this is bbc news. i'm annita mcveigh, live in glasgow as the cop26 summit — the crucial climate change conference — gets underway. a draft final communique from 620 leaders in rome commits to the key goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius — and pledges action to curb the use of coal — but falls short on the zero emissions target. in glasgow, alok sharma assumes presidency of the cop26 climate change conference — and warns the conference "is our last, best hope" to keep global warming limited to 1.5c by the end of the century. if we act now and we act together,

we can protect our precious planet. so, let's come together over these two weeks and ensure that where paris promised, glasgow delivers. prince charles has added his voice to calls for more action to tackle climate change — telling leaders in rome they owe it to the next generation. cop26 begins in glasgow tomorrow, quite literally it is the last chance saloon. we must now translate fine words into still finer actions. and the british government says it's "up to france" to solve the post—brexit fishing row with the uk — by stepping back from threats over access to its ports.

good afternoon, and welcome to the opening day of cop26 — the major climate change summit in glasgow. delayed by a year by the covid—19 pandemic. in the past hour — a draft communique has emerged from leaders at the g20 summit in rome. leaders have committed to the key goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. they have also pledged action to curb the use of coal, but the document falls short on a target of net zero emissions. we'll give you a little more detail on that now. mark lowen is at

the g20 summit in rome — and has this assessment of the draft final communique that the leaders of the world's biggest economy are set to approve later this afternoon. we are getting a draught final communique that is making the rounds here. it could still be tweaked, of course, in the couple of hours to come, but it's pretty long, i have to say. so the fruit of several months�* work. on the climate issue, let me just give you headlines. the g20 leaders are saying that they have agreed to pursue efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above preindustrial level. that is going further than the paris climate accord of 2015 when the idea at that stage was to cap it at well below two degrees, and ideally closer to 1.5 degrees. so it appears they have come down to target 1.5 degrees. you have to remember, these communiques are all about the nuance and the language and the choice of words. but then, on the issue... and on the 1.5 degrees,

i'lljust add, they talk about the need to take "meaningful and effective actions" and a commitment by all countries. that is thought to be a slightly softer form of wording than an earlier draught which talks about immediate action. so you can see there the play on words and the war of words that there has been to try to get this communique. on the issue of achieving net zero carbon emissions, which scientists agree is essential if the goal of keeping 1.5 degrees is kept alive, there is not a firm date by which that carbon neutrality needs to be achieved. there is talk that italy was trying to push for 2050 to be written into this communique but that there was some resistance from china, the world's biggest emitter, which of course depends heavily on coal to power its energy and its electricity stations, both at home and abroad. so the communique talks about the key relevance of net zero

by or around mid—century and recalls and reaffirms the commitment to produce effective carbon reduction emission goals. so all of that to say that it appears that they have moved a little bit closer to targeting a 1.5 degrees cap. they talk about this ambition to achieve net zero carbon emissions. they don't have a firm date. they say by or around mid—century. i think, annita, it will be seen as progress going into glasgow, going in the right direction, but few concrete actions in that communique and lots still to discuss where you are in those days of the climate conference to come. asi as i say, leaders gathered in rome, travelling to glasgow later today for cop26. to what extent have they created any momentum? 0ur science correspondent victoria gill is with me. i'v e i've just been looking at the reaction from some climate groups,

including greenpeace, which says that 620 including greenpeace, which says that g20 fails to confront the global crisis, and i think they are particularly disappointed on this 2050 target. that target for cutting global emissions. and the language around that has changed? yes. global emissions. and the language around that has changed?— around that has changed? yes, and that is key- — around that has changed? yes, and that is key. unfortunately, - around that has changed? yes, and that is key. unfortunately, this - around that has changed? yes, and that is key. unfortunately, this is l that is key. unfortunately, this is a difficult — that is key. unfortunately, this is a difficult protracted process of negotiation of global politics. climate — negotiation of global politics. climate change doesn't care about politics _ climate change doesn't care about politics. the global temperature will continue to rise based on the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere regardless. that is why the _ the atmosphere regardless. that is why the fundamental science of this mean _ why the fundamental science of this mean that_ why the fundamental science of this mean that the window is closing, the science _ mean that the window is closing, the science lays — mean that the window is closing, the science lays out that in order to stay _ science lays out that in order to stay within— science lays out that in order to stay within that threshold of 1.5 degrees, — stay within that threshold of 1.5 degrees, globaltemperature stay within that threshold of 1.5 degrees, global temperature on average — degrees, global temperature on average by the end of the century, that critical— average by the end of the century, that critical figure that will avoid some _ that critical figure that will avoid some of— that critical figure that will avoid some of the most dangerous impacts of climate _ some of the most dangerous impacts of climate change, that is what needs— of climate change, that is what needs to — of climate change, that is what needs to happen. there's dates have been projected by the science, they

have heeri— been projected by the science, they have been forecast by the science, so not _ have been forecast by the science, so not setting a date on something that has— so not setting a date on something that has been scientifically hmmfi that has been scientifically forecast to be essential quite a disappointing start to cop26, especially when it comes as a communiqu from the 620. nations that represent 80% of global emissions right now. so not hitting that date _ emissions right now. so not hitting that date right now, although there is a really— that date right now, although there is a really strong message there about— is a really strong message there about coal. and that is really positive _ about coal. and that is really positive. that is the dirtiest, most greenhouse gas emitting fuel. it's time it— greenhouse gas emitting fuel. it's time it needs to end. we will keep hearing _ time it needs to end. we will keep hearing that again and again, particularly from the uk government. that lack— particularly from the uk government. that lack of— particularly from the uk government. that lack of setting a date on slashing _ that lack of setting a date on slashing emissions and net zero is really— slashing emissions and net zero is really quite disappointing, and that is what _ really quite disappointing, and that is what needs to be put in place here _ is what needs to be put in place here. �* . is what needs to be put in place here. . ., ., ., . here. and we have heard from prince charles today — here. and we have heard from prince charles today in _ here. and we have heard from prince charles today in rome, _ here. and we have heard from prince charles today in rome, the _ here. and we have heard from prince charles today in rome, the pope, . charles today in rome, the pope, greta thunberg, pleading with global political leaders to act in the world's interest, not to act in

invested national interests. there must be a huge amount of frustration among environmental activists over this language. ijust wonder, how will cop26 respond to this? as you have just said, will cop26 respond to this? as you havejust said, it will cop26 respond to this? as you have just said, it is not the will cop26 respond to this? as you havejust said, it is not the ideal start going into this conference, is it? �* , ., ., start going into this conference, is it? �*, ., ., ~ ., start going into this conference, is it? �*, ., ., it? it's hard to know, once the doors close — it? it's hard to know, once the doors close on _ it? it's hard to know, once the doors close on those - it? it's hard to know, once the - doors close on those negotiations, once the _ doors close on those negotiations, once the big speeches are going to possibly— once the big speeches are going to possibly be slightly watered down, especially from those nations that have heeri— especially from those nations that have been in attendance at the 620, because _ have been in attendance at the 620, because they come without that boost of making _ because they come without that boost of making that significant promise about— of making that significant promise about the — of making that significant promise about the timeliness of these emission— about the timeliness of these emission cuts and about net zero. it has already— emission cuts and about net zero. it has already been set out by the science, — has already been set out by the science, by these big un reports that have — science, by these big un reports that have been published in the run-up— that have been published in the run-up to — that have been published in the run—up to this, the evidence says that we _ run—up to this, the evidence says that we need to be within that timeframe. sol that we need to be within that timeframe. so i think that is going to kind _ timeframe. so i think that is going to kind of— timeframe. so i think that is going to kind of water down what is said to kind of water down what is said to tomorrow. the rhetoric seems less meaningful— to tomorrow. the rhetoric seems less meaningful when they are not able to set the _ meaningful when they are not able to

set the target out in stone. what happens — set the target out in stone. what happens when we reach the negotiating table? that is more difficult — negotiating table? that is more difficult to say because maybe that will push _ difficult to say because maybe that will push more momentum, the leader of glasgow— will push more momentum, the leader of glasgow city council was talking about _ of glasgow city council was talking about the — of glasgow city council was talking about the bushiness of the wonderful people _ about the bushiness of the wonderful people of— about the bushiness of the wonderful people of glasgow, maybe that will boost _ people of glasgow, maybe that will boost the _ people of glasgow, maybe that will boost the developing nations and people _ boost the developing nations and people from states that are being hit by— people from states that are being hit by the — people from states that are being hit by the more severe brunt of climate — hit by the more severe brunt of climate change, maybe that will boost _ climate change, maybe that will boost them to be a little bit more bolshie _ boost them to be a little bit more bolshie because they see this as being _ bolshie because they see this as being a — bolshie because they see this as being a little bit more of eight momentum in these discussions because — momentum in these discussions because they really need to hold nation's — because they really need to hold nation's feet to the fire when they are responsible for most of the missions — are responsible for most of the missions. . ., ., are responsible for most of the missions-— are responsible for most of the missions. . ., ., ., ,, , ., missions. victoria gail, thank you very much- _ it's a conference which the prime minister borisjohnson has called "a turning point for humanity" because over the next two weeks leaders from almost 200 countries will be asked to agree steps to limit climate change, to stop global average temperatures

rising more than 1.5 celsius above pre—industrial levels. that's the point at which scientists say we will see more flooding, drought, extreme heat and poverty — a "code red" for the human race. so what's the plan to acheive this? let's take a look at the four goals of cop26. the first is to secure global net zero by the mid—century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach. net zero is the point at which the amount of greenhouses gases being produced is no greater than the amount being removed. countries will need to phase out coal more rapidly, stop deforestation, speed up the switch to electric vehicles and renewable energy.

the second is to adapt to protect communities and natural habitats. this is about protecting or restoring ecosytems, as well as developing a more resilient infrastructure, to protect homes and communities from the impacts of climate change. the third goal is to mobilise finance. developed countries are being asked to pledge at least 100 billion dollars in climate finance per year including working with private sector. they were supposed to do that by now, they haven't. the final goal is to bring the world together to deliver. this is focussed on governments collaborating, as well as businesses and civil society, in order to finalise what s known as the paris rulebook — the detailed rules agreed in the paris climate accord in 2015. so they are the goals that'll be at the heart of negotiations over the next 12 days or so. the challenge will be getting nearly every country in the world, all with their own individual set of circumstances, to agree

on a common pathway forward. it's hoped that agreement will be reached by the end of the summit, which is next friday, november 12th. although if past summits are anything to go by, things could slip into that weekend. the chairman of the conference, alok sharma, said the gathering in glasgow is the world's "last and best" chance to agree a plan, to limit the rise in temperatures to 1.5 degrees celsius. the rapidly changing climate... act now, keep the 1.5 target alive. we know that cop26 is our last best hope to keep 1.5 in reach. and the prince of wales warned world leaders that cop26 is the last chance saloon to save the planet

from global warming. in a blunt speech at the g20 summit, he said they had an overwhelming responsibility to future generations. ladies and gentlemen, cop26 begins in glasgow tomorrow. quite literally, it is the last chance saloon. we must now translate fine words into still finer actions. and as the enormity of the climate challenge dominates people's conversations, from newsrooms to living rooms, and as the future of humanity and nature herself are at stake, it is surely time to set aside our differences and grasp this unique opportunity to launch a substantial green recovery by putting the global economy on a confident sustainable trajectory and thus save our planet. prince charles speaking in rome earlier. let's speak now to rich wilson, co—founder of the global citizens'

assembly for c0 p26. thank you for your time today. tell us a little bit about the assembly first of all?— us a little bit about the assembly firstofall? , , , first of all? the global assembly is the first ever _ first of all? the global assembly is the first ever global— first of all? the global assembly is the first ever global citizens - the first ever global citizens assembly, and it is like a government, if you like, or a parliament that is made up of ordinary everyday citizens from across the world. there are 100 citizens, which is an accurate snapshot of the global population by gender, age, geography, etc. and then there are community assemblies. and the really key thing for us was that anyone on earth could be selected and anyone on earth could be involved. so, tomorrow, the recommendations, the declaration of the first ever assembly will be announced at 1pm at cop26. it's interesting to hear people talking about the political restraints, hearing your corresponded saying before how physics doesn't care about climate politics, but we are

noticing through the discussions of the global assembly is that the citizens feel liberated. they are liberated from the constraints of the past and we are really looking for reducing their proposals tomorrow. for reducing their proposals tomorrow— for reducing their proposals tomorrow. . ., , ., , for reducing their proposals tomorrow. , ., , ., , tomorrow. 0k, can you give us any sense of what — tomorrow. 0k, can you give us any sense of what those _ tomorrow. 0k, can you give us any - sense of what those recommendations made by the members of the global assembly who will be here at cop26, what those are going to be? unfortunately that is the one thing i cannot speak about. they will be announced... i i cannot speak about. they will be announced. . ._ announced... i don't want to steal our announced... i don't want to steal yourthunder- _ announced. .. i don't want to steal your thunder. i _ announced... i don't want to steal your thunder. i don't _ announced... i don't want to steal your thunder. i don't want - announced... i don't want to steal your thunder. i don't want to - announced... i don't want to steal| your thunder. i don't want to steal your thunder. i don't want to steal your thunder. i don't want to steal your thunder from tomorrow, that is absolutely fine. so it is going to be really interesting to have these individuals from around the world attending cop26. they have any sense what to expect and how they are going to get their voices across, make themselves heard? because you have a sense of diverse meetings going on with potentially, and anyone meeting, hundreds of different views trying to make themselves heard.— different views trying to make themselves heard. ~ , , ~ themselves heard. absolutely so. we are really lucky _

themselves heard. absolutely so. we are really lucky that _ themselves heard. absolutely so. we are really lucky that alok _ themselves heard. absolutely so. we are really lucky that alok sharma, - are really lucky that alok sharma, many world leaders have backed the global assembly, that is because they know that very often these negotiations, politicians say "we can't do this, the citizens wouldn't support it". because increasingly we have seen citizens assembly is happening in many countries around the world, time and time again they are way more on dishes than the politicians and they are often just putting forward proposals that are granular and practical and commensurate with the challenge. the reason that there is so much momentum and support for this project is that very often we see that for dozens are actually way ahead of the politicians. brute that for dozens are actually way ahead of the politicians. we touched ve briefl ahead of the politicians. we touched very briefly on _ ahead of the politicians. we touched very briefly on the _ ahead of the politicians. we touched very briefly on the idea _ ahead of the politicians. we touched very briefly on the idea about - very briefly on the idea about individuals and individuals looking at cop26 might feel slightly overawed by this and the scale of it. we are talking about governments, global corporations, and asking "what can i do?" how much

of a difference do you think people involved in something like the global assembly can make in all of this? because we are talking about a moral pressure as well as a market pressure? because we are all consumers, we can make demands of businesses, companies, governments about what we expect of them. absolutely. 0ften about what we expect of them. absolutely. often people say to me, "what is the political mandate you have for change?" what we have noticed is that the moral authority that these citizens have is incredible. they are unconstrained incredible. they are unconstrained in terms... we are not allowed to receive any funding from anyone to influence the process. but also, citizens have got real power. we have power to change decisions, market, behaviour, but also to elect a lot of the politicians who will be speaking tomorrow. the really important message about tomorrow is that this is the start of a new

piece of global government infrastructure. from now on, there is going to be another thing in the mix. they will be the cop26 processes, the un, the nation states, and today and tomorrow there will be the global assembly coming together for the first time. citizens around the world coming together to the crisis that the world faces, and the crisis we are facing now is the climate crisis. if you think about the awesome power of humanity and the critical role we pay, it is critical and about time that the citizens were invited to the table. 50 that the citizens were invited to the table. , ., . that the citizens were invited to thetable. , ., . ., ., that the citizens were invited to the table. , ., . ., ., ., the table. so pro'ect forward to the 12th of this the table. so project forward to the 12th of this month, _ the table. so project forward to the 12th of this month, perhaps - the table. so project forward to the 12th of this month, perhaps a - the table. so project forward to the 12th of this month, perhaps a day l 12th of this month, perhaps a day later effort slips a little bit. what for you will represent a successful cop26 for the global citizens assembly? 50 successful cop26 for the global citizens assembly?— successful cop26 for the global citizens assembly? so it would be, i think, that if — citizens assembly? so it would be, i think, that if the — citizens assembly? so it would be, i think, that if the proposals - citizens assembly? so it would be, i think, that if the proposals and - think, that if the proposals and statement that come out tomorrow is

matched by and met by the leaders. if the leaders are not able to at least enter into a dialogue with the citizens. it is likely that the citizens. it is likely that the citizens will be ambitious. they almost always are. and politicians often find ambition hard to meet because they are constrained by what you might call traditional politics. i thought victoria put it very well in terms of they are constrained by the reality of politics. from our perspective, but would be really important is that we are entering into a real dialogue. whereby citizens are really acknowledged and key actors in the future of managing climate, the future of global governments, and politicians really take them seriously. i don't know if thatis take them seriously. i don't know if that is going to happen. if we get to a point whereby we believe that citizens are really taking it seriously on an ongoing basis and are part of global government, that would be a massive step forward.

rich wilson, co—founder of the global citizens assembly for cop26, thank you very much. a little earlier, we sought alok sharma formally accepting the presidency of cop26. during the opening speeches dr hoesung lee, who is the chair of the intergovernmental panel on climate change, outlined the seriousness of climate change. he said a report released in august gave policy makers around the world data for understanding the crisis. make no mistake, it's 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 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. let's speak now to doctorjoeri rogelj, a lead author of the ipcc�*s sixth report. he is director of research at the grantham institute, at imperial college london. thank you very much forjoining us. i want to talk to you about that report that we have just referenced. first of all, to get your idea or reaction to the communiqu from the 620 reaction to the communiqu from the g20 leaders in rome. they represent the countries which are responsible for about 80% of greenhouse gas emissions. yet, if we look at that

target for net zero, the balancing between the emissions that are released and those that are removed from the atmosphere, italy had pushed that to be a firm date of 2050. now we are told it is going to be by or around mid century. to some decree i'm be by or around mid century. to some degree i'm disappointed _ be by or around mid century. to some degree i'm disappointed because - be by or around mid century. to some degree i'm disappointed because i- be by or around mid century. to some degree i'm disappointed because i is l degree i'm disappointed because i is something we like as scientists. that net zero date of 2050 by mid century is a number that comes not from the last ipcc report but the one that was published in 2018. so it really is a direct translation of the scientific evidence into policy, and the clearer that message can be of what we need to do scientifically to limit warming to 1.5 matters in my view. to limit warming to 1.5 matters in m view. �* , ., to limit warming to 1.5 matters in m view. �*, ., ., my view. let's return to that sub'ect my view. let's return to that subject of — my view. let's return to that subject of the _ my view. let's return to that subject of the most - my view. let's return to that subject of the most recent i

subject of the most recent intergovernmental report. what are the key conclusions that you would like to highlight?— like to highlight? there are a coule like to highlight? there are a coople of _ like to highlight? there are a coople of key _ like to highlight? there are a couple of key conclusions. i like to highlight? there are a l couple of key conclusions. the like to highlight? there are a - couple of key conclusions. the first is that the climate change we experience today is unprecedented in the last 2000 years, if not many millions of years if we look at the concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. the second is that the atmosphere. the second is that the changes that we see around us, the changes that we see around us, the extreme events, the heatwaves, droughts, can now be attributed to our human activities. so not only do we see that the world is changing, we see that the world is changing, we know that we are responsible. and finally, the report also tells us what, from the physics and our understanding of the planet, what we need to do, and that is that we need to bring emissions down to net zero to bring emissions down to net zero to stop global warming from becoming worse. and the report provides values for how much carbon we can still emit, so carbon budgets, and so these are key pieces of information that the delegates here

at cop26 can take to make their decisions and see whether their targets meet the goals they have set themselves. we targets meet the goals they have set themselves. ~ ., ., targets meet the goals they have set themselves-— targets meet the goals they have set themselves. ~ ., ., ., 11,5 :: themselves. we have heard that 2030 and 2050 targets _ themselves. we have heard that 2030 and 2050 targets can _ themselves. we have heard that 2030 and 2050 targets can be _ themselves. we have heard that 2030 and 2050 targets can be met. - themselves. we have heard that 2030 and 2050 targets can be met. the - and 2050 targets can be met. the question, i suppose, and 2050 targets can be met. the question, isuppose, is and 2050 targets can be met. the question, i suppose, is the political will to make that happen? absolutely. so not part of the last report, but there are many technical studies showing that we do have the technology is to make those reductions by 2030, to have global emissions by 2030, and to meet net zero emissions by mid—century. it is also absolutely clear that these massive cuts in emissions won't happen without clear policy and direction. we need a long—term vision of governments to put in place the infrastructure. just think about charging infrastructure for electrical cars. just think about public transport. it's not that because from today and tomorrow we want to take the train that we can. these are the kind of technologies

that we already have. this is your 10th summit, ijust want that we already have. this is your 10th summit, i just want you to that we already have. this is your 10th summit, ijust want you to give us a sense of what it is like to be on one of those meetings where you have hundreds of representatives from different countries trying to make their view heard. people must wonder how anything ever emerges from something like that? it is wonder how anything ever emerges from something like that?- from something like that? it is one ofthe from something like that? it is one of the most — from something like that? it is one of the most fascinating, _ from something like that? it is one| of the most fascinating, impressive and somehow also important processes that go on. more than 190 countries come together and ultimately need to agree on a single text, and he made decisions, the official decisions, are making in the real plan rry where alok sharma will be going down sentence by sentence. the decisions that are being taken. that is not the entire process. governments and delegates meet in small rooms, and contact groups, in informal meetings, to make those decisions and have those conversations, and thatis and have those conversations, and that is what leads them ultimately to an agreement.—

to an agreement. thank you very much. you are watching bbc news. 0ne one of the key areas, we have been talking about it already today, is the idea of climatejustice. when we talk about that, what we mean is we are talking about the global north, usually wealthier developed nations and the global south, usually, not always, less developed, less wealthy nations. and many of those nations are saying, "look, it is those wealthier northern countries that have been responsible, since the industrial revolution and especially industrial revolution and especially in more recent decades, for most of

the ueen house gas emissions. yet often it is those countries in the developing world that are left bearing the brunt of climate change, or at least with little ability to cope with the impacts of climate change." and back at cope and hagan, 12 years ago, when nations agreed to put forward and finance 100 billion dollars to help towards these developing nations dealing with the impact of climate change, but that money has not fully materialised still. there is a lot of frustration among some of the countries that are depending on that money to make a difference, and to make the transition to a green infrastructure. a short while ago, there was a really striking intervention from the president of malawi. this is what he said to be

wealthier countries about what they needed to do to get that money to countries like malawi. if you take, for example, the agreement or pledge made in copenhagen 12 years ago by the rich nations, they pretty much didn't come through with it. and they seem to be growing cold feet. and so, when we speak up, for example when we say "fulfil your pledge", it's not a matter of charity. it is a matter of paying up a clean up fee. if you have been involved in bringing the earth we call home to this stage, let's clean it up, but you have to be responsible. so the president of malawi saying to the wealthier nations that

developing that climate finance, mobilizing the finance to help poorer countries with climate change, is not an act of charity. he said "pay up or cherish with us ? micro parish with us. " let's take a look at the weather. widespread gales, very heavy rainfall. the rain band has become more confined towards the northern half of scotland through the afternoon, and it is brightened up to the south. heavy and blustery showers. here is the culprit, this area of low pressure. spreading its way northwards. lots of isobars on this southern flank in particular, which is what it is going to stay very windy with girls across southern western england and wales. plenty of showers as well. some of these merging together to create longer spells of rain. the rain band across northern scotland pivots around to

affect much of western scotland, perhaps backing to northern ireland for a while. but there will be some clear spells developing, particularly across the south of the country. and here it will turn cooler. temperatures 6—9 . from monday, the 1st of november, we still have our area of low pressure sitting to the north of the uk. another windy day across the board, really. there will be some sunshine around but also further showers, merging together to produce longer spells of rain through central and northern parts of the country. scattered showers through southern and western areas but also some good areas of sunshine. another windy day. these are wind gusts up to 50 mph over western scotland and the hebrides. perhaps a degree or so down with highs of 13 or 1a degrees. 9-11 down with highs of 13 or 1a degrees. 9—11 across the north. in the middle part of the week, this area of low pressure pushes northwards and opens the floodgates to a northerly arctic

air flow for a while, the floodgates to a northerly arctic airflow for a while, so it is going