LONDON (CU)_Leaders of the G20 industrialised nations met in Rome over the weekend in order to the global economic recovery, rising energy costs and the ongoing supply chain problems. Another a key subject of discussion at the gathering was the ongoing climate crisis, ahead of the much anticipated Conference of the Parties, scheduled to be held in Glasgow.
However, after two days of preliminary talks with his fellow G20 leaders, Prime Minister Boris Johnson conceded that the COP26 is at serious risk of failure, given that little progress was made in Rome. According to the British leader, the summit is not on track to achieve a deal as countries refuse to promise enough to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
Describing the commitments being made so far as a “drop in the rapidly warming ocean”, PM Johnson said: “Currently, let’s be in no doubt, we are not going to hit it and we have to be honest with ourselves.”
Around 20,000 delegates, including nearly 200 global leaders from around the world, are expected to gather in Glasgow for the summit, which will open on Monday (1 November). US president Joe Biden and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be among the key players who will attend the summit, while the leaders of major carbon emitters, China and Russia will not be present.
With the UN projecting global warming to rise to 2.7°C by the end of this century, PM Johnson will tell the gathering on Monday that the world is at “one minute to midnight” in achieving the 1.5°C goal.
After the leaders meet over the next two days, they will work on their negotiations with hopes of reaching an agreement by 12 November. If it appears that a deal may be within reach, the British Prime Minister may return to the summit towards the end.
On the prospects of reaching an agreement in Glasgow, PM Johnson said: “It’s nip and tuck, it’s touch and go. We could do it, or we could fail by the middle of November.”
