if we switched our focus from trying to create loopholes and excuses not to not take action, which is very much the case now, no matter how you see it, if we switched from that focus to actually trying to combat climate change in a way that would actually solve it, taking into account the whole perspective, then i think that we could achieve massive changes. and, of course, we must also remember that there's not a point where everything is lost. there's not like a tipping point we pass and now everything is lost, there's no point in doing anything. if we can't keep the global average temperature rise to below 1.5, then we do 1.6, and then 1.7, and so on. we can always prevent things from getting worse. it's never too late to do as much as we can. we expect alok sharma to be

officially taking the presidency in the next few minutes, we will go to that life when it happens just across the river clyde from where we are at the scottish exhibition centre and we are expecting a number of speeches on this opening day of cop26, largely procedural and that is the current president of chile who will be handing over to alok sharma, there he is. i beg your pardon. let mejust bring in our science correspondent, victoria. so, a big moment to see this getting under way, victoria. it a big moment to see this getting under way, victoria.— under way, victoria. it is. as you sa , under way, victoria. it is. as you say. today _ under way, victoria. it is. as you say. today is _ under way, victoria. it is. as you say, today is largely _ under way, victoria. it is. as you say, today is largely procedural. under way, victoria. it is. as you i say, today is largely procedural and the leaders' speeches will start tomorrow but then once those speeches are delivered, those world leaders will essentially head home and hand over to their negotiators and hand over to their negotiators and senior level ministers to get down to business and start hammering out the strategies, just how our

individual countries are going to live up to that agreement, the historic agreement that was reached in paris, and how are they going to set out their own strategies to deliver? i set out their own strategies to deliver? ~ ., ., ., deliver? i think we are going to 'ust deliver? i think we are going to just listening — deliver? i think we are going to just listening to _ deliver? i think we are going to just listening to what _ deliver? i think we are going to just listening to what is - deliver? i think we are going to just listening to what is being l deliver? i think we are going to i just listening to what is being said is now on this opening day, the procedural day of cop26. and alok sharma stepping forward to accept the gavel from the outgoing president. the uk are obviously announcing a raft of policy measures including its net zero strategy in recent days and weeks ahead of this conference. they want to set the

scene that the uk is world leading, encouraging other countries to take the steps necessary to keep global temperature is below 1.5 in what is being called this decisive decade. some formalities under way and we are going to be hearing from a number of key speakers including from the ipcc, the united nations and, of course, from alok sharma himself. victoria, a quick word if we can while we wait for alok sharma to make his speech, which he may be about to start imminently, butjust looking at the uk and the example is a setting, how does it fare compared to other nations? the a setting, how does it fare compared to other nations?— to other nations? the strategy has been largely _ to other nations? the strategy has been largely praised _ to other nations? the strategy has been largely praised for _ to other nations? the strategy has been largely praised for being - been largely praised for being realistic and for setting some pretty timely targets. we are

looking to decarbonise our electricity supply by 2035, phasing out petrol and diesel cars, but there are some gaps in the air that scientists have criticised particularly about how our own lives are to change with the impact of agriculture and food production, shifting our patters and what we eat, not only looking at a more plant —based diet perhaps but also reducing average calorie intake and living more active lives and using public transport as well as moving away from cars. public transport as well as moving away from cars-— public transport as well as moving away from cars. victoria, here is a alok sharma- _ away from cars. victoria, here is a alok sharma. i— away from cars. victoria, here is a alok sharma. i want _ away from cars. victoria, here is a alok sharma. i want to _ away from cars. victoria, here is a alok sharma. i want to thank - away from cars. victoria, here is a alok sharma. i want to thank my i away from cars. victoria, here is a - alok sharma. i want to thank my dear friend for her— alok sharma. i want to thank my dear friend for her really _ alok sharma. i want to thank my dear friend for her really strong _ friend for her really strong leadership over the past two years. friends, _ leadership over the past two years. friends, i_ leadership over the past two years. friends, i am very aware of the responsibility placed upon me in this role — responsibility placed upon me in this role and i do not underestimate the challenge. but let me start first by— the challenge. but let me start first by formally welcoming you to glasgow _ first by formally welcoming you to glasgow and i want to thank you all for your— glasgow and i want to thank you all for your efforts on getting to the united _

for your efforts on getting to the united kingdom which i know, for somet _ united kingdom which i know, for some. has— united kingdom which i know, for some, has been arduous due to the impacts— some, has been arduous due to the impacts of— some, has been arduous due to the impacts of the pandemic. indeed, for almost _ impacts of the pandemic. indeed, for almost two _ impacts of the pandemic. indeed, for almost two years now, the pandemic has caused _ almost two years now, the pandemic has caused devastation and disruption to lives and livelihoods across— disruption to lives and livelihoods across the — disruption to lives and livelihoods across the world. and i know this is particularly — across the world. and i know this is particularly affected the least developed countries and the small island _ developed countries and the small island developing states and because of the _ island developing states and because of the pandemic, as you know, we postponed — of the pandemic, as you know, we postponed cop26 by one year. but during _ postponed cop26 by one year. but during that year, climate change did not take _ during that year, climate change did not take time off. and the ipcc report— not take time off. and the ipcc report in— not take time off. and the ipcc report in august was a wake—up call for all— report in august was a wake—up call for all of— report in august was a wake—up call for all of us — report in august was a wake—up call for all of us. it made clear that the lights _ for all of us. it made clear that the lights are flashing red on the climate — the lights are flashing red on the climate dashboard. that report, agreed — climate dashboard. that report, agreed by— climate dashboard. that report, agreed by 195 governments, makes clear that _ agreed by 195 governments, makes clear that human activity is unequivocally the cause of global warming — unequivocally the cause of global warming. and we know that the window

to keep _ warming. and we know that the window to keep a _ warming. and we know that the window to keep a 15— warming. and we know that the window to keep a 1.5 degrees within reach is closing — to keep a 1.5 degrees within reach is closing i— to keep a 1.5 degrees within reach is closing. i have been humbled to speak— is closing. i have been humbled to speak over— is closing. i have been humbled to speak over this year with communities devastated by climate change _ communities devastated by climate change. on a visit to nepal, i spoke to communities literally displaced from their homes from a combination of droughts _ from their homes from a combination of droughts and floods. in barbuda, i of droughts and floods. in barbuda, i met— of droughts and floods. in barbuda, i met communities still suffering from _ i met communities still suffering from the — i met communities still suffering from the ravages of hurricane irma four years — from the ravages of hurricane irma four years ago. i have spoken to communities in east africa fighting plagues— communities in east africa fighting plagues of locusts spawned by climate — plagues of locusts spawned by climate change. and earlier this month, — climate change. and earlier this month, i— climate change. and earlier this month, i spoke to a group of women in madagascar determinedly coping with what some describe as the first climate _ with what some describe as the first climate induced famine in the world. friends, _ climate induced famine in the world. friends, in_ climate induced famine in the world. friends, in each of our countries,

we are _ friends, in each of our countries, we are seeing the devastating impact of a changing climate. floods, cyclones, _ of a changing climate. floods, cyclones, wildfires, record temperatures and we know that our shared _ temperatures and we know that our shared planet is changing for the worse _ shared planet is changing for the worse. and we can only address that together, _ worse. and we can only address that together, through this international system _ together, through this international system. and we know what we need to do because _ system. and we know what we need to do because six years ago in paris, we agreed — do because six years ago in paris, we agreed our shared goals. we said we agreed our shared goals. we said we would _ we agreed our shared goals. we said we would protect people and nature from the _ we would protect people and nature from the effects of climate change. we said _ from the effects of climate change. we said we would get finance flowing to climate _ we said we would get finance flowing to climate action and we said we would _ to climate action and we said we would limit the rise in global temperature to well below two degrees, pursuing efforts towards 1.5. degrees, pursuing efforts towards 15 the _ degrees, pursuing efforts towards 1.5. the rapidly changing climate is sounding _ 1.5. the rapidly changing climate is sounding an alarm to the world to step up— sounding an alarm to the world to step up on— sounding an alarm to the world to step up on adaptation, to address loss and _ step up on adaptation, to address loss and damage and to act now to keep— loss and damage and to act now to keep a _ loss and damage and to act now to keep a alive. and we know that this

c0p2ti— keep a alive. and we know that this c0p26 is— keep a alive. and we know that this cop26 is our last best hope to keep a 1.5 cop26 is our last best hope to keep a 15 in_ cop26 is our last best hope to keep a 1.5 in reach. now i know that we have _ a 1.5 in reach. now i know that we have an _ a 1.5 in reach. now i know that we have an unprecedented agenda ahead of us, _ have an unprecedented agenda ahead of us, but _ have an unprecedented agenda ahead of us, but i _ have an unprecedented agenda ahead of us, but i believe that this international system can deliver. it must _ international system can deliver. it must deliver. and as president, i am committed _ must deliver. and as president, i am committed to promoting transparency and inclusivity and i will lead this conference in procedural rules and with the _ conference in procedural rules and with the utmost respect for the party— with the utmost respect for the party driven nature of our process. in party driven nature of our process. in that _ party driven nature of our process. in that spirit, i believe that we can resolve the outstanding issues, we can _ can resolve the outstanding issues, we can move the negotiations forward and we _ we can move the negotiations forward and we can— we can move the negotiations forward and we can launch a decades of ever increasing _ and we can launch a decades of ever increasing ambition and action. and together, _ increasing ambition and action. and together, we can seize the enormous opportunities for green growth, good green _ opportunities for green growth, good greenjobs, cheaper, cleaner power, but we _

greenjobs, cheaper, cleaner power, but we need — greenjobs, cheaper, cleaner power, but we need to hit the ground running — but we need to hit the ground running. to develop the solutions that we _ running. to develop the solutions that we need, that work starts today — that we need, that work starts today. and we will succeed or fail as one _ today. and we will succeed or fail as one. astronauts speak of the intense — as one. astronauts speak of the intense emotion they feel when looking — intense emotion they feel when looking back at earth from space, seeing _ looking back at earth from space, seeing it— looking back at earth from space, seeing it gleaming through the darkness of the cosmos. incredible. improbable. and infinitely precious. and if— improbable. and infinitely precious. and if we _ improbable. and infinitely precious. and if we act now and we act together, _ and if we act now and we act together, we can protect our precious — together, we can protect our precious planet, so let's come together— precious planet, so let's come together over these two weeks and ensure _ together over these two weeks and ensure that where paris promised, gtasgow— ensure that where paris promised, glasgow delivers. thank you. alok sharma formally _ glasgow delivers. thank you. ir sharma formally accepting the

presidency of cop. a clear message from him, we need to launch a decade of ever increasing ambition and we must hit the ground running and, of course, he is referring to this decisive decade, a phrase we will return to again and again over the next couple of weeks because there is an acceptance that if 2050 targets are to be met then much needs to be achieved in this current decade. let's listen again to alok sharma. fit. decade. let's listen again to alok sharma. �* , , ., ., sharma. a representative of the indigenous _ sharma. a representative of the indigenous peoples _ sharma. a representative of the indigenous peoples and - sharma. a representative of the indigenous peoples and miss . sharma. a representative of the - indigenous peoples and miss patricia espinosa, _ indigenous peoples and miss patricia espinosa, executive secretary. and it is now _ espinosa, executive secretary. and it is now my— espinosa, executive secretary. and it is now my pleasure to invite courrcillor— it is now my pleasure to invite councillor susan aitken, leader of glasgow— councillor susan aitken, leader of glasgow city council, to address the plenary _ glasgow city council, to address the plenary. councillor aitken, you have the floor~ _ plenary. councillor aitken, you have the floor. ., ~ plenary. councillor aitken, you have the floor. ., ,, , ., , the floor. thank you, president. friends, the floor. thank you, president. friends. it _ the floor. thank you, president. friends, it is _ the floor. thank you, president. friends, it is my _ the floor. thank you, president. friends, it is my great _ the floor. thank you, president. j friends, it is my great pleasure, honour and responsibility to give

the 26 united nations conference of the 26 united nations conference of the party is the warmest of our famous welcomes to the city of glasgow. there have been delays and uncertainties on our collective journey here. i am extremely grateful to everyone who has worked in partnership with us as the host city to get is here to this point. but we are here now and humanity looks to you and the work that you will do over the next two weeks to fulfil the promise of paris for a safer, sustainable, more equitable future for us all. let the city of glasgow and our people serve as an inspiration to you. this is a city that has been through some very tough times, but we have survived and thrived against the odds through resilience, innovation, imagination,

a sense of community, a strong sense of social justice, a sense of community, a strong sense of socialjustice, humour a sense of community, a strong sense of social justice, humour and a sense of community, a strong sense of socialjustice, humour and grit. these are all qualities that you will need in abundance over the days ahead and if you feel your determination flagging at any point, please take a walk outside, talk to a glaswegian and let the spirits that infuses the city infuse you, too. and if, as you spend some time here, you feel yourself feeling a little bit older, a little bit bolshie, perhaps with a little more swagger than usual, then that is just the glasgow effect. take inspiration, too, from glasgow's climate ambition. if this post—industrial city, still living with the legacies of our high carbon past, can have a plan for net zero x 2030, then there should be no limit

on your ambitions either. let the example of pioneer cities like this one light your way to the actions that you must agree here to safeguard our climate and our ecology for future generations. glasgow couldn't be prouder of being the host for this pivotal moment for the host for this pivotal moment for the future of the planets that we all share. the future of the planets that we allshare. like the future of the planets that we all share. like the rest of the world, we will be watching and judging, our demands and expectations of you will be high, but we will also be cheering you on and wishing you all the heart and courage that you need for the task that you have ahead of you. once again, welcome to glasgow. thank you. again, welcome to glasgow. thank ou, ,, �* ~' , again, welcome to glasgow. thank ou. ,, ~ ~ ., you. susan aitken, they are, leader of glasgow — you. susan aitken, they are, leader of glasgow city _ you. susan aitken, they are, leader of glasgow city council. _ you. susan aitken, they are, leader of glasgow city council. glasgow i

you. susan aitken, they are, leader| of glasgow city council. glasgow has set a net zero carbon target by 2030 which is one of the most ambitious targets of cities around the world. and now we have patricia espinosa speaking. and now we have patricia espinosa s-teakin. ., ., .,, and now we have patricia espinosa sheakin, ., ., , , speaking. honourable guests, distinguished _ speaking. honourable guests, distinguished delegates, i speaking. honourable guests, l distinguished delegates, ladies speaking. honourable guests, i distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. 0urvery long distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. our very long wait is over. it is with joy and enthusiasm that i officially welcome you to cop26. i thank the outgoing cop presidency of chile and especially the ministerfor their presidency of chile and especially the minister for their leadership in the minister for their leadership in the last two challenging years. i also officially welcome the incoming uk presidency and minister alok sharma. i thank you for your collaborative efforts as we work

together to make cop26 a resounding success. and to all of you, i say this, congratulations. congratulations to those in this room, those watching online and to everyone involved in this process. think back on the last two years since we last met in madrid. the early confusion, the pandemic and what it could mean for our process. think about the decisions we made together, the skills we develop together, the skills we develop together to take advantage of communication technologies. think also of those we lost to covid—19. 0ur also of those we lost to covid—19. our hearts are with those who continue to suffer. but let us also acknowledge what we have

accomplished. we have kept the process going. we have not let the pandemic stand in the way of addressing the most critical issue facing this generation and those to come. we are here because of you and your work. come. we are here because of you and yourwork. from come. we are here because of you and your work. from the bottom of my heart, thank you. let's ensure that work was not in vain. as a scottish poet robert burns once wrote, now is the day, now is the hour. colleagues, dearfriends, we stand at a pivotal point in history. humanity faces stark but clear choices. we either choose to achieve rapid and large—scale reductions of emissions to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5

degrees, orwe limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, or we accept that humanity faces a bleak future on this planet. we either choose to boost adaptation efforts to deal with current extreme weather disasters and build resilience to address future impacts or we accept that more people will die, more families will suffer and more economic harm will follow. we either choose to recognise that business as usual is not worth the devastating price we are paying and make the necessary transition to a more sustainable future or we accept that we are investing in our own extinction. it's about much more than the environment. it is about peace, stability and the institutions we have built to promote the wellbeing of all. it is for these reasons and more that we

must make progress here in glasgow. we must make it a success as president alok sharma has just said. success at cop, here at this cop, is entirely possible. success is possible because we have the platform for action. the paris agreement is a covenant of hope with humanity. it has everything we need to achieve our climate goals. but to fully unleash its potential, we need fully unleash its potential, we need full implementation. to get there, parties must finalise outstanding work under the agreement that has remained unfinished for far too long. every day that goes by without being able to implement the paris agreement in full is a wasted day. the accumulation of which has

real—world repercussions for people throughout the world, especially the most vulnerable. i call upon parties to complete the necessary work here at cop26 that will move us towards full implementation. success is possible because we already know the pathway to solutions. the recently updated un climate change report showed that emissions continued to rise. that is bad news. the good news is that it also showed that for those nations providing a new and updated ndc, emissions are projected to decrease by 2030. but the truth is that we need even more ambitions and all nations on board, especially

the highest emitters in the g 20, responsible for around 80% of global emissions. we also need to see provision of support to developing countries, another cornerstone of the paris agreement. with adequate support, emissions reductions can potentially be higher. this relates to the commitment to mobilise hot 100,000,000,000 from developed countries to developing countries. the delivery plan announced last week should be seen as a start, not the end. it is important to follow through with more detail and concrete actions. but let us be clear. without the necessary support, we will not be able to embark on the transformations needed to achieve the 1.5 degree goal. this is not only about 100 billion. we

need to mobilise the trillions. with respect to adaptation, we need to significantly increase financial support, especially for the most vulnerable countries. we need to accelerate the development and implementation of national adaptation plans. a clear path to solutions exists. i call upon all parties to recapture the spirit of multilateralism that we resulted in the adoption of the paris agreement. success is possible because we have the science. the data is unequivocal. climate change is widespread, rapid, intensifying and already impacting every region on earth, on land and in the ocean. but one number stands out above all

others. we must limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees by the end of this century. the ipcc, the end of this century. the ipcc, the report and the emissions report all tell us, however, that we are not on that path. i call upon all parties to use science to inform their decisions at cop26 and act upon it. studies and statistics tell one story. but we must look beyond the numbers to the human lives they represent. i have been to the small island states threatened by rising waters. i have spoken to schoolchildren frightened for their futures. i have talked to women who bear the burden of climate change at home but are shut out of the search for solutions the minute they go out

of the door. i have talked to youth frustrated with what they see as a bleak future. the frustrated with what they see as a bleakfuture. the message frustrated with what they see as a bleak future. the message they all have in common is this, they want to be included. they are right. if we are sincere in calling climate change a global issue, then total inclusion must be the foundation upon which these process is built. cop26 needs to ensure that all voices and proposals are considered. i encourage the engagement of observers and other stakeholders and i call upon parties to incorporate their ideas in the discussions here at cop26. we are all facing the same climate emergency. we must all be part of the solution. dear colleagues, the transition that we

need is beyond the scope, scale and speed of anything humanity has accomplished in the past. it is a daunting task, but humanity is a species defined by its ingenuity. more than two centuries ago, the world was completely transformed by the industrial revolution. it was an era driven by the technology and innovation of their day. but also one with a residual impact of greater economic and social division, environmental damage and climate change. we can and must learn the lessons of history. let ours be an era defined by the prosperity of the many rather than the short—term gain of the few. let ours be an era in which we have healthier relationships with nature. let ours be an era in which we

protect our land, oceans and biodiversity. let glasgow be the starting point of this new era, this new age of resilience and let cop26 mark its beginning. it's entirely within our grasp, but getting there depends on the completion of our work here. it depends on the full implementation of the paris agreement. it depends on more climate action. it depends on you. it depends on all of us. dear friends, the task ahead of you in these two weeks is significant. but look at what you have accomplished just to get this far. success is entirely possible. i encourage you to keep the big picture in mind. i

encourage you to look beyond your specific agenda item, to what we are trying to achieve together. i encourage you to consider the choices that we must make and the trust invested in you by billions. let us rise to the enormous challenge of our time. this pivotal point in history and achieve success notjust point in history and achieve success not just for point in history and achieve success notjust for our point in history and achieve success not just for our present point in history and achieve success notjust for our present generation but all generations to come. thank you. but all generations to come. thank ou. ~ ., but all generations to come. thank ou. ~ . ., ., , you. well, there we are, that was patricia espinosa, _ you. well, there we are, that was patricia espinosa, executive i patricia espinosa, executive secretary of the un framework convention on climate change. and we are going to hear in a minute from the intergovernmental panel on climate change as well, but she was just saying there, patricia espinosa, that we must make this cop26 summit a success. she said

success is entirely possible but otherwise we will be investing in our own extinction. let's listen in next to doctor li. excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen. it is an honourfor me delegates, ladies and gentlemen. it is an honour for me to address you on behalf of the ipcc at the opening of the cop26. first, our sincere thanks to the secretariat and the uk government for the successful preparation of this landmark conference. we are equally grateful to the scottish government and the city of glasgow for this preparation and warm welcome. it is a privilege

to speak about climate change science here in scotland, our land with a richer scientific life and home to giants such as alexander fleming, mary somerville and, of course, adam smith, the father of economicsjust course, adam smith, the father of economics just to name a few. today's scientific knowledge and its achievements stands also on their shoulders. priorto achievements stands also on their shoulders. prior to this conference, the ipcc released in august the first part of its ongoing sixth assessment report. it clearly laid out for the policymakers and stakeholders the most up—to—date basis for the understanding of the climate system and climate change. make no mistake, it is a sobering read. it reflects the magnitude of

the collective challenge for all nations on this planet. science shows that changes in the climate are widespread, rapid and becoming more intense and affecting every part of the region. thanks to major advancesin part of the region. thanks to major advances in science, since our previous assessment report in 2013, today, we have a much more precise and clear picture of how the climate system works, which lets us understand better what has changed. what is changing now and what could be the changes in the future in the climate system and why they matter for every region. it is now unequivocal that human influence is

causing climate change, making extreme events more frequent and more severe. some recent extremes such as heatwaves in the last ten years would have been extremely unlikely to occur without human influence on the climate system. global warming of 1.5 degrees to 2 will be exceeded during this century unless immediate, rapid and large—scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions especially of carbon dioxide and methane occur in the nearfuture. we also bring a wealth of understanding about climate change at the regional level which is critically relevant for shaping policies. i encourage everyone to seize the moment, seize the opportunity this gathering offers.

we, the scientific community, are ready to