Cop26 news – live: China and US agree to ‘work together’ on climate, as PM admits ‘huge amount’ to be done

China’s top climate negotiator said today that Beijing had agreed with the United States to boost cooperation on climate action, including by cutting methane emissions.

Speaking through an interpreter, Xie Zhenhua told reporters at Cop26 in Glasgow that both countries wanted to do more to stop deforestation.

Xie said the US and China, the world’s two largest emitters of greenhouse gases, had also reached agreement today on a joint declaration, which would be released.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is not attending the UN summit. last week he delivered a written statement to the opening section of the summit when leaders usually give speeches.

In his statement, Mr Xi offered no additional pledges but urged countries to keep their promises and “strengthen mutual trust and cooperation” to keep the Paris Agreement target of a 1.5C temperature rise.

It comes after PM Boris Johnson said during his press conference speech that heads of state at Cop26 need to be “more ambitious” as world leaders only had between 48 to 52 hours left to finalise an agreement.

He refused to be drawn into saying which countries he believes are “standing in the way” of a climate deal being struck, and said he did not want to “chivvy” countries that were less active or willing to make a pact.

Read More

‘A screaming siren’: Nations’ short-term plans would result in 2.4C of global heating, analysis finds

One billion ‘face dangerous heat if warming hits 2C’

Cop26: What has been achieved and agreed by leaders at the climate summit?

Cop26 10/11/2021

• Boris refuses to ‘chivvy’ nations not doing their part

• PM Johnson says Cop26 needs to be ‘more ambitious'

• Sturgeon says PM ‘should stay in Cop26 until deal is done’

• Boris Johnson speaks to Saudi crown prince

• Nations must re-focus on goal of 1.5C warming, says new draft resolution

• Climate performance index finds no country doing enough

• ‘Screaming siren’: Nations’ short-term plans would result in 2.4C heating, analysis finds

• One billion ‘face dangerous heat if warming hits 2C’

Good morning

Tuesday 9 November 2021 09:25 , Matt Mathers

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s rolling coverage of the Cop26 summit in Glasgow.

We’ll bring you updates from the crucial talks as the day develops.

Full report: Obama calls for action on pledges made at summit

Tuesday 9 November 2021 09:28 , Matt Mathers

Former president Barack Obama attended Cop26 yesterday, bringing political weight to the climate summit as the second week of meetings on the world’s biggest problems get underway.

Mr Obama played a major role in the delivery of 2015’s Paris climate agreement – widely regarded as a major diplomatic and environmental success.

Our environment correspondent Harry Cockburn has more details below:

Obama brings political clout to second week of climate conference

Full report: One billion ‘face dangerous heat if warming hits 2C’

Tuesday 9 November 2021 09:30 , Matt Mathers

One billion people could be facing deadly levels of heat stress if global warming reaches 2C above pre-industrial levels, new research has found.

My colleague Celine Wadhera has the story:

One billion ‘face dangerous heat if warming hits 2C’

Full report: Cambo 'puts 100 species at risk'

Tuesday 9 November 2021 09:36 , Matt Mathers

The Cambo oil field project could jeopardise hundreds of species including protected deep sea sponges and "contribute to the climate crisis", environmental groups have warned.

Environmentalists said pipelines to export the oil from the Cambo field would cut through approximately 22 miles of the Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt, a UK Marine Protected Area.

It is home to rare deep-sea sponges, known as "cheese-bottoms" by fishermen, and ocean quahogs, a type of clam that can live for hundreds of years, making it one of the oldest living creatures on earth.

A review from the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (Elaw) warns that the Cambo project "could jeopardise hundreds of species over several decades, as well as livelihoods".

As Cop26 UN climate change talks take place in Glasgow, environmental groups are calling on the UK Government to say no to Siccar Point Energy's Cambo proposal, in which Shell has a stake.

Tessa Khan, director of Uplift said: "These critical climate talks have two goals: enormous global cuts to carbon emissions and the protection and restoration of the natural world.

"And yet, just a couple of hundred miles north of Glasgow, Cop26's hosts are considering doing the complete opposite.

"This new oil field will contribute to the climate crisis while potentially damaging a sensitive underwater world. Everyone loses except the oil companies.

"The UK Government must protect its seas, lead the world beyond oil and gas and say no to Cambo."

Sixteen marine protection and climate groups, including Greenpeace UK, WWF UK, the Marine Conservation Society and Friends of the Earth Scotland, have written to the UK Government's offshore oil and gas environmental regulator, Opred, asking it to include marine impacts when assessing the Cambo drilling application.

Watch: Follow live as climate think tank holds news conference at Cop26

Tuesday 9 November 2021 10:04 , Matt Mathers

Analysis: climate is changing behaviour – and business must react

Tuesday 9 November 2021 10:30 , Matt Mathers

The Covid pandemic brought huge changes to how we live. Now the push for net zero will require the same and government must help consumers make the switch, writes Phil Thornton.

Read Phil’s full piece here:

Climate is changing behaviour – and business must react

Tim Peake: Space exploration needed to tackle climate change

Tuesday 9 November 2021 10:45 , Matt Mathers

Astronaut Tim Peake has said he is "disappointed" that space travel is starting to be seen as luxury tourism for the super-rich, and warned we will never tackle climate change without it.

Major Peake made the comments at the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow.

Asked how he feels about space travel becoming the preserve of billionaires, he said: "I personally am a fan of using space for science and for the benefit of everybody back on Earth so in that respect I feel disappointed that space is being tarred with that brush."

But he said humans do not face a choice between space exploration and tackling climate change, adding that the widely reported figure that one rocket launch emits more than 300 tonnes of carbon is false.

Major Peake said: "It is important to get the facts right as well - rocket fuel, some of the most efficient rocket fuel is hydrogen and oxygen.

"(Jeff Bezos's) Blue Origin is using that, so it is not 300 tonnes of carbon, there is no carbon, it is water vapour - if you burn hydrogen and oxygen it's water vapour.

"Now water vapour in itself has problems, I am not trying to defend it or deny it, but we also have to get the facts right about what people are doing."

Major Peake was only the sixth British person to go on board the International Space Station, and famously ran the 2016 London Marathon from its treadmill.

1.5C should be ‘non-negotiable’, top government science adviser warns

Tuesday 9 November 2021 11:01 , Matt Mathers

It is crucial that the goal to limit temperature rises to 1.5C is kept alive, Sir Patrick Vallance has warned.

Speaking at Cop26, the government's chief scientific adviser said the goal, which aims to limit the most dangerous impacts of global warming, is not negotiable, although he acknowledged it will be very tough to meet.

In a press conference at Cop26, Sir Patrick said: "It's crucial that the 1.5C is kept alive. I don't think this is a negotiable thing. It has to happen."

He pointed to announcements that have been made by countries in the 10 days at the Cop26 conference so far, including on curbing methane emissions, on deforestation and funding for agricultural innovation.

"These are all important steps in the right direction. I hope we will see more over the course of this week." he said.

He added: "This is tough, 1.5C is really tough, it's not an easy target."

“Behaviour change is part of this, and some of that is down to what we do as individuals and some of it is what needs to happen to make things easier for us.

“We can’t assume it’s going to be dramatic personal behaviour change that’s going to be the solution to this unless we make some way to of making that easier so that the green choice is actually the easy choice.”

UK to invest £210m in nuclear reactor research

Tuesday 9 November 2021 11:25 , Matt Mathers

Britain is investing some 210 million pounds ($285 million) in small nuclear reactor research as the government seeks alternatives to fossil fuels amid fears over rising gas prices.

The investment, which will be matched with some 250 million pounds($340 million) from the private sector, comes amid hope the small modular reactors could be in use by the 2030s. Such reactors would have the potential to be less expensive and more easily moved, supporters say.

The recipient of the government funds, Rolls-Royce SMR, estimates that each small modular reactor it hopes to build could be capable of powering 1 million homes.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the U.K. to deploy more low-carbon energy than ever before and ensure greater energy independence," business and energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said.

Interest in atomic power has grown along with concerns that the world is reducing greenhouse gas emissions too slowly. But environmentalists have long eschewed nuclear power, citing the lingering issue of what to do with nuclear waste.

ICYMI: Cop26 will be the whitest and most privileged ever – it should be a source of great shame to everyone

Tuesday 9 November 2021 11:45 , Matt Mathers

Our best guarantee against a climate apartheid world is for richer countries in the global north to take radical action now, writes Labour MP Diane Abbott.

Read Diane’s full piece here:

Diane Abbott: Cop26 will be whitest and most privileged ever – a source of shame

UK health secretaries pledge commit to net zero

Tuesday 9 November 2021 12:10 , Matt Mathers

The UK's four health secretaries have committed to achieving net zero in the health service.

Health secretaries in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland made the pledge as part of Science and Innovation Day on day nine of the crucial talks in Glasgow.

The programme is orchestrated by the UK government, the World Health Organisation, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and healthcare NGOs.

No time frame was given for all the UK's health services to reach the net zero goal, but NHS England set out plans last year hit it by 2040, with an aim of an 80 per cent reduction between by 2028 and 2032.

It has pledged to go net zero across its entire supply chain by 2045.

The government has so far committed £280 million to decarbonising the NHS estate in England.

The effects of global warming such as extreme weather, high temperatures, food and water insecurity and infectious disease were described by the Department of Health as the "biggest health challenge of this century".

Health and social scare secretary Sajid Javid said: "As a health community, we cannot simply sit on the sidelines - we must respond to climate change through urgent action, with global collaboration at its core."

The 47 countries that have joined the Cop26 Health Programme so far have vowed to take "concrete steps" towards creating climate-resilient health systems.

Climate activist barricades himself inside car at world’s largest coal port

Tuesday 9 November 2021 12:45 , Matt Mathers

A climate activist has barricaded himself inside a reinforced car on a railway leading into the world’s largest coal port.

The activist, who only gave his name as Jarrah, has locked his arm into a metal part encased in concrete in a hole in the ground on the tracks leading to the Port of Newcastle on the East Coast of Australia.

Samuel Webb reports:

Climate activist barricades himself inside car at world’s largest coal port

ICYMI: How Glaswegians view the global climate summit on their doorstep

Tuesday 9 November 2021 13:10 , Matt Mathers

‘We’re selling an awful lot more whisky than pints of Tennent’s’ one bar owner tells our senior climate correspondent Louise Boyle.

Read Louise’s full article here:

Cop26: How Glaswegians view the global climate summit on their doorstep

Sir Patrick Vallance says ‘climate change greater threat than Covid’

Tuesday 9 November 2021 13:25 , Matt Mathers

The most senior scientific adviser to the UK government, Sir Patrick Vallance, has said climate change is a bigger problem than the Covid-19 pandemic.

He told the BBC: “The reason I say it is a bigger problem is because in terms of the overall effect on humanity, if this is not stopped it is a bigger, bigger challenge to the way we live and lives will be lost.”

Samuel Webb has more details below:

Sir Patrick Vallance says ‘climate change greater threat than Covid’

Watch live as ‘Little Amal’ puppet meets climate activists at Cop26 in Glasgow

Tuesday 9 November 2021 13:40 , Matt Mathers

Climate action a matter of ‘justice and equality’, says Nancy Pelosi as she and AOC arrive in Glasgow

Tuesday 9 November 2021 13:53 , Matt Mathers

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nancy Pelosi have arrived at Cop26 as part of a Congressional delegation, as the climate change summit focuses on women's equality.

The Democratic congresswoman and the US Speaker of the House will join Nicola Sturgeon and others at an event on gender equality on Tuesday.

Ms Pelosi is joined by a group of 21 US politicians who have travelled to the conference in Glasgow.

Addressing the conference on Tuesday, she said this was the largest congressional delegation ever to have attended a climate change conference.

Ms Pelosi said addressing climate change was a matter of "justice and equality".

She said: "We come here fresh from advancing the most ambitious and consequential climate and energy legislation of all time in our country."

Ms Pelosi also introduced the First Minister, who went on to chair a panel discussion on gender equality and climate change.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez shared details of her journey to Scotland on her Instagram, saying it was her first ever trip with a "codel" - congressional delegation.

She flew in from the US in a military aircraft, posting: "Despite the craziness and media frenzy, I was still a waitress just three years ago.

"So I still have moments in my life where it hits me that I'm actually in Congress. This was one of those moments."

Posting a photo of the coronavirus test she took upon arrival in the UK, she said: "Shout out to the NHS, I wish we had you at home. We need #medicareforall."

‘Screaming siren’: Nations’ short-term plans would result in 2.4C heating, analysis finds

Tuesday 9 November 2021 14:02 , Matt Mathers

Countries’ short-term climate plans are still far off what is needed to meet the Paris Agreement’s aspiration of keeping temperatures at 1.5C above pre-industrial levels, a new analysis concludes.

Our climate correspondent Daisy Dunne reports:

Nations’ short-term plans would result in 2.4C heating, analysis finds

British designers showcase sustainable practices at fashion show

Tuesday 9 November 2021 14:25 , Matt Mathers

A number of British fashion houses including Burberry, Stella McCartney and Mulberry have taken part in a fashion show at Cop26.

On Tuesday, 9 November, the British Fashion Council hosted “GREAT Fashion for Climate Action”, an event which showcased how brands have adapted their work to increase sustainability and reduce their contribution to the climate crisis.

My colleague Saman Javed reports:

British designers showcase sustainable practices in Cop26 fashion show

Sturgeon: Women must be at centre of climate fight

Tuesday 9 November 2021 14:40 , Matt Mathers

Scotland's first minister has told the Cop26 UN climate summit that the voices of women must be at the centre of helping to tackle climate change.

Nicola Sturgeon said more women and girls needed to be in decision-making roles as she said the situation where a minority of the 120 world leaders earlier who addressed the summit in Glasgow were female "must change".

Women are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, as they form a large majority of the world's poor, often depend on small-scale farming for their livelihoods and can comprise 80 per cent of those displaced by climate-related disasters.

Speaking on Tuesday as she chaired a panel at an event focusing on advancing gender equality in climate action, Ms Sturgeon said: "There is no doubt we must ensure that climate change is a feminist issue.

"We must make sure that the experiences of women and girls across the world, so often disproportionately impacted by climate change, are understood as we devise the solutions.

"And we must make sure that the voices of women are at the centre of creating and implementing the solutions to climate change."

The impacts of the climate crisis are not gender-neutral

Tuesday 9 November 2021 14:55 , Matt Mathers

The rapidly-changing climate is exacerbating and deepening existing gender inequalities — and women and girls are bearing the biggest burden, writes Natalia Kanem.

Read Natalia’s full piece here:

Opinion: The impacts of the climate crisis are not gender-neutral

Still a ‘mountain to climb’ at Cop26, Sharma says

Tuesday 9 November 2021 15:00 , Matt Mathers

There is still a mountain to climb before countries can reach a consensus on key issues at the Cop26 climate summit, our climate correspondent Daisy Dunne reports.

“We are making progress at Cop26 but we still have a mountain to climb over the next few days,” UK minister and Cop president Alok Sharma told a press briefing held on Tuesday.

“The time has now come to find consensus on areas of political divergence and we have only a few days left.”

Mr Sharma confirmed that the UK presidency will publish the first draft of the cover text for the final agreement from Glasgow overnight.

“It will likely require negotiating teams to consult their leaders and capitals,” he said – a hint that the draft may push countries to go further to keep hopes of limiting global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels alive.

It comes after a stark analysis found that, even when new commitments made in Glasgow are taken into account, global greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 are expected to be double what would be necessary to limit global heating to 1.5C. More to follow soon.

Green council leader sorry for flight to Cop26 from Brighton

Tuesday 9 November 2021 15:27 , Emily Atkinson

Councillor Phelim Mac Cafferty, the leader of Brighton and Hove City Council’s Green group, has described his flight from Gatwick to Glasgow to protest against climate change at Cop26 as a ‘major failure of judgement’.

After completing the 460-mile journey, Cllr Mac Cafferty made a speech on cutting carbon emissions and appeared at a protest march, led by Greta Thunberg, calling for world leaders to stop temperatures rising.

Samuel Webb has the full story here:

Green council leader sorry for flight to Cop26 from Brighton

Nearly three-quarters of Americans suffer eco-anxiety

Tuesday 9 November 2021 15:50 , Emily Atkinson

A survey has revealed that more Americans than ever are fearful of the ravages of man-made climate change – causing many to suffer anxiety or depression, Samuel Webb reports.

Yale University’s Climate Change in the American Mind survey found that an all-time record 70% of Americans are now very or somewhat worried about global warming.

The full story is available here:

Nearly three-quarters of Americans suffer eco-anxiety

Breaking: Boris Johnson heads back to summit to kick-start ‘inadequate’ negotiations

Tuesday 9 November 2021 16:04 , Emily Atkinson

Boris Johnson is heading back to the Cop26 summit to try to kick-start the troubled negotiations, amid a fresh warning that they are on course to fail.

The prime minister was expected to return to Glasgow at the end of the week – but will now travel, by train, on Wednesday to encourage “ambitious action” to halt the climate emergency.

It is unclear whether Mr Johnson hopes to intervene on any particular sticking point in the talks, which are due to end on Friday.

More to follow

Boris Johnson heads back to Cop26 to kick-start ‘inadequate’ talks

Scotland’s Justice secretary defends ‘kettling’ of Cop26 protestors

Tuesday 9 November 2021 16:37 , Emily Atkinson

Keith Brown has described Police Scotland’s tactics during the climate summit in Glasgow as “proportionate” following accusations that officers had been “kettling” peaceful protesters earlier this week.

He said: “I am satisfied that they have tried extremely hard to make sure that they have facilitated protests and that their response has been proportionate.”

“I am satisfied from all the conversations I’ve had with Police Scotland that they have tried to be as proportionate as possible to facilitate protests and certainly to work within the bounds of legislation set for them by this Parliament.”

Mr Brown added: “The police refer to that as moving containment and it also said that where they’ve done this is because - in one example - the protesters that had sat down in front of the march and were stopping the rest of the march from taking place and presenting a danger to the public.”

It comes after 21 protesters were arrested during Saturday’s march from Kelvingrove Park to Glasgow Green. Activists who had chained themselves to the King George V Bridge were also forcibly removed.

Politician gives Cop26 speech knee-deep in sea

Tuesday 9 November 2021 16:38 , Emily Atkinson

Icelandic glacier melting more rapidly than it can reocover

Tuesday 9 November 2021 17:20 , Emily Atkinson

The Breidamerkurjokull glacier in Iceland is now melting faster over summer than it can recover during the winter months, experts have said.

A six week long time-lapse video, captured by Dr Kieran Baxter, a lecturer at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, revealed just how quickly the glacier is now retreating.

He said: “Footage like this should act as a wake-up call that we cannot ignore the signs any longer.

“Climate change is already having dire consequences around the world and we have to take responsibility for that.”

Dr Baxter added: “The paths we choose now, including the decisions made at Cop26, will have a huge influence on the climate impacts that we will have to deal with in the future.

“The volume of ice melt that we are seeing in Iceland is just one of the indicators that show us the scale of those impacts.”

Extinction Rebellion performs Scottish ceilidh dance outside Cop26 venue

Tuesday 9 November 2021 17:34 , Emily Atkinson

AOC arrives in Glasgow for Cop26 focus on women’s equality

Tuesday 9 November 2021 18:00 , Emily Atkinson

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has arrived at Cop26 as part of a Congressional delegation to join the event on gender equality at Cop26 on Tuesday.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez shared details of her journey to Scotland on her Instagram, saying it was her first ever trip with a “codel” - congressional delegation.

She flew in from the US in a military aircraft, posting: “Despite the craziness and media frenzy, I was still a waitress just three years ago.

“So I still have moments in my life where it hits me that I’m actually in Congress. This was one of those moments.”

Posting a photo of the coronavirus test she took upon arrival in the UK, she said: “Shout out to the NHS, I wish we had you at home. We need #medicareforall.”

Extinction Rebellion block Glasgow Street in Rubber Dinghy

Tuesday 9 November 2021 19:07 , Emily Atkinson

Extinction Rebellion climate activists have blocked St Vincent Street street by sitting in an inflatable rubber dinghy while covered in fake blood.

An XR band also struck up outside a branch of the bank Santander, where graffiti has been sprayed on the wall.

Police officers stand in front of a branch of Santander on St Vincent Street, Glasgow, where graffiti has been sprayed on the wall, as Extinction Rebellion protest outside.

Police Scotland closed the street and at 5.45pm tweeted: “Two protesters are locked on to a device as part of a protest at St Vincent Street, Glasgow.

“We are removing them for their own safety and the safety of the wider public.”

Police arrested three people as the protest ended just after 6pm.

Ask Me Anything: Caroline Lucas to answer your questions on the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow

Tuesday 9 November 2021 20:00 , Emily Atkinson

On Thursday 11 November at 4pm GMT, Caroline Lucas MP will join our climate correspondent, Daisy Dunne, to answer your questions on the Cop26 climate summit and what must happen to get the world on track to meeting its climate goals.

All you have to do is register to submit your question in the comments in the article below. If you’re not already a member, click “sign up” in the comments box to leave your question.

Ask Me Anything: Caroline Lucas answers your questions on the Cop26 climate summit

Government to unveil EV charging point design for UK at Cop26

Tuesday 9 November 2021 21:00 , Emily Atkinson

The new design for a network of electric vehicle charging points will become as recognisable as the red post box or London’s black cabs, the government hopes.

The plans are set to coincide with a series of announcements on low carbon transport due to be made on “transport day” at the Glasgow summit.

UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “From our roads to the skies, the transition to zero emission transport has reached a tipping point.”

He added: “To support the transition to EVs, it’s integral that we have the infrastructure to support it.

“My vision is for the UK to have one of the best EV infrastructure networks in the world, with excellent British design at its heart.”

Green council leader sorry for flight to Cop26 from Brighton

Tuesday 9 November 2021 21:20 , Emily Atkinson

A Green council leader has described his flight from Gatwick to Glasgow to protest against climate change at Cop26 as a “major failure of judgement”.

Councillor Phelim Mac Cafferty, the leader of Brighton and Hove City Council’s Green group, has apologised for taking the one hour and 20 minute flight after flying on the same day he slammed the UK government for a lack of action over climate change.

After completing the 460-mile journey, Cllr Mac Cafferty made a speech on cutting carbon emissions and appeared at a protest march, led by Greta Thunberg, calling for world leaders to stop temperatures rising.

Samuel Webb has the full story here:

Green council leader sorry for flight to Cop26 from Brighton

AOC tells COP26 'the US is back' but must act to regain its authority on climate issues

Tuesday 9 November 2021 21:40 , Emily Atkinson

US Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez announced the return of the United States to fighting the climate crisis at COP 26 in Glasgow, but admitted that it must act to retake its “moral authority”.

During talks at COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, on Tuesday afternoon, the New York Democrat told the long-awaited “conference of the parties” that “America is back”.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez said the country was back not only “at COP” but also “on the international stage as a leader on climate action”, citing a number of measures being pursued by Democrats and the Biden administration since the start of 2021.

Read the full report from Gino Spocchia here:

AOC tells COP26 ‘the US is back’ but must act on climate

Study estimates Covid-19 pandemic added 8.4 million tonnes of plastic waste

06:54 , Stuti Mishra

The world has generated a mind-boggling amount of plastic waste during the pandemic, exacerbated by single-use PPEs, masks and other Covid-related medical products, according to a recent study.

The study estimated that 8.4 million tonnes of Covid-related plastic waste were generated from 193 countries as of August. Of this, 25,000 tonnes are released into oceans, making up about 1.5 per cent of the total global riverine plastic discharge. The study was conducted by researchers from Nanjing University in China and the University of California in the US and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday.

The paper also estimated that Asia disproportionately contributed to the problem. It generated around 72 per cent of plastic waste, even though Asia only accounted for 31.22 per cent of Covid cases. This called for a “better management of medical waste in developing countries”, the researchers said.

“This reflects the lower treatment level of medical waste in many developing countries, such as India, Brazil and China, compared with developed countries with large numbers of cases in North America and Europe, for example, the United States and Spain,” the researchers said.

“The mismanaged plastic waste generated from individual PPE (including face masks, gloves and face shields) is even more skewed towards Asia because of the large mask-wearing population,” they added.

Study estimates mind-boggling scale of plastic waste crisis from Covid response

Climate performance index leaves top three places blank as 'no country doing enough'

07:12 , Stuti Mishra

The Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), developed by Germanwatch, NewClimate Institute and Climate Action Network (CAN), has announced its ranking for 60 countries that account for over 90 per cent of the world’s emissions based on their climate change mitigation efforts.

However, the top three spots for the 2022 rankings have been left empty in the index stating that no country has adopted the required measures to be ranked higher.

“Places one to three again remain vacant because no country’s measures thus far have been sufficient to achieve an overall ‘very high’ rating – none are following a path necessary to keep global warming within the 1.5°C limit,” the report published on the new New Climate Institute’s website said.

The fourth spot was given to Denmark, followed by Sweden, and Norway as fifth and sixth best-performing countries. The report estimates Scandinavian countries, together with the United Kingdom and Morocco, lead the race to zero.

It ranks Australia, South Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Kazakhstan among the worst performers.

The performance of the 90 countries on the index, accounting for 92 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, was assessed in four categories — GHG emissions, renewable energy, energy use and climate policy.

Cop26 draft outcome by UK urges countries to ‘revisit’ goal of 1.5C warming

08:17 , Jon Sharman

A draft “cover decision” setting out the potential outcome from the Cop26 climate summit has been published by the UK presidency of the talks, writes Daisy Dunne.

The document urges countries to “revisit and strengthen” their emissions cutting targets for 2030 in their national action plans by the end of 2022 to meet the goal to try to limit global warming to 1.5C.

It says that meeting the goal to limit global warming to 1.5C - which countries pledged to try to pursue under the Paris climate accord - needs meaningful and effective action in "this critical decade".

Cop26 draft outcome by UK urges countries to ‘revisit’ goal of 1.5C warming

‘Take charge,’ Labour demands of PM

08:31 , Jon Sharman

Labour has called on Boris Johnson to "take charge" of Cop26 during his return visit on Wednesday, amid fears that the conference is not on track to deliver the pledge of preventing global warming rising above 1.5C.

Ed Miliband, the shadow business secretary and former party leader, said: "It's hard to avoid the suspicion that the prime minister sees a day trip to the Cop as a useful way of distracting from the sleaze surrounding the Tory Party rather than a chance to get a grip and engage in the substance like a statesman.

"It's high time Boris Johnson recognised that he is not a commentator but needs to take charge of a summit that is not on track to deliver.

"We are miles off where we need to be in the halving of emissions required by 2030.

"It's time the Ggovernment faced this truth, stopped the greenwash, and put maximum pressure on all parties to step up and agree a path out of Glasgow to keep 1.5 alive."

‘A screaming siren’: Nations’ short-term plans would result in 2.4C of global heating, analysis finds

08:51 , Jon Sharman

#icymi

Countries’ short-term climate plans are still far off what is needed to meet the Paris Agreement’s target, a new analysis concludes, as the UK admitted there was still a “mountain to climb” before the finale of the Cop26 climate summit, writes Daisy Dunne.

Boris Johnson is expected to return to Glasgow on Wednesday as time runs out to reach a meaningful agreement that keeps hopes of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels within reach.

On Tuesday, the research group Climate Action Tracker (CAT) released a global update showing that nations’ plans for how they will slash emissions by the end of this decade would result in 2.4C of heating by 2100.

Nations’ short-term plans would result in 2.4C of global heating, analysis finds

UK’s acceptance of Cambo oil field plans shows it’s not practising what it breaches, says Burnham

09:10 , Jon Sharman

Andy Burnham has said the fact the government has not intervened to halt the planned Cambo oil field and the coal mine in Cumbria is evidence that the UK is not practising what it preaches on climate.

Speaking on "transport day" at Cop26, the Greater Manchester mayor said: "Critically, with the climate debate, practise what you preach.

"One of the things that has undermined Cop has been a lot of preaching, but the actions of people haven't matched up to the words."

Mr Burnham said he was still waiting for the green light from ministers to start on a plan to cut a million tonnes of carbon from the Greater Manchester economy over the next three years.

The government is in danger of missing its opportunity to use Cop26 to spell out how the drive to net zero can improve lives, Mr Burnham added.

"I don't think our government, or any government actually, has put policies on the table that will really connect with with people," he said.

"We're in danger of missing that sort of big point of Cop. I would say I'm glad that the prime minister is coming here today – that's positive – but I would say this should be the whole babinet coming today."

Update from Glasgow from our climate correspondent

09:29 , Louise Boyle

As Cop26 heads into its final days, the drafts of the main political documents that will come out of the summit dropped at 6am, writes Louise Boyle.

There’s still a lot of negotiating to go but first takes are that there is clearer references to phasing out coal and fossil fuel subsidies.

There’s also wording on new timelines and deadlines for countries to return with improved emissions reduction targets by 2022 aligned with 1.5C of Paris.

But much still needs to be figured out, and strengthened, on finance, adaptation, and loss and damage.

Emissions-free vehicle pledge announced

09:39 , Jon Sharman

A group of nations and companies has announced plans to make the switch to emissions-free cars by 2040 and by no later than 2035 in leading auto markets.

The announcement was made Wednesday on the sidelines of the UN climate conference in Glasgow. It was backed by countries including Canada, Chile, Denmark, India, New Zealand, Poland, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Ford, General Motors, Mercedes Benz and Volvo, as well as several states and cities in the United States and elsewhere, signed the plan. Some companies, such as Volvo, already have even earlier targets to phase out combustion engines.

Separately, a number of countries are pledging to phase out the use of trucks and buses with internal combustion engines.

Companies involved in road haulage are signing up, including delivery giant DHL, truck-maker Scania and Dutch brewer Heineken.

AP

Ask Me Anything: Caroline Lucas to answer your questions on the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow

09:58 , Jon Sharman

It is week two of Cop26. While the first-week saw a flurry of new announcements, attention has now turned to the complex negotiations that underpin the UN climate summit, writes Daisy Dunne.

Caroline Lucas is a Green Party MP who has twice led her party. She has been at Cop26 following the negotiations since the start and on Saturday joined climate protesters on the streets of Glasgow.

On Thursday 11 November at 4pm GMT, she will join me to answer your questions on the Cop26 climate summit and what must happen to get the world on track to meeting its climate goals.

Read more:

Ask Me Anything: Caroline Lucas answers your questions on the Cop26 climate summit

Opinion: How motorsports can help fight the climate crisis

10:17 , Jon Sharman

When Nyck de Vries lifted the trophy as the first driver to win the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, his victory signalled more than a cue for biodegradable confetti and champagne corks popping on the podium. writes Jamie Reigle.

The triumph for the 26-year-old Mercedes-EQ team driver was a watershed moment in our seven season history as Formula E. It marked the climax of the first year of competition as an official FIA World Championship.

Opinion: How motorsports can help fight the climate crisis

US wants cooperation, not condescension, says Pelosi

10:29 , Jon Sharman

The United States wants to help achieve climate success through "collaboration, not ... condescension", according to Nancy Pelosi.

The speaker of the House of Representatives said other nations were further ahead in their goals because of "the dark period" of Donald Trump’s presidency.

However, she claimed "America is back", adding: "Our president was here, there were many successes that were achieved in collaboration – not dictation or condescension, but in collaboration – with other countries."

Cop26: Fossil fuel buses and lorries face sales ban from 2040 as transport leads summit agenda

10:36 , Jon Sharman

Low-carbon travel leads the agenda on ‘transport day’ at the Cop26 summit as Boris Johnson returns to Glasgow to push for an improved final draft outcome, writes Harry Cockburn.

A group of 13 nations has set out plans to end the sales of diesel and petrol buses and lorries by 2040 — matching an existing UK pledge, and 10 years after the end of petrol and diesel cars.

Described as a “turning point for the global transport sector”, the countries will work together towards an interim target of having 30 per cent of sales of new medium and heavy-duty vehicles being zero-emissions by 2030, with 100 per cent a decade later.

Fossil fuel buses face ban from 2040 as transport leads Cop26 agenda

Johnson meets with Bin Salman and pushes for progress in climate negotiations

10:46 , Jon Sharman

Boris Johnson spoke on Wednesday with the crown prince of Saudi Arabia about the country's climate pledges and the need to make "progress in negotiations" taking place in Glasgow, No 10 confirmed.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: "The prime minister spoke to Mohammed bin Salman ... this morning while en route to Cop26 in Glasgow.

"He welcomed Saudi Arabia's commitment to reach net zero by 2060 and their efforts to transition away from fossil fuels.

"They discussed the importance of making progress in negotiations in the final days of Cop26, including on finalising the outstanding elements of the Paris rulebook.

"The prime minister said all countries needed to come to the table with increased ambition if we are to keep the target of limiting global warming to 1.5C alive."

Separately, Riyadh’s energy minister told Cop26 he thought no particular energy source should be shunned, according to a Reuters snap report. He also, when asked whether he believed fossil fuels were the main cause of global heating, said the world should focus on mitigating temperature rises.

Saudi Arabia is a major oil producer.

90% of domestic flights taken by 2% of people

11:05 , Jon Sharman

Some 90 per cent of domestic flights in the UK were taken by just 2 per cent of English flyers in 2019, new analysis of government data has revealed.

Climate charity Possible went through figures from the Department for Transport’s National Travel Survey 2019 and data from the Civil Aviation Authority’s 2018 passenger survey to get a clearer picture of the domestic aviation market, also discovering that the typical domestic flier earns twice the national average salary.

By contrast, around nine in 10 people in the UK never take any domestic flights at all, writes Helen Coffey.

Frequent flyers: 90% of domestic flights taken by 2% of people

Climate performance index leaves top three places blank

11:25 , Chiara Giordano

A climate performance index launched alongside the Cop26 summit left the top three spots empty, saying no country is doing enough to combat the crisis.

Denmark, Sweden and Norway took the fourth, fifth and sixth spots – the highest ranks attained by any country.

Stuti Mishra has more details:

‘No country doing enough,’ climate performance index leaves top three places blank

Efforts to combat climate change should not shun any particular energy source, says Saudi minister

11:45 , Chiara Giordano

Saudi Arabia's top energy official has said efforts to combat climate change should not undermine global energy security or shun any particular energy source, and denied the kingdom was seeking to hamper international talks on the issue.

Energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud, from the top producer nation in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, said at the Cop26 summit: “It is imperative that we recognise the diversity of climate solutions, and the importance of emissions reduction as stipulated in the Paris Agreement, without any bias towards or against any particular source of energy.”

He added that negotiators should be “conscious of the special circumstances of the Less Developed Countries”, some of which have been resisting calls for aggressive moves away from fossil fuels because of the economic costs.

“We should work together to help these countries mitigate the impact of climate change policies, without compromising their sustainable development,” he said.

Cop26 agreement to support green shipping routes

12:05 , Chiara Giordano

Nineteen countries including the UK have agreed to support the creation of zero-emission shipping routes.

The Clydebank Declaration signed at Cop26 says it is the aim of the signatories to assist with the establishment of "at least six green corridors by the middle of this decade".

There is also an ambition to "scale activity up in the following years", such as through "more routes, longer routes and/or having more ships on the same routes".

The declaration added: "It is our aspiration to see many more corridors in operation by 2030. We will assess these goals by the middle of this decade, with a view to increasing the number of green corridors."

What the draft deal says

12:32 , Jane Dalton

Here are some of the key things in the first draft of the pact that could be agreed:

• It reaffirms the goals in the Paris Agreement that countries agreed in 2015 - to hold global warming to well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5C - recognising that the effects of climate change will be much lower at 1.5C than 2C.

• With the world off track to meet the goal, countries are urged to “revisit and strengthen” the targets for cutting emissions by 2030 in their national plans to align them with the Paris goal of well below 2C or 1.5C, by the end of next year.

• Countries that have not yet submitted new or updated national climate action plans - known as nationally determined contributions, which they were supposed to submit ahead of Cop26 - are urged to do so ahead of the next Cop in a year’s time.

• Countries are urged to communicate long-term strategies, with plans and policies, that get them to net-zero emissions by or around mid-century in line with the temperature goals by the next Cop.

• In a first for such a document, it calls on countries to accelerate the phasing-out of coal and subsidies for fossil fuels, though there is likely to be heavy pushback on the mention of fossil fuels and it could well drop out of the final text.

• It emphasises the “critical importance” of nature-based solutions, including protecting and restoring forests to reduce emissions, absorb carbon and protect biodiversity.

• It urges developed countries to urgently scale up the provision of finance to help poorer nations adapt, with an at least doubling of their collective provision for adaptation in the mix of funding. In 2019, 25% of the $80 billion channelled into climate finance went to adaptation.

• It recognises that more finance is needed for developing countries beyond the long-promised $100 billion a year by 2020, which will not be delivered until at least next year.

• And it recognises the issue of “loss and damage”, calling for more support from developed countries and other organisations to address the damage caused by extreme weather and rising seas in vulnerable nations.

Fossil fuels mention ‘historic’ but ‘countries must do more'

12:50 , Jane Dalton

The mention of fossil fuels in the draft agreement is “historic”, one expert says.

But another says countries have not agreed enough.

“This is a historic moment as it’s the first time a Cop text outlines the phase out of coal and fossil fuel subsidies. This wasn’t even mentioned in the Paris Agreement,” said Dr Kat Kramer.

Bob Ward, of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics, said: “It is clear that the current set of pledges on emissions are not yet consistent with having a reasonable chance of holding warming to no more than 1.5C.

“We need countries to agree to return every one or two years with more ambitious pledges. We also need stronger evidence of action to deliver the pledges.”

More here from Daisy Dunne:

Cop26 draft outcome by UK urges countries to ‘revisit’ efforts to meet 1.5C goal

Worry over environment hits record high

12:59 , Jane Dalton

Concern for the environment among the public as hit a record high, with more than 40% of the UK population putting it in in their top three issues facing the country.

Anxiety about the state of the planet comes behind the economy at 43%, and health at 48%, a YouGov poll found.

The number of people worried by climate change has been climbing since 2018, YouGov said, and its pollsters found it was further boosted by the Extinction Rebellion protests in 2019.

Before 2018, climate change was rarely a top priority of more than 10% of the population, the research firm said.

The first wave of Extinction Rebellion protests pushed it up to the mid-20s, and it seems to have been compounded by growing awareness of global warming in the run-up to the Cop26 summit.

Current levels of concern beat a previous record set in August this year, when an Ipsos Mori poll found 32% of the public said they viewed the climate and ecological crisis as a big issue for the UK.

August’s spike was the highest concern had reached since 1989, when 35% agreed the environment was a worry after the highest temperature since 1976 was logged at Heathrow.

Young people are most concerned, with 43% citing it as the top concern facing the country - even higher than health at 33%.

But all ages are worried, even older generations, with 39% of those aged 65 and above saying climate change is a major issue.

Electric car charge points design unveiled

13:15 , Jane Dalton

A new design to make electric vehicle charge points “instantly recognisable” has been revealed.

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said the design “could become as iconic as the Great British postbox or black cab”.

Consultancy firm PA Consulting, which created the design with the Royal College of Art, said it has “an instantly recognisable circular handle”.

Mr Shapps said it would “raise awareness of the electric vehicle programme (and) help millions more drivers make the switch to cleaner and greener cars”.

A series of announcements on low carbon transport are being made on “transport day” at Cop26.

Nations differ significantly on how quickly to cut emissions, Swiss minister says

13:25 , Jon Sharman

There are widely differing views among nations at Cop26 on the right timeframe for revisiting national carbon emission-reducing pledges, Swiss environment minister Simonetta Sommaruga said on Wednesday.

"Views still differ widely of course as to what should be the preferred timeframe for nationally determined contributions to be applied from 2031 onwards," she said.

"Some like five-year cycle, others want to change them after every stocktake, smaller group want more flexibility and to do a 10-year cycle."

Sommaruga was one of two ministers designated to report back on progress from negotiations on the issue at the conference.

PM arrives in Glasgow... on the train

13:32 , Jon Sharman

Boris Johnson has arrived in Glasgow by train for meetings at Cop26, a week after being criticised for flying home from the climate summit.

The PM arrived at Glasgow Central Station ahead of meetings at the climate summit.

Downing Street was previously forced to defend Mr Johnson's decision to return from Cop26 by private charter jet after his first visit concluded last week.

His official spokesperson said it was important he was able to travel while facing "significant time constraints".

What has been achieved and agreed by leaders at the climate summit?

13:44 , Jon Sharman

World leaders from 200 countries are in Glasgow for the Cop26 climate summit, along with 20,000 delegates and tens of thousands more protesters, campaigners and pressure groups all brought together in the latest international effort to thwart the worsening climate crisis, writes Harry Cockburn.

The announcements and agreements are coming thick and fast, so to help you stay on top of what’s going on and what matters, The Independent is keeping track of all the major developments at the conference.

What has been achieved and agreed by leaders at the Cop26 climate summit so far?

PM pictured at Glasgow Central station

13:46 , Jon Sharman

WaterAid derides draft Cop26 resolution as inadequate

13:54 , Jon Sharman

The draft Cop26 pact published this morning does not do enough to help millions of people at risk from a warming climate, according to a leading charity.

Jonathan Farr, a senior policy analyst at WaterAid, said in a statement: “This draft agreement is not good enough. World leaders have just 72 hours to turn around the life chances of millions of men, women and children across the globe who are facing the deadly impacts of climate change.

“Poor communities are already picking up the tab for our collective failure to take action on climate change and they are paying that bill through increasing water scarcity. Young girls miss school to fetch water, days are lost to ill-health and lives are cut short because of impacts these communities have done the least to cause.

“They cannot wait while world leaders struggle to put their hands in their pockets to deliver on a decade old promise to provide funds to help poorer countries adapt."

Brazil demands world meeting funding target

14:04 , Jon Sharman

Brazil's environment minister has demanded that richer countries provide the £74.1bn annual funding agreed upon to help developing countries switch to clean energy and handle the impact of climate change.

"The $100bn target has not been met," Joaquim Leite said in a speech in Glasgow on Wednesday. "And this amount is no longer enough for the world to build a new green economy with a responsible transition."

The minister added that "more ambitious volumes with easy access and agile execution are needed for inclusive transformation to take place in every territory around the world."

PM to cajole other leaders on climate ambitions, minister says

14:40 , Jon Sharman

Boris Johnson’s aim on his latest trip to Glasgow is to persuade other world leaders to up their ambitions on climate, a minister has said.

Robert Courts, the minister for aviation and maritime, told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme: "We're entering that final hard-yard stage of the negotiation where everybody's ambition comes to the fore and everybody urges each to do better.

"The one thing that you can really see when you're here at Cop is the huge energy, the huge ambition that motivates every single person here from government, from NGOs, through to members of the public.

"We all know that this is the defining issue of our times, it's the biggest challenge of our times, we're determined to deliver and there's all sorts of ways in which we already are."

Someone at Cop26 is having success

14:50 , Jon Sharman

One well-known politician has achieved success at Cop26, even as Boris Johnson struggles to get leaders to commit to improved climate targets.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has completed her quest to obtain Irn-Bru.

The Democratic congresswoman has also said she wanted to “touch Harris tweed and see a castle” during her trip to Scotland, though said the intensity of work at the summit was high.

InFact: Does UK deserve to be in top 10 of climate performance index?

15:09 , Jon Sharman

The UK has once again ranked highly in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), which rates the way each nation is tackling the climate crisis, writes Samuel Webb.

But does the nation deserve to be called a “leading country” by climate experts? Or does the ranking flatter the UK’s efforts?

Does UK deserve to be in top 10 of Climate performance index?

Consensus ‘stronger than ever' on pace of change needed to hit Paris goal

15:14 , Jon Sharman

A top Cop26 figure has said the consensus among transport participants is “stronger than ever” on the pace of changes needed to hit the Paris goal of limiting warming to 1.5C.

Nigel Topping, the summit’s “high level champion”, told a news conference that “we often talk now about a systemic transformation” in sustainable transport.

He said: “We’ve got countries, cities, states, vehicle manufacturers, fleet owners and investors.”

Mr Topping later dodged a question from a Japanese reporter, however, who had asked why Nissan, Toyota and the Japanese government had not signed up, even though those two firms have factories in the UK. “You’d have to ask them,” he said.

Cop26 leaders will be accountable to children and grandchildren, says Sharma

15:34 , Jon Sharman

Any pact agreed at Cop26 in Glasgow will "set the future for our children and grandchildren", the conference's president Alok Sharma has said.

He said: "I still have the intention for us to be able to close Cop26 at the end of Friday. Everyone must come armed with the currency of compromise.

"We all know what is at stake in these negotiations, and indeed the urgency of our task.

"In very human terms, what we agree in Glasgow will set the future for our children and grandchildren. And I know that no world leader or country will want to fail them."

Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics will be carbon-neutral, China says

15:53 , Jon Sharman

The Chinese government has pledged next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics will be a carbon-neutral event, writes Samuel Webb.

China’s ambassador to the US Qin Gang said “all the venues will use renewable energy, and ice making technology will produce almost zero emissions, both the first time in history”.

China pledges carbon-neutral Winter Olympics

Scottish minister catches Covid-19 following Cop26 speech

16:03 , Jon Sharman

A Scottish government minister is isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 two days after speaking at Cop26.

Richard Lochhead, the minister for just transition, employment and fair work, announced he was alerted by the contact tracing app and subsequently recorded a positive PCR test.

Mr Lochhead said he had no symptoms and would work from home while in isolation.

The positive result comes days after Mr Lochhead visited the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow where he spoke alongside Canadian natural resources minister Jonathan Wilkinson, and another speech on Monday about Scotland's transition to net-zero.

Protesters say Cop26 shows better transport is needed

16:39 , Lamiat Sabin

Campaigners have called for better public transport in Scotland, saying the free travel pass given to Cop26 delegates shows the need for a fully integrated system.

While parts of Scottish public transport have smartcard systems, there is no integrated card for all public transport users across the whole network of buses, trains, and Glasgow underground.

A demonstration organised by Friends of the Earth Scotland and Get Glasgow Moving was held in George Square this morning, on the UN summit’s ”transport day”.

Ellie Harrison, of Get Glasgow Moving, said the travel pass for Cop26 attendees showed a similar system could be used across Scotland.

She told the PA news agency: “With political will and funding you can do anything.”

The Scottish Government recently extended free bus travel to everyone under the age of 22 and is currently commissioning a “fair fares review” which will take an integrated approach to public transport.

Ms Harrison said: “We don’t need any more reviews, we’ve been banging on about this for years, what we need is action.”

A Transport Scotland spokesman said that the Scottish Government “is taking forward a comprehensive suite of measures to promote more sustainable, affordable public transport journeys and deprioritise car use”.

Sturgeon says PM ‘should stay in Cop26 until deal is done’

16:50 , Lamiat Sabin

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged Boris Johnson to stay in Glasgow “as long as it takes” to get a deal at Cop26.

The Prime Minister returned to Glasgow today as the draft text of a potential climate agreement was published, calling on countries to set out more ambitious environmental goals in the next year.

Speaking to journalists, Ms Sturgeon said the Prime Minister should not return to London ahead of the end of the conference on Friday, as well as saying she would do anything needed to get a deal over the line.

In a message to Mr Johnson, Ms Sturgeon said: “Stay here for as long as it takes until we get the deal that must be done in Glasgow to where it needs to be.”

She said the PM should stay the talks to “push this deal as far and as fast as we possibly can”.

PM Johnson says Cop26 needs to be ‘more ambitious'

17:00 , Lamiat Sabin

Boris Johnson said during his press conference speech just now that the Cop26 conference needs to be “more ambitious”.

Returning to the summit for a second time, he said that after “a surge of really positive, game-changing announcements… negotiations are getting tough”.

He added: “The line is in sight but if we’re going to get there we need a determined push to get us over the line. We need to be more ambitious and we need more credible plans for implementation.

“We have to bridge the gap between where we are and where we need to be if we’re going to cut emissions in half by 2030.”

‘Immense backlash’ if global warming is not cut, PM warns

17:10 , Lamiat Sabin

Boris Johnson challenged world leaders to “come together and show the determination needed”.

He said that action is needed as now the “world knows what mess our planet is in,” and that failure to tackle climate change would be met by “backlash that would be immense and long-lasting”.

During the press conference at Cop26, the PM claimed that “the world is closer than it has ever been to signal the beginning of the end” of human-driven climate change.

In a question posed to heads of state, he added: “My question is will you help us do that, or will you stand in the way?”

Boris refuses to ‘chivvy’ nations not doing their part

17:15 , Lamiat Sabin

The PM refused to be drawn into saying which countries he believes are “standing in the way” of a climate deal being struck at Cop26.

At the end of his press conference in Glasgow this evening, he was asked by Sky News political editor Beth Rigby which countries he thinks are not pulling their weight in tackling global warming.

Mr Johnson said, even though there are only 48 to 52 hours left to agree a deal, he did not want to “chivvy” countries that were less active or willing in seeking an international agreement.

Cop26 has its limitations, Boris Johnson says

17:46 , Lamiat Sabin

The Cop26 conference “is not going to fix” climate change in one go, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

He said the most depressing thing about climate change is it “doesn’t really look as though it’s capable of being fixed any time soon”.

But he said we need to “keep holding nations and governments to account, and of course corporations as well, and businesses as well.”

Ocasio-Cortez fulfils her wish to sample Irn-Bru

18:10 , Lamiat Sabin

US congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has managed to get her hands on a can of Irn-Bru in Glasgow.

The New York Representative said she “loved” the bright orange soft drink and said it had “pizzaz”.

She added that it reminded her of Kola Champagne – a beverage popular in Latin America.

The Democrat arrived at the Cop26 UN climate summit on Tuesday as part of a US congressional delegation.

Posting on Instagram earlier, she said she wanted to try Irn-Bru while in Scotland, as it is one of the most popular Scottish drinks.

She later tweeted: “I finally got a hold of some Irn-Bru.”

Later, Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted a photo of herself and Ms Ocasio-Cortez posing with a can.

She wrote: “Amidst all the serious business at #Cop26 today, I’m pleased to also report that @AOC now has a supply of Irn-Bru.”

A spokesman for Irn-Bru said: “It’s phenomenal that Scotland’s ginger nectar has made such a splash with delegates from across the globe.”

Hydrogen plan ‘sneaks fossil fuels in by back door’

18:40 , Lamiat Sabin

Friends of the Earth campaigners have criticised new Scottish government plans to invest more than £100 million to boost the country’s hydrogen production to become a “world leader”.

Environmentalists said the proposal to fund production of blue hydrogen is an attempt to “sneak fossil fuels in the back door”.

Last year the Government set the target of having Scotland producing 5GW (gigawatts) of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen by 2030 – enough to power the equivalent of 1.8 million homes.

A new draft action plan, published today, says “renewable and low-carbon hydrogen” can be used to “meet challenging energy demands” as Scotland attempts to move away from oil and gas.

Alex Lee, of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “This is a plan to sneak fossil fuels in the back door through the use of blue hydrogen.

“The First Minister spoke last week about moving away from oil and gas as quickly as possible, yet this hydrogen action plan sets out how they will support continued gas extraction and production for hydrogen.”

Hydrogen can be used as an alternative to natural gas to transfer and store energy, delivering it in a form that emits no carbon dioxide when it is used.

But the climate campaigner said the “blue hydrogen” being promoted by the Scottish Government was “made from gas”, adding that studies had shown burning it “actually releases more carbon emissions than just burning gas”.

Miliband says PM neglecting ‘duty’ by leaving Glasgow

19:00 , Lamiat Sabin

Labour Cop26 spokesperson Ed Miliband has accused Boris Johnson of a “dereliction of duty” for settling for a “lowest common denominator” outcome to the summit, rather than staying on to fight for a positive conclusion.

Mr Miliband said it was “unimaginable” that the PM was leaving Glasgow after a visit of only a few hours today, when the summit the UK is hosting still has two days to run, and may spill over into the weekend.

“The prime minister has treated this summit with nothing like the seriousness that it deserved,” said Mr Miliband.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has also said that Mr Johnson should stay in Glasgow for as long as it takes to strike an international agreement to reduce global warming.

Mr Johnson, at the end of his press conference at Cop26, said he “needs to catch a climate friendly means of transport” back to London. Last week, he took a private plane for a short return to the capital to attend a dinner.

US and China co-operating on climate is ‘only way’ – Kerry

19:30 , Lamiat Sabin

US climate change envoy John Kerry said “co-operation is the only way” to get the job done as the US and China released a joint declaration on enhancing action in the 2020s.

Mr Kerry said: “The United States and China have no shortage of differences, but on climate, co-operation is the only way to get this job done.

“This is not a discretionary thing, frankly, this is science, it’s maths and physics that dictate the road that we have to travel. And we cannot reach our goals unless all of us work together.

“Every country, China and the United States particularly, as the two largest emitters in the world, both have to help show the way.

“We need to raise ambition and we need to take action in this decisive decade.”

China’s carbon emissions have ‘peaked,’ Kerry says

20:00 , Lamiat Sabin

US climate envoy John Kerry said that it is believed that China has reached “peak” levels of greenhouse gas emissions.

He has also said that the US working with China is the “only way” to reduce global warming.

The two countries – the biggest emitters of carbon out of all nations – intend on limiting methane emissions and deforestation as well as work on phasing out coal, Mr Kerry said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping had pledged in September that China would achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.

Johnson’s government needs 'time’ to digest US-China pact

20:33 , Lamiat Sabin

Boris Johnson’s climate spokeswoman Allegra Stratton has welcomed a joint declaration by the US and China at the Cop26 summit.

She told Channel 4 News that they need time to consider the details of the pact to fight global warming agreed by the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases.

Ms Stratton said: “Clearly it is welcome that the world’s two biggest emitters have decided to work together to bring down carbon emissions. But you will have to give us time to digest the detail of what they are calling their declaration.”

Our senior climate correspondent Louise Boyle has the full story on the US-China pact

US and China make pact to cooperate on climate crisis

What is in the draft agreement?

21:20 , Lamiat Sabin

With about three days left of the Cop26 conference, world leaders have so far published a draft international agreement on tackling climate change.

The draft text calls on countries to “accelerate” the phasing out of coal and fossil fuels, but with no deadline stipulated, reduce methane emissions, and reverse deforestation.

But it does not state how the poorest nations will be financed to take part in these global efforts.

Climate correspondents Louise Boyle and Daisy Dunne have the details

The good, the bad and the grey areas in the first draft of the Cop26 agreement

Packham urges all to ‘play a proactive role’ for nature

21:40 , Lamiat Sabin

Environmentalist Chris Packham has said everyone must “play a proactive role” to protect the world’s wildlife and nature.

The TV presenter and conservationist said at Cop26: “We can’t rely on our parents if we’re children; we can’t rely on our families if we’re adults; we can’t rely on our communities or our countries; we’ve all got to play a proactive role in this.”

He added it was “beyond desperately sad” that some species had been “pushed too far”, but he was not pessimistic about the future.

Mr Packham added: “There are still plenty of species still on the brink that we can pull back if we just get on with some proper conservation.”

He said he was heartened by activists he had met at Cop26 fringe events, who were “disappointed, frustrated, angry but determined to solve this problem”.

Cop26 sees 70 people arrested in total

22:00 , Lamiat Sabin

Seventy people have been arrested during the climate summit in Glasgow, The Scotsman reports.

Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie, one of Scotland’s top police chiefs, revealed the figure with just over two days left of the 13-day-long UN conference.He said, according to the newspaper: “Police officers have had several hundred engagements with people who were protesting and have made around 70 arrests.

“I would like to thank protesters and all the police officers and stewards engaged in these operations for ensuring rights were upheld, voices were heard and peaceful protest was facilitated, while also maintaining the safety of all involved.”

22:13 , Lamiat Sabin

That’s it for our coverage of today’s Cop26 developments. We’ll be back tomorrow. Thank you for following.