World leaders must put egos aside at Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow says Nicola Sturgeon
The First Minister is meeting delegates at the climate summit
Last updated 11th Nov 2021
Nicola Sturgeon is warning failure’s not an option, but success is not guaranteed either, as world leaders arrive at the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow.
Scotland's First Minister has said she shares Boris Johnson's pessimism about the chances of a new agreement but is urging the leaders involved in the talks to "put our shoulders to the wheel".
The Prime Minister said ahead of the start of the summit in Glasgow that pledges made in the Paris Agreement designed to curb emissions will not have worked.
Nicola Sturgeon, speaking as world leaders from more than 100 countries arrived in Scotland's largest city, said she shared the outlook of the Prime Minister.
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But she urged those involved in talks to put aside the pessimism and work to secure action on climate change.
"The UK, having the presidency of this Cop, has a particular responsibility to corral the leaders, to bring them together, to encourage them to do more than they are currently committed to do.
"There's a big gap on emissions, a big gap on climate finance - so much, much work to be done, and I will do everything I can to push it in the right direction."
"Put egos aside"
Ahead of the summit, Mr Johnson said: "If Glasgow fails, than the whole thing fails.
"The Paris Agreement will have crumpled at the first reckoning."
Leaders should put their egos aside, the First Minister said, and focus instead on working to reach an agreement.
"It's easy to exaggerate these things sometimes, but this is literally about the future of the planet, are we going to step up and save the planet or are we going to accept a pretty bleak outlook on this planet?"
"I do feel, and I hope every leader coming here feels, a massive weight of responsibility," she said.
"If we come out of this in two weeks' time without the commitments necessary then I don't know how my generation of leaders looks the next generation in the eye."
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