Boris Johnson says COP26 negotiations have a 'long way to go'

Boris Johnson has said the COP26 negotiations in Glasgow have a “long way to go”, but insisted that “we can take heart” from what has been achieved so far.

The Prime Minister gave a statement to MPs on Wednesday updating them on talks at the UN summit.

Whilst outlining the agreements that have been reached so far, he also warned that the question of whether there is the collective wisdom and will to “save ourselves from an avoidable disaster” still hangs in the balance.

The eyes of the world will be on @COP26 for the next ten days.

Let’s keep moving forward, keep 1.5 alive and make this the moment we irrefutably turn the tide against climate change. pic.twitter.com/fF7Mh5ED1f
— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) November 2, 2021

“The negotiations in Glasgow have almost two weeks to run, but we can take heart from what has been achieved so far,” Johnson told MPs.

“Nations which together comprise 90% of the world economy are now committed to net zero, up from 30% when the UK took over the reins of COP.

“Yesterday alone, the United States and over a hundred other countries agreed to cut their emissions of methane, one of the most destructive greenhouse gases, by 30% by 2030.

“And 122 countries, with over 85% of the world’s forests, agreed to end and reverse deforestation by the same deadline.

“Backed by the greatest ever commitment of public funds to this cause which I hope will trigger even more from the private sector.”

He continued: “India has agreed to transform her energy system to derive half her power from renewable sources, keeping a billion tonnes of carbon out of the atmosphere.

“The UK has doubled our commitment to international climate finance to £11.6bn and we will contribute another £1bn if the economy grows as is forecast.

“We’ve launched our clean, green initiative which will help the developing world to build new infrastructure in an environmentally friendly way.

“And we will invest £3bn of public money to unlock billions more from the private sector.”

📣 LATEST UPDATE: The Global Methane Pledge now represents 46% of global methane emissions and 70% of the global economy.

✅ Helping limit up to 0.2C of warming across the next decade alone
✅ #COP26 is taking action on methane emissions

Learn more about action on methane 👇 pic.twitter.com/NqJ7d8GJ4p
— COP26 (@COP26) November 2, 2021

Johnson pledged that the UK will “press on” with talks “until the last hour”.

He said: “The UK has asked the world for action on coal, cars, cash and trees, and we have begun to make progress, substantial, palpable progress on three out of the four.

“But the negotiations in Glasgow have a long way to go and far more must be done.

“Whether we can summon the collective wisdom and will to save ourselves from an avoidable disaster still hangs in the balance.

“And we will press on with the hard work until the last hour.”

The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford said: “On climate change, we know that the G20 are responsible for 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

“So, it is right that it’s the G10 20 members that bear the biggest responsibilty.

“Countries that have contributed the least to this climate crisis must not be left to pay the biggest price.

“And that’s why there has to be a commitment to climate justice and why this is so important.”