COP26 is 'world's best chance' to limit global warming

The UN climate change conference in Glasgow represents the “world’s best chance” to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, according to Nicola Sturgeon.

Speaking virtually at the fifth annual Austrian World Summit, the First Minister called for the voices of those most impacted by the climate crisis to be heard.

The summit is the centrepiece of a climate initiative founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Speakers at the event this year included climate activist Greta Thunberg, German chancellor Angela Merkel, COP26 president Alok Sharma, and the US special presidential envoy for for climate John Kerry.

Good to see Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon join Greta Thunberg, German Chancellor Merkel, UN Secretary General Guterres and many other speakers at the Austria World Summit on #climateaction #AWS21🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇦🇹🌎 pic.twitter.com/UYA09jsvKi
— Angus Robertson (@AngusRobertson) July 1, 2021

World leaders are set to travel to Glasgow for COP26, which is being hosted in the city between October 31 and November 12.

“The climate crisis – with its inter-related threats of climate change, nature loss and pollution – remains the single biggest challenge the world faces,” said Sturgeon.

“COP26 represents the world’s best chance – and possibly one of our last chances – to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.

“One of the great injustices of the climate crisis is that the people and countries who are worst affected are usually those who have done least to cause it.

“At Glasgow, their needs must be recognised, and their voices must be heard. The Scottish Government is determined to help with that process.

“All of us – and governments in particular – now need to summon that same sense of urgency in tackling the climate crisis. If we do, COP26 can become a global turning point – one which ensures that as we recover from the pandemic, we create a greener and fairer world.