful.

READ MORE: COP26 ends with 'Glasgow Pact' agreed after last-minute negotiations

“The influence of fossil fuel companies is clear. We know that fossil fuel companies had more representation at this summit than any single nation, and the outcome has reflected that.”

The First Minister said COP26 “made progress” but was critical of Johnson.

Sturgeon was responding to a comment by former Irish president Mary Robinson, in which she said: “COP26 has made some progress, but nowhere near enough to avoid climate disaster.

“While millions around the world are already in crisis, not enough leaders were in crisis mode.

“People will see this as a historically shameful dereliction of duty.”

Sturgeon replied: “This comment about ‘crisis mode’ is not wrong.

“In particular, the PM should have led more from the front given UK #COP26 presidency and (unlike @AlokSharma_RDG and his brilliant negotiating team) didn’t sufficiently apply himself.

“History may well judge.”

The National: Boris Johnson faced criticism for his leadership at COP26Boris Johnson faced criticism for his leadership at COP26

The new “Glasgow Pact” secured at the climate talks commits countries to more climate action and a historic – if watered down – move against coal.

Ministers and negotiators at the UN summit in the Scottish city agreed to get countries to strengthen their emissions-cutting targets for 2030 by the end of next year as part of the bid to limit dangerous warming climbing above 1.5C.

They have also sent a signal on the shift away from the world’s dirtiest fuel, with the deal calling for efforts to accelerate the “phase down” of unabated coal, as well as the phasing out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies.

But many activists and politician are disappointed with the agreement, saying it doesn’t go far enough.

 

Responding to criticism that COP26 has a credibility gap between talk and action, Thunverg: “2,4°C if all govts met the 2030 targets, 2,7°C with current policies. These NDCs are based on flawed and underreported numbers. “And this is IF leaders meet their promises, which judging by their track record is not very likely... This is what some seem to celebrate today.”

Speaking about COP, Sturgeon said: “The Glasgow Climate Pact does not contain everything that every country wanted and there is understandable disappointment that key issues were watered down in the final hours, but there can be no doubt that the Glasgow summit has made progress on some important issues.

“The importance of capping temperature increases at 1.5 degrees is no longer questioned and the need for countries to come back next year with higher contributions to tackling emissions may just be enough to keep 1.5 alive – if countries including Scotland really do deliver on our commitments.”

She added: “There is also recognition for the first time, although it is deeply disappointing that due to last minute interventions by China and India it is not as strong and clear as it should be, of the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, a journey Scotland has already embarked on – and needs to accelerate – in a way that is fair and just.”

Climate campaigner Vanessa Nakate lambasted COP26 for failing to give enough money to help the global south combat climate change - but she praised Scotland for being the first country to do.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland ‘more than capable’ of independence after COP26

She said; “#COP26 was nearly a breakthrough moment for #LossAndDamage — it seemed for a brief hopeful moment, that in Glasgow, leaders might finally commit to establishing an international #LossAndDamage fund to help vulnerable countries already losing so much to the climate crisis.

“But in the final hours, the US, EU and UK stripped the concept of a “fund” out of the COP decision text - watering it down to instead to holding a “workshop”.

"Rich countries clearly do not want to pay for the costs they are inflicting on poorer nations.

“As FM @NicolaSturgeon — who just made Scotland the first country in the world to pledge funding to Loss and Damage — said, “’inance is key to this, not as an act of charity but as an act of reparation.’”