COP26 marks beginning of the end of climate change, says Boris Johnson

Boris Johnson, UK prime minister, says the United Nations climate change conference must mark the beginning of the end of climate change.  

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the summit, Johnson said COP26 cannot be the end of climate change but should motivate better commitments for climate action.

The 26th session of the annual UN climate change conference — COP26 — which began on October 31 in Glasgow, Scotland is seen as the world’s ‘last best chance’ to address climate change.

Johnson asked world leaders to — in the coming days — devote themselves to making decisions that would turn the “ticking bomb”.

“A week after we leave this conference, smokestacks will still belch in industrial highlands, cars will still [ply] the congested roads in the world’s great cities,” he said. 

“Summits alone cannot solve climate change, COP26 will not be the end of climate change, but it can be and it must mark the beginning of the end.

“Let us therefore in the next days devote ourselves to the great task… let us do what is needed to save our planet and our way of life.”

Johnson said developed countries must deliver the $100 billion climate finance for developing countries by 2023. 

He encouraged world leaders to begin to phase out coal, fossil fuel, carbon combustion industries and petrol vehicles.