COP26: Glasgow protests and Greta Thunberg's 'no more blah blah blah' message to world leaders
The most famous climate protester in the world could have been posing for selfies with the world leader of her choice at the conference. Instead, she was protesting in one of the poorest parts of Glasgow, ITV News Scotland Correspondent Peter Smith reports
Activist Greta Thunberg has said change will not come from the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow as she criticised the “blah blah blah” of world leaders at the global gathering
In a separate protest, Oxfam GB demonstrators dressed as world leaders told ITV News this morning they want to see "immediate action" rather than "hot air" from governments.
Speaking at a protest in the city on Monday afternoon, Ms Thunberg criticised what she said was a lack of leadership and action from governments, before telling the young protesters in Festival Park that they were key to tackling the climate emergency.
“We say no more blah blah blah, no more exploitation of people and nature and the planet", the Swedish activist said.
Greta Thunberg demanded action from world leaders on climate change at a protest in Glasgow today:
Addressing protesters across the river from the COP26 summit, the 18-year-old said: “Inside COP they are just politicians and people in power pretending to take our future seriously.
"Pretending to take the present seriously of the people who are being affected already today by the climate crisis.”
Protesters, dressed as world leaders in kilts, told ITV News this morning that world leaders must "act now" and stop blowing "hot air" on the climate emergency.
Demonstrators from Oxfam GB posed for photos in Glasgow, as leaders and delegates from around the world met for the start of the COP26 climate conference in the city.
Costumes of Boris Johnson, Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and other world leaders were on display, as part of what protesters called "the hot air big band".
The "hot air" slogan took aim at what Oxfam GB has called a lack of serious action from world leaders on climate change.
Danny Sriskandarajah, chief executive of Oxfam GB, told ITV News the UK government needs to "lead by example" at the climate conference and must deliver on the promises they've made on tackling climate change.
"This COP has to be about delivery, no more hot air. It has to be about real things to reduce greenhouse gas emissions", he said.
The Oxfam GB head also said climate action is needed to protect "the most vulnerable" countries in the world, that will be worst affected by climate change.
Oxfam GB's Danny Sriskandarajah told ITV News that world leaders must take climate action now:
Oxfam GB's protest comes a week after a United Nations report said the world is not on track to meet its climate action targets and stop the most "catastrophic" effects of climate change.
The report - by the UN Environment Programme - said countries needed to up their climate commitments if we want to stop dangerous levels of global warming.
The opening ceremony of COP26 took place today in Glasgow. Climate talks will continue in the city until November 12.
The COP27 climate conference - what you need to know
What is COP27? When and where will it be?
What is COP27? When and where will it be?
Each year, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meets at what is called the Conference of the Parties (abbreviated as COP) to discuss the world's progress on climate change and how to tackle it.
COP27 is the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties summit which will be held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt from November 6-18.
Who is going?
Who is going?
Leaders of the 197 countries that signed the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - a treaty that came into force in 1994 - are invited to the summit.
These are some of the world leaders that will be attending COP27:
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is attending the conference, after initially saying he wouldn't as he was too busy focusing on the economy within his first weeks in office.
US President Joe Biden and his experienced climate envoy, John Kerry, will appear at the talks.
France President Emmanuel Macron will also be among the heads of state from around the world staying in Egypt.
King Charles III will not be attending COP27, despite being a staunch advocate for the environment. The decision was made jointly by Buckingham Palace and former prime minister Liz Truss.
Elsewhere, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will not attend the talks just as they decided to do for COP26.
What is it hoping to achieve?
What is it hoping to achieve?
1. Ensure full implementation of the Paris Agreement and putting negotiations into concrete actions - included within this is the target of limiting global warming to well below 2C.
2. Cementing progress on the critical workstreams of mitigation, adaptation, finance and loss and damage, while stepping up finance notably to tackle the impacts of climate change.
3. Enhancing the delivery of the principles of transparency and accountability throughout the UN Climate Change process.