In an unsettling development, women in Glasgow were forced to walk home in darkness on Monday night as most well-lit streets were cordoned off due to COP26 summit security concerns. Police Scotland later apologised in this regard. &nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the residents living near the venue of the event, police guarding the security cordon asked the people to walk long distances through Kelvingrove Park and sidestreets in Finnieston as main streets were closed off. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-joe-biden-slams-russia-china-for-missing-cop26-426258" hreflang="en">US President Joe Biden slams Russia, China for missing COP26</a>

A woman tweeted that she was followed by a man, who claimed to be a cop, despite requesting that he leave her alone. Several others said they had to take longer diversions even when their homes were nearby. &nbsp;

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Wow, Finnieston residents currently on the north side of the street who live on the south side of the street being told to walk through Kelvingrove, down Byres Road to Patrick and then back to Finnieston to get to their flat 100yards away. It’s dark. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COP26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COP26</a>
— KayIeigh Quinn (@kayleighmqu) <a href="https://twitter.com/kayleighmqu/status/1455220548158513161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2021</a></blockquote>
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On Twitter, Katy, a user, said, “We were sent away from one exit to the main gate, then told we had to do exactly that detour to get to Partick. On the way found a 1st year student in tears because she was in the same position and had a man following her through the dark path; a male police officer …” &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-launches-one-sun-one-world-one-grid-project-at-cop26-426221" hreflang="en">India launches 'One Sun, One World, One Grid' project at COP26</a>

Gary Ritchie, assistant chief constable, said, the diversions, which affected Argyle Street and Dumbarton Road, which are two major thoroughfares, were imposed at a short notice due to “real-time changes to operational plans”. &nbsp;

“While late changes and some level of disruption is inevitable when policing an event the size and scale of COP26, we understand and apologise for the concern these changes caused and for the inconvenience to those diverted,” Ritchie added. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In an unsettling development, women in Glasgow were forced to walk home in darkness on Monday night as most well-lit streets were cordoned off due to COP26 summit security concerns.

In an unsettling development, women in Glasgow were forced to walk home in darkness on Monday night as most well-lit streets were cordoned off due to COP26 summit security concerns. Police Scotland later apologised in this regard. According to the residents living near the venue of the event, police guarding the security cordon asked the people to walk long distances through Kelvingrove Park and sidestreets in Finnieston as main streets were closed off. Also Read: US President Joe Biden slams Russia, China for missing COP26 A woman tweeted that she was followed by a man, who claimed to be a cop, despite requesting that he leave her alone. Several others said they had to take longer diversions even when their homes were nearby. Wow, Finnieston residents currently on the north side of the street who live on the south side of the street being told to walk through Kelvingrove, down Byres Road to Patrick and then back to Finnieston to get to their flat 100yards away. It’s dark. #COP26 — KayIeigh Quinn (@kayleighmqu) November 1, 2021 × On Twitter, Katy, a user, said, “We were sent away from one exit to the main gate, then told we had to do exactly that detour to get to Partick. On the way found a 1st year student in tears because she was in the same position and had a man following her through the dark path; a male police officer …” Also Read: India launches 'One Sun, One World, One Grid' project at COP26 Gary Ritchie, assistant chief constable, said, the diversions, which affected Argyle Street and Dumbarton Road, which are two major thoroughfares, were imposed at a short notice due to “real-time changes to operational plans”. “While late changes and some level of disruption is inevitable when policing an event the size and scale of COP26, we understand and apologise for the concern these changes caused and for the inconvenience to those diverted,” Ritchie added. (With inputs from agencies)

After forcing women to walk home on dark paths in Glasgow, cops tender apology

World Leaders have assembled in Glasgow for COP26. 400 Private jets have landed, producing 13,000 tonnes of CO2. Is this climate action or climate hypocrisy? Here's what Palki Sharma has to say.

Gravitas | COP26: Climate action or climate hypocrisy?

World leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who met at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow spoke of their pledges and commitment towards tackling climate change.

What world leaders said to tackle climate change? Know all details here

COP26 features global leaders with a focus on climate issues across the world. Yet, Israel's differently-abled energy minister was unable to attend UN's COP26 session in Glasgow because the route to the venue wasn't wheelchair-friendly.

COP26 climate conference: Israel energy minister on wheelchair stranded at Glasgow

Germany’s outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel urged other countries to put a price on carbon emissions, which are the main cause of global warming.

COP26 climate summit: Angela Merkel urges for 'concrete measures' to tackle crisis

With the much-awaited climate talks underway, President Joe Biden urged world leaders to meet the challenge of global warming, saying there is “no more time to hang back” or “argue amongst ourselves.”

'No more time to hang back' says US Prez Joe Biden at COP26 summit in Glasgow

'The stability we all depend upon is breaking,' British naturalist David Attenborough made an emotional appeal to the leaders at the COP26 summit in Glasgow over the fragility of the planet and humanity’s dependence on the natural world.

'The stability we all depend upon is breaking,' says British naturalist David Attenborough | COP26

World leaders assemble for the climate summit in Glasgow. Prime Minister Boris Johnson opens the COP26 climate summit; 'Blah blah blah, Johnson's references of Greta Thunberg in his speech.

'COP26 a minute to midnight moment,' says UK PM Boris Johnson at Glasgow climate summit

'Even if the recent pledges were clear and credible, we are still nearing towards climate catastrophe. A number of countries have made credible commitments to net-zero emissions by mid-century, over 700 cities are leading the way to carbon neutrality and the private sector is waking up,' says António Guterres, UN chief.

COP26 climate summit at Glasgow: 'Must push for credible goals,' says UN chief António Guterres

Coming up with a solution for climate change seems to have become inevitable as world leaders meet in Glasgow for the UN's 'COP26' climate summit. If there is little action and more speeches, several Indian coastal cities will face the risk of getting submerged underwater by 2.7 feet by the end of the century. NASA had predicted the calamity in a report some time back.

If COP26 fails, Indian cities face risk of submerging underwater

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday urged world leaders attending the UN climate change conference in Glasgow to commit to cutting carbon emissions, warning efforts to halt runaway global warming will fail if they do not.

"If Glasgow fails, then the whole thing fails," he told a news conference after a meeting of G20 leaders in Rome, where they agreed a target to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

COP26 president Alok Sharma opened the two-week summit in Scotland's biggest city earlier on Sunday, saying the talks were the "last, best hope" to keep that target alive.

Johnson echoed that ultimatum, even after the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement, which saw countries agree to cap global warming to "well below" 2C above pre-industrial levels, and 1.5C if possible.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/when-will-we-see-some-action-on-the-talks-by-world-leaders-at-the-g20-summit-425643">WATCH |</a>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/when-will-we-see-some-action-on-the-talks-by-world-leaders-at-the-g20-summit-425643/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"If we don't act now, the Paris Agreement will be looked at in the future not as the moment humanity opened its eyes to the problem but the moment it flinched and turned away," he told reporters.

Johnson, whose government has outlined plans to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, welcomed moves to reduce pollution from countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United States.

But he said that, and a G20 commitment to reduce reliance on coal in the coming years, were "but drops in a rapidly warming ocean".

An increasing number of countries had outlined carbon reduction plans in the run-up to the summit, he said, but it was still not enough.

"If we are going to prevent COP26 from being a failure, then that must change," he added, warning that without further action, the Paris Agreement would be "just a piece of paper".&nbsp;

Johnson, known for his political optimism, put the onus on his fellow leaders to make "real progress".

Asked specifically about the chances of success at the summit, he said: "Six out of 10. It's nip and tuck. It's touch and go. We could do it or we could fail by the middle of November.

"We've inched forward (at the G20). We've put ourselves in a reasonable position for COP in Glasgow but it's going to be very difficult in the next few days."

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday urged world leaders attending the UN climate change conference in Glasgow to commit to cutting carbon emissions, warning efforts to halt runaway global warming will fail if they do not.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday urged world leaders attending the UN climate change conference in Glasgow to commit to cutting carbon emissions, warning efforts to halt runaway global warming will fail if they do not. "If Glasgow fails, then the whole thing fails," he told a news conference after a meeting of G20 leaders in Rome, where they agreed a target to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. COP26 president Alok Sharma opened the two-week summit in Scotland's biggest city earlier on Sunday, saying the talks were the "last, best hope" to keep that target alive. Johnson echoed that ultimatum, even after the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement, which saw countries agree to cap global warming to "well below" 2C above pre-industrial levels, and 1.5C if possible. WATCH | "If we don't act now, the Paris Agreement will be looked at in the future not as the moment humanity opened its eyes to the problem but the moment it flinched and turned away," he told reporters. Johnson, whose government has outlined plans to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, welcomed moves to reduce pollution from countries including Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United States. But he said that, and a G20 commitment to reduce reliance on coal in the coming years, were "but drops in a rapidly warming ocean". An increasing number of countries had outlined carbon reduction plans in the run-up to the summit, he said, but it was still not enough. "If we are going to prevent COP26 from being a failure, then that must change," he added, warning that without further action, the Paris Agreement would be "just a piece of paper". Johnson, known for his political optimism, put the onus on his fellow leaders to make "real progress". Asked specifically about the chances of success at the summit, he said: "Six out of 10. It's nip and tuck. It's touch and go. We could do it or we could fail by the middle of November. "We've inched forward (at the G20). We've put ourselves in a reasonable position for COP in Glasgow but it's going to be very difficult in the next few days."

'If Glasgow fails, the whole thing fails': UK PM Johnson warns on COP26

India and the UK are set to enhance their International Solar Alliance (ISA) partnership with the launch of a new Green Grids Initiative connecting different parts of the world at the United Nations (UN) COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.

The new "Global Green Grids Initiative" and the&nbsp;"One Sun One World One Grid" (GGI-OSOWOG) is an evolution of ISA's OSOWOG multilateral drive to foster interconnected solar energy infrastructure at a global scale.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-pm-modi-along-with-g20-leaders-visit-the-iconic-trevi-fountain-in-rome-425551">In Pics | PM Modi, along with G20 leaders visit the iconic Trevi fountain in Rome</a>

The new Green Grids Initiative will be&nbsp;launched at COP26 on Tuesday as it&nbsp;will mark a merging of flagship interconnection initiatives from India and the UK as part of their bilateral cooperation.

"The Green Grids Initiative aims to start with a coalition of the willing, such as two countries that would mutually benefit from the transfer of solar electricity and in time, lower costs of solar around the world,"&nbsp;said Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General of ISA.

"It is a huge opportunity not only for India and the UK&nbsp;but for countries to come together to utilise the greatest source of energy -&nbsp;the Sun. The Sun is shining somewhere around the globe, even though it might have set someplace else, and the scale of GGI-OSOWOG will not only change clean energy access but could very well be the next biggest modern engineering marvel,"&nbsp;he said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pay-much-higher-price-later-italian-pm-draghi-warns-world-leaders-on-climate-change-425579">Also Read:&nbsp;'Pay much higher price later': Italian warns world leaders on climate change</a>

This initiative will bring together an international coalition of national governments, financial organisations, and power system operators to accelerate the construction of new infrastructure needed to deliver a massive scale-up of secure, reliable and affordable power, such as modern, flexible grids, charging points, and electricity interconnectors, the UK's Department for Business, Energy &amp; Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said, in reference to the joint project.

India-led ISA, an inter-governmental treaty-based international organisation with a global mandate to catalyse global solar growth by helping to reduce the cost of financing and technology for solar, is designed to establish solar energy as a shared solution that simultaneously addresses climate, energy, and economic priorities across geographies.

ISA, headed by Director General Mathur and with 98 countries supporting its framework, is aimed at facilitating energy transition at a global level, energy security at national levels, while also ensuring energy access at the local level.

The alliance said it is working with development banks to bring the benefits of solar across the world. Apart from bringing down prices for solar water pumps, it is enabling technological transfer, storage solutions, financial assistance, along with skilling and enabling countries to adopt solar.

India and the UK are set to enhance their International Solar Alliance (ISA) partnership with the launch of a new Green Grids Initiative connecting different parts of the world at the United Nations (UN) COP26 climate summit in Glasgow.

India and the UK are set to enhance their International Solar Alliance (ISA) partnership with the launch of a new Green Grids Initiative connecting different parts of the world at the United Nations (UN) COP26 climate summit in Glasgow. The new "Global Green Grids Initiative" and the "One Sun One World One Grid" (GGI-OSOWOG) is an evolution of ISA's OSOWOG multilateral drive to foster interconnected solar energy infrastructure at a global scale. In Pics | PM Modi, along with G20 leaders visit the iconic Trevi fountain in Rome The new Green Grids Initiative will be launched at COP26 on Tuesday as it will mark a merging of flagship interconnection initiatives from India and the UK as part of their bilateral cooperation. "The Green Grids Initiative aims to start with a coalition of the willing, such as two countries that would mutually benefit from the transfer of solar electricity and in time, lower costs of solar around the world," said Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General of ISA. "It is a huge opportunity not only for India and the UK but for countries to come together to utilise the greatest source of energy - the Sun. The Sun is shining somewhere around the globe, even though it might have set someplace else, and the scale of GGI-OSOWOG will not only change clean energy access but could very well be the next biggest modern engineering marvel," he said. Also Read: 'Pay much higher price later': Italian warns world leaders on climate change This initiative will bring together an international coalition of national governments, financial organisations, and power system operators to accelerate the construction of new infrastructure needed to deliver a massive scale-up of secure, reliable and affordable power, such as modern, flexible grids, charging points, and electricity interconnectors, the UK's Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) said, in reference to the joint project. India-led ISA, an inter-governmental treaty-based international organisation with a global mandate to catalyse global solar growth by helping to reduce the cost of financing and technology for solar, is designed to establish solar energy as a shared solution that simultaneously addresses climate, energy, and economic priorities across geographies. ISA, headed by Director General Mathur and with 98 countries supporting its framework, is aimed at facilitating energy transition at a global level, energy security at national levels, while also ensuring energy access at the local level. The alliance said it is working with development banks to bring the benefits of solar across the world. Apart from bringing down prices for solar water pumps, it is enabling technological transfer, storage solutions, financial assistance, along with skilling and enabling countries to adopt solar.

COP26: India, UK to launch solar Green Grids Initiative

World leaders will start descending on the Scottish city of Glasgow on Sunday for the United Nations COP26 summit, billed as a make-or-break chance to save the planet from the most calamitous effects of climate change.

Delayed by a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, COP26 aims to keep alive a target of capping global warming at 1.5C above pre-industrial levels - the limit scientists say would avoid its most destructive consequences.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-climate-activists-demand-action-ahead-of-cop26-summit-425249">In pics: Climate activists demand action ahead of COP26 summit</a>

Meeting that goal, agreed in Paris to much fanfare in 2015, will require a surge in political momentum and diplomatic heavy-lifting to make up for the insufficient action and empty pledges that have characterised much of global climate politics.

The conference needs to secure more ambitious pledges to further cut emissions, lock in billions in climate finance, and finish the rules to implement the Paris Agreement with the unanimous consent of the nearly 200 countries that signed it.

"Let’s be clear - there is a serious risk that Glasgow will not deliver," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) rich nations last week.

"Even if recent pledges were clear and credible — and there are serious questions about some of them — we are still careening towards climate catastrophe."

Countries&nbsp;existing pledges to cut emissions would see the planet's average temperature rise 2.7C this century, which the UN says would supercharge the destruction that climate change is already causing by intensifying storms, exposing more people to deadly heat and floods, killing coral reefs and destroying natural habitats.

The signals ahead of COP26 have been mixed. A new pledge last week from China, the world's biggest polluter, was labelled a missed opportunity that will cast a shadow over the two-week summit. Announcements from Russia and Saudi Arabia were also lacklustre.

The return of the United States, the world's biggest economy, to UN&nbsp;climate talks will be a boon to the conference, after a four-year absence under President Donald Trump.

But like many world leaders, President Joe Biden will arrive at COP26 without firm legislation in place to deliver his own climate pledge as Congress wrangles over how to finance it and new uncertainty about whether US&nbsp;agencies can even regulate greenhouse gas emissions.

Leaders of the G20 meeting in Rome this weekend will say they aim to cap global warming at 1.5C, but will largely avoid firm commitments, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters.

The joint statement reflects tough negotiations, but details few concrete actions to limit carbon emissions.&nbsp;

The G20, which includes Brazil, China, India, Germany and the United States, accounts for about 80 per cent&nbsp;of global greenhouse gas emissions, but hopes the Rome meeting might pave the way to success in Scotland have dimmed considerably.

Shadow of COVID-19

Adding to the challenging geopolitical backdrop, a global energy crunch has prompted China to turn to highly polluting coal to avert power shortages, and left Europe seeking more gas, another fossil fuel.

Ultimately, negotiations will boil down to questions of fairness and trust between rich countries whose greenhouse gas emissions caused climate change, and poor countries being asked to de-carbonise their economies with insufficient financial support.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/boris-johnson-is-playing-another-trick-422142">Boris Johnson is playing another trick</a>

COVID-19 has exacerbated the divide between rich and poor. A lack of vaccines and travel curbs mean some representatives from the poorest countries cannot attend the meeting.

Other obstacles - not least, sky-high hotel rates in Glasgow - have stoked concerns that civil society groups from the poorest nations which are also most at risk from global warming will be under-represented.

COVID-19 will make this UN&nbsp;climate conference different from any other, as 25,000 delegates from governments, companies, civil society, indigenous peoples, and the media will fill Glasgow's cavernous Scottish Event Campus.

All must wear masks, socially distance and produce a negative COVID-19 test to enter each day - meaning the final-hour "huddles" of negotiatiors that clinched deals at past climate talks are off the table.

Attendees who test positive must quarantine for 10 days - potentially missing most of the conference.

World leaders will kick start COP26 on Monday with two days of speeches that could include some new emissions-cutting pledges, before technical negotiators lock horns over the Paris accord rules. Any deal is likely to be struck hours or even days after the event's November&nbsp;12 finish date.

Outside, tens of thousands of protesters are expected to take to the streets to demand urgent climate action.

Assessing progress will be complex. Unlike past climate summits, the event won't deliver a new treaty or a big "win" but seeks to secure smaller but vital victories on emission-cutting pledges, climate finance and investment.

Ultimately success will be judged on whether those deals add up to enough progress to keep the 1.5C goal alive - still a long way off.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-president-xi-jinping-to-snub-crucial-climate-conference-cop26-report-420893">Chinese President Xi Jinping to snub crucial climate conference COP26: Report</a>

Since the Paris accord in 2015, scientists have issued increasingly urgent warnings that the 1.5C goal is slipping out of reach. To meet it, global emissions must plummet 45 per cent&nbsp;by 2030 from 2010 levels, and reach net zero by 2050 - requiring huge changes to countries&nbsp;systems of transport, energy production, manufacturing and farming. Countries&nbsp;current pledges would see global emissions soar by 16 per cent&nbsp;by 2030.

"The way I think about this is, there is a meteor coming at our planet and it has the very real potential of wiping out humanity," said Christiana Figueres, the former UN&nbsp;climate diplomat who led the talks that yielded the Paris Agreement.

World leaders will start descending on the Scottish city of Glasgow on Sunday for the United Nations COP26 summit, billed as a make-or-break chance to save the planet from the most calamitous effects of climate change.

World leaders will start descending on the Scottish city of Glasgow on Sunday for the United Nations COP26 summit, billed as a make-or-break chance to save the planet from the most calamitous effects of climate change. Delayed by a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, COP26 aims to keep alive a target of capping global warming at 1.5C above pre-industrial levels - the limit scientists say would avoid its most destructive consequences. Also Read | In pics: Climate activists demand action ahead of COP26 summit Meeting that goal, agreed in Paris to much fanfare in 2015, will require a surge in political momentum and diplomatic heavy-lifting to make up for the insufficient action and empty pledges that have characterised much of global climate politics. The conference needs to secure more ambitious pledges to further cut emissions, lock in billions in climate finance, and finish the rules to implement the Paris Agreement with the unanimous consent of the nearly 200 countries that signed it. "Let’s be clear - there is a serious risk that Glasgow will not deliver," UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) rich nations last week. "Even if recent pledges were clear and credible — and there are serious questions about some of them — we are still careening towards climate catastrophe." Countries existing pledges to cut emissions would see the planet's average temperature rise 2.7C this century, which the UN says would supercharge the destruction that climate change is already causing by intensifying storms, exposing more people to deadly heat and floods, killing coral reefs and destroying natural habitats. The signals ahead of COP26 have been mixed. A new pledge last week from China, the world's biggest polluter, was labelled a missed opportunity that will cast a shadow over the two-week summit. Announcements from Russia and Saudi Arabia were also lacklustre. The return of the United States, the world's biggest economy, to UN climate talks will be a boon to the conference, after a four-year absence under President Donald Trump. But like many world leaders, President Joe Biden will arrive at COP26 without firm legislation in place to deliver his own climate pledge as Congress wrangles over how to finance it and new uncertainty about whether US agencies can even regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Leaders of the G20 meeting in Rome this weekend will say they aim to cap global warming at 1.5C, but will largely avoid firm commitments, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters. The joint statement reflects tough negotiations, but details few concrete actions to limit carbon emissions. The G20, which includes Brazil, China, India, Germany and the United States, accounts for about 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, but hopes the Rome meeting might pave the way to success in Scotland have dimmed considerably. Shadow of COVID-19 Adding to the challenging geopolitical backdrop, a global energy crunch has prompted China to turn to highly polluting coal to avert power shortages, and left Europe seeking more gas, another fossil fuel. Ultimately, negotiations will boil down to questions of fairness and trust between rich countries whose greenhouse gas emissions caused climate change, and poor countries being asked to de-carbonise their economies with insufficient financial support. Also Read | Boris Johnson is playing another trick COVID-19 has exacerbated the divide between rich and poor. A lack of vaccines and travel curbs mean some representatives from the poorest countries cannot attend the meeting. Other obstacles - not least, sky-high hotel rates in Glasgow - have stoked concerns that civil society groups from the poorest nations which are also most at risk from global warming will be under-represented. COVID-19 will make this UN climate conference different from any other, as 25,000 delegates from governments, companies, civil society, indigenous peoples, and the media will fill Glasgow's cavernous Scottish Event Campus. All must wear masks, socially distance and produce a negative COVID-19 test to enter each day - meaning the final-hour "huddles" of negotiatiors that clinched deals at past climate talks are off the table. Attendees who test positive must quarantine for 10 days - potentially missing most of the conference. World leaders will kick start COP26 on Monday with two days of speeches that could include some new emissions-cutting pledges, before technical negotiators lock horns over the Paris accord rules. Any deal is likely to be struck hours or even days after the event's November 12 finish date. Outside, tens of thousands of protesters are expected to take to the streets to demand urgent climate action. Assessing progress will be complex. Unlike past climate summits, the event won't deliver a new treaty or a big "win" but seeks to secure smaller but vital victories on emission-cutting pledges, climate finance and investment. Ultimately success will be judged on whether those deals add up to enough progress to keep the 1.5C goal alive - still a long way off. Also Read | Chinese President Xi Jinping to snub crucial climate conference COP26: Report Since the Paris accord in 2015, scientists have issued increasingly urgent warnings that the 1.5C goal is slipping out of reach. To meet it, global emissions must plummet 45 per cent by 2030 from 2010 levels, and reach net zero by 2050 - requiring huge changes to countries systems of transport, energy production, manufacturing and farming. Countries current pledges would see global emissions soar by 16 per cent by 2030. "The way I think about this is, there is a meteor coming at our planet and it has the very real potential of wiping out humanity," said Christiana Figueres, the former UN climate diplomat who led the talks that yielded the Paris Agreement.

COP26: World makes new bid to avert climate disaster

COP26 is the annual United Nations climate change conference, the summit will begin this weekend in UK's Glasgow. World leaders will decide the future of their respective nations and of the planet but why is this meeting crucial? Watch this video to know more!

Countdown to COP26 climate summit, why is it crucial?

COP26 Glasgow failing before it could begin? The leaders of China, Russia & Brazil are giving it a miss. Doubts are being cast on the event's relevance. UK PM Boris Johnson fears the conference might 'go wrong'. Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Is COP26 failing before it began?

UK's Queen Elizabeth will not attend COP26 UN climate conference in Glasgow, her Buckingham Palace office said on Tuesday. The office said that her absence will be due to "advice to rest" she received from doctors following a recent overnight stay at hospital.

"Her Majesty has regretfully decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow" for a November 1 reception, the palace said in a statement, adding that she "will deliver an address to the assembled delegates via a recorded video message".

Queen Elizabeth had a busy schedule in early October but she cancelled a visit to Northern Ireland last week due to her health.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-president-xi-may-not-attend-cop26-report-424175">Chinese President Xi may not attend COP26: Report</a>

On Thursday, she spent the night at the private Edward VII hospital in London for "preliminary investigations". 
The stay &nbsp;-- her first since 2013 -- and the palace's delay in revealing it have raised fears over her health, given her age.&nbsp;

But the queen resumed official duties Tuesday, greeting new ambassadors to Britain in video audiences from Windsor castle west of London.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cop26-plant-based-dishes-to-dominate-the-menu-with-80-scottish-food-423610">Cop26: Plant-based dishes to dominate the menu with 80% Scottish food</a>

Elizabeth II has reigned since 1952 and will celebrate her platinum jubilee next year.

At almost daily public engagements, she has always appeared in good health -- although she was seen using a walking stick for the first time at a major public event this month.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

UK's Queen Elizabeth will not attend COP26 UN climate conference in Glasgow, her Buckingham Palace office said on Tuesday. The office said that her absence will be due to "advice to rest" she received from doctors following a recent overnight stay at hospital.

UK's Queen Elizabeth will not attend COP26 UN climate conference in Glasgow, her Buckingham Palace office said on Tuesday. The office said that her absence will be due to "advice to rest" she received from doctors following a recent overnight stay at hospital. "Her Majesty has regretfully decided that she will no longer travel to Glasgow" for a November 1 reception, the palace said in a statement, adding that she "will deliver an address to the assembled delegates via a recorded video message". Queen Elizabeth had a busy schedule in early October but she cancelled a visit to Northern Ireland last week due to her health. Also Read | Chinese President Xi may not attend COP26: Report On Thursday, she spent the night at the private Edward VII hospital in London for "preliminary investigations". The stay -- her first since 2013 -- and the palace's delay in revealing it have raised fears over her health, given her age. But the queen resumed official duties Tuesday, greeting new ambassadors to Britain in video audiences from Windsor castle west of London. Also Read | Cop26: Plant-based dishes to dominate the menu with 80% Scottish food Elizabeth II has reigned since 1952 and will celebrate her platinum jubilee next year. At almost daily public engagements, she has always appeared in good health -- although she was seen using a walking stick for the first time at a major public event this month. (With inputs from agencies)

Queen Elizabeth not to attend COP26 climate summit due to medical advice: Buckingham Palace

UK prime minister Boris Johnson states that he is worried that the upcoming COP26 climate summit might go wrong. This comes as Johnson prepares to host world leaders in Glasgow for the crucial meet.

COP26 in UK's Glasgow: Climate summit might go wrong, says Boris Johnson

All eyes are on the upcoming COP26 climate summit, over the last few months all of us have seen that no country is immune to the devastating impact of rising temperature and freak weather events, will this summit achieve anything?

UN: Likely to miss emissions target | COP26 Climate Summit

The city of Glasgow is gearing up to welcome leaders from across the world, journalists and activists as well for the UN climate summit which is scheduled to start from October 31.

COP26 Glasgow: World leaders, activists to attend crucial summit

The UK has come up with an ambitious agreement among world leaders at Cop26, which requires them to halt and reverse forest loss and degradation, reveals a report by The Guardian.&nbsp;

Big producers and consumers of deforestation-linked commodities, which include, soya, cocoa, coffee and palm oil have been asked to halt land clearances, which becomes the second-largest source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.&nbsp;

World leaders are expected to announce the initiative on the second day of the climate summit in Glasgow along with new funding to protect forests.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cop26-queen-finds-world-leaders-irritating-because-they-only-talk-and-dont-act-420982">Also read |&nbsp;COP26: Queen finds world leaders 'irritating' because they only 'talk' and don't 'act'</a>

A new report in August revealed that deforestation in the Amazon forest has hit the highest annual level in a decade.&nbsp;

Between August 2020 and July 2021, the rainforest lost 10.476 square kilometres, an area nearly seven times bigger than greater London and 13 times the size of New York City, reveals by Imazon, a Brazilian research institute that has been tracking the Amazon deforestation since 2008. The figure is 57 per cent higher than in the previous year and is the worst since 2012.

The aim of Cop26 is to put the world on track to fulfil the 2015 Paris agreement, which binds governments to limit global heating to “well below” 2C, with an aspiration to keep within a 1.5C threshold.&nbsp;

The UK has come up with an ambitious agreement among world leaders at Cop26, which requires them to halt and reverse forest loss and degradation, reveals a report by The Guardian.

The UK has come up with an ambitious agreement among world leaders at Cop26, which requires them to halt and reverse forest loss and degradation, reveals a report by The Guardian. Big producers and consumers of deforestation-linked commodities, which include, soya, cocoa, coffee and palm oil have been asked to halt land clearances, which becomes the second-largest source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. World leaders are expected to announce the initiative on the second day of the climate summit in Glasgow along with new funding to protect forests. Also read | COP26: Queen finds world leaders 'irritating' because they only 'talk' and don't 'act' A new report in August revealed that deforestation in the Amazon forest has hit the highest annual level in a decade. Between August 2020 and July 2021, the rainforest lost 10.476 square kilometres, an area nearly seven times bigger than greater London and 13 times the size of New York City, reveals by Imazon, a Brazilian research institute that has been tracking the Amazon deforestation since 2008. The figure is 57 per cent higher than in the previous year and is the worst since 2012. The aim of Cop26 is to put the world on track to fulfil the 2015 Paris agreement, which binds governments to limit global heating to “well below” 2C, with an aspiration to keep within a 1.5C threshold.

COP26: UK to push plan to halt and reverse global deforestation by 2030

As 20,000 government leaders, journalists, activists and celebrities from around the world prepare to descend on Glasgow for a crucial climate summit starting late this month, another high-level international environmental meeting got started this week. The problem it seeks to tackle: A rapid collapse of species and systems that collectively sustain life on earth.

The stakes at the two meetings are equally high, many leading scientists say, but the biodiversity crisis has received far less attention.

“If the global community continues to see it as a side event, and they continue thinking that climate change is now the thing to really listen to, by the time they wake up on biodiversity it might be too late,” said Francis Ogwal, one of the leaders of the working group charged with shaping an agreement among nations.

Because climate change and biodiversity loss are intertwined, with the potential for both win-win solutions and vicious cycles of destruction, they must be addressed together, scientists say. But their global summits are separate, and one overshadows the other.

“Awareness is not yet where it should be,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner, a biologist and climate researcher who has helped lead international research into both issues. He calls them “the two existential crises that humankind has elicited on the planet.”

Why Biodiversity Matters

Apart from any moral reasons for humans to care about the other species on Earth, there are practical ones. At the most basic level, people rely on nature for their survival.

“The diversity of all of the plants and all of the animals, they actually make the planet function,” said Anne Larigauderie, an ecologist who directs a leading intergovernmental panel on biodiversity. “They ensure that we have oxygen in the air, that we have fertile soils.”

Lose too many players in an ecosystem, and it will stop working. The average abundance of native species in most major terrestrial biomes has fallen by at least 20%, mostly since 1900, according to a major report on the state of the world’s biodiversity published by Larigauderie’s panel, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. An estimated 1 million species are threatened with extinction, it found.

Climate change is only one driver of biodiversity loss. For now, the major culprit on land is humans destroying habitat through activities like farming, mining and logging. At sea, it’s overfishing. Other causes include pollution and introduced species that drive out native ones.

“When you have two concurrent existential crises, you don’t get to pick only one to focus on — you must address both no matter how challenging,” said Brian O’Donnell, director of the Campaign for Nature, an advocacy group. “This is the equivalent of having a flat tire and a dead battery in your car at the same time. You’re still stuck if you only fix one.”

How It Works

This week, environment officials, diplomats and other observers from around the world gathered online, and a small group assembled in person in Kunming, China, for the meeting, the 15th United Nations biodiversity conference.

The United States is the only country in the world besides the Vatican that is not a party to the underlying treaty, the Convention on Biological Diversity, a situation largely attributed to Republican opposition. U.S. representatives participate on the sidelines of the talks, as do scientists and environmental advocates.

Because of the pandemic, the conference has been broken into two parts. While this virtual portion was largely about drumming up political will, nations will meet again in China in the spring to ratify a series of targets aimed at tackling biodiversity loss. The aim will be to adopt a pact for nature akin to the Paris Agreement on climate change, said Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the executive secretary of the convention.

Last year, officials reported that the world’s nations largely failed to achieve the targets of the previous global agreement on biodiversity, made in 2010.

If the new commitments are not translated into “effective policies and concrete actions,” Mrema said this week at the meeting, “we risk repeating the failures of the last decade.”

What’s Next

The working draft includes 21 targets that act as a blueprint for reducing biodiversity loss. Many are concrete and measurable, others more abstract. None are easy. They include, in summary:

— Create a plan, across the entire land and waters of each country, to make the best decisions about where to conduct activities like farming and mining while also retaining intact areas.

— Ensure that wild species are hunted and fished sustainably and safely.

— Reduce agricultural runoff, pesticides and plastic pollution.

— Use ecosystems to limit climate change by storing planet-warming carbon in nature.

— Reduce subsidies and other financial programs that harm biodiversity by at least $500 billion per year, the estimated amount that governments spend supporting fossil fuels and potentially damaging agricultural practices.

— Safeguard at least 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030.

In the lead-up to the conference, that last measure, pushed by environmentalists and a growing number of nations, has received the most attention and resources. Last month, nine philanthropic groups donated $5 billion to the effort, known as 30x30.

“It’s catchy,” said E.O. Wilson, an influential biologist and professor emeritus at Harvard University. He said he hoped 30x30 would be a step on the way to one day conserving half of the planet for nature.

Indigenous groups have watched with hope and worry. Some welcome the expansion, calling for a higher number than 30%, while others fear that they will lose the use of their lands, as has happened historically in many areas set aside for conservation.

The debate underscores a central tension coursing through the biodiversity negotiations.

“If this becomes a purely conservation plan for nature, this is going to fail,” said Basile van Havre, a leader, with Ogwal, of one of the convention’s working groups. “What we need is a plan for nature and people.”

With the global human population still increasing, scientists say that transformational change is required for the planet to be able to sustain us.

“We actually need to see every human endeavor, if you will, through the lens of biodiversity and nature,” Larigauderie said. Since everyone depends on nature, she noted, “everyone is part of the solution.”

As 20,000 government leaders, journalists, activists and celebrities from around the world prepare to descend on Glasgow for a crucial climate summit starting late this month, another high-level international environmental meeting got started this week.

As 20,000 government leaders, journalists, activists and celebrities from around the world prepare to descend on Glasgow for a crucial climate summit starting late this month, another high-level international environmental meeting got started this week. The problem it seeks to tackle: A rapid collapse of species and systems that collectively sustain life on earth. The stakes at the two meetings are equally high, many leading scientists say, but the biodiversity crisis has received far less attention. “If the global community continues to see it as a side event, and they continue thinking that climate change is now the thing to really listen to, by the time they wake up on biodiversity it might be too late,” said Francis Ogwal, one of the leaders of the working group charged with shaping an agreement among nations. Because climate change and biodiversity loss are intertwined, with the potential for both win-win solutions and vicious cycles of destruction, they must be addressed together, scientists say. But their global summits are separate, and one overshadows the other. “Awareness is not yet where it should be,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner, a biologist and climate researcher who has helped lead international research into both issues. He calls them “the two existential crises that humankind has elicited on the planet.” Why Biodiversity Matters Apart from any moral reasons for humans to care about the other species on Earth, there are practical ones. At the most basic level, people rely on nature for their survival. “The diversity of all of the plants and all of the animals, they actually make the planet function,” said Anne Larigauderie, an ecologist who directs a leading intergovernmental panel on biodiversity. “They ensure that we have oxygen in the air, that we have fertile soils.” Lose too many players in an ecosystem, and it will stop working. The average abundance of native species in most major terrestrial biomes has fallen by at least 20%, mostly since 1900, according to a major report on the state of the world’s biodiversity published by Larigauderie’s panel, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. An estimated 1 million species are threatened with extinction, it found. Climate change is only one driver of biodiversity loss. For now, the major culprit on land is humans destroying habitat through activities like farming, mining and logging. At sea, it’s overfishing. Other causes include pollution and introduced species that drive out native ones. “When you have two concurrent existential crises, you don’t get to pick only one to focus on — you must address both no matter how challenging,” said Brian O’Donnell, director of the Campaign for Nature, an advocacy group. “This is the equivalent of having a flat tire and a dead battery in your car at the same time. You’re still stuck if you only fix one.” How It Works This week, environment officials, diplomats and other observers from around the world gathered online, and a small group assembled in person in Kunming, China, for the meeting, the 15th United Nations biodiversity conference. The United States is the only country in the world besides the Vatican that is not a party to the underlying treaty, the Convention on Biological Diversity, a situation largely attributed to Republican opposition. U.S. representatives participate on the sidelines of the talks, as do scientists and environmental advocates. Because of the pandemic, the conference has been broken into two parts. While this virtual portion was largely about drumming up political will, nations will meet again in China in the spring to ratify a series of targets aimed at tackling biodiversity loss. The aim will be to adopt a pact for nature akin to the Paris Agreement on climate change, said Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the executive secretary of the convention. Last year, officials reported that the world’s nations largely failed to achieve the targets of the previous global agreement on biodiversity, made in 2010. If the new commitments are not translated into “effective policies and concrete actions,” Mrema said this week at the meeting, “we risk repeating the failures of the last decade.” What’s Next The working draft includes 21 targets that act as a blueprint for reducing biodiversity loss. Many are concrete and measurable, others more abstract. None are easy. They include, in summary: — Create a plan, across the entire land and waters of each country, to make the best decisions about where to conduct activities like farming and mining while also retaining intact areas. — Ensure that wild species are hunted and fished sustainably and safely. — Reduce agricultural runoff, pesticides and plastic pollution. — Use ecosystems to limit climate change by storing planet-warming carbon in nature. — Reduce subsidies and other financial programs that harm biodiversity by at least $500 billion per year, the estimated amount that governments spend supporting fossil fuels and potentially damaging agricultural practices. — Safeguard at least 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030. In the lead-up to the conference, that last measure, pushed by environmentalists and a growing number of nations, has received the most attention and resources. Last month, nine philanthropic groups donated $5 billion to the effort, known as 30x30. “It’s catchy,” said E.O. Wilson, an influential biologist and professor emeritus at Harvard University. He said he hoped 30x30 would be a step on the way to one day conserving half of the planet for nature. Indigenous groups have watched with hope and worry. Some welcome the expansion, calling for a higher number than 30%, while others fear that they will lose the use of their lands, as has happened historically in many areas set aside for conservation. The debate underscores a central tension coursing through the biodiversity negotiations. “If this becomes a purely conservation plan for nature, this is going to fail,” said Basile van Havre, a leader, with Ogwal, of one of the convention’s working groups. “What we need is a plan for nature and people.” With the global human population still increasing, scientists say that transformational change is required for the planet to be able to sustain us. “We actually need to see every human endeavor, if you will, through the lens of biodiversity and nature,” Larigauderie said. Since everyone depends on nature, she noted, “everyone is part of the solution.”

The most important global meeting you’ve never heard of is now

The last rays of summer shine through this sunflower in Glasgow. It's in Lochend community garden a place filled with hope, as well as education and wellbeing for those who garden here.

Community gardens boosting mental health and altering perceptions in Glasgow

Countries across the world are now gearing up for one of the biggest climate summits which is scheduled to take place in Glasgow at Scotland.

Glasgow climate summit at risk of failure, states U.N. Chief

As it prepares to host United Nations' Cop26 climate summit, Glasgow has experienced hottest summer on record, as per the Met Office. In the month of August, Scotland also recorded the highest temperature in the UK.

This broke England's 20 year run for having the hottest day in the UK. This time around, rainfall in Scotland was 62 per cent of its usual average making it a drier than usual summer.

Global Warming is a key issue that will certainly be addressed in the Cop26 summit in Glasgow. Global warming has led to extreme weather patterns in recent years including 2021 so far. Summer this year in the UK was among the hottest 10 ever recorded.

Across the world, the effects of global warming were seen. Record breaking heatwave in northwestern North America, heavy floods in Germany and China bear testimony to that.

As it prepares to host United Nations' Cop26 climate summit, Glasgow has experienced hottest summer on record, as per the Met Office. In the month of August, Scotland also recorded the highest temperature in the UK.

As it prepares to host United Nations' Cop26 climate summit, Glasgow has experienced hottest summer on record, as per the Met Office. In the month of August, Scotland also recorded the highest temperature in the UK. This broke England's 20 year run for having the hottest day in the UK. This time around, rainfall in Scotland was 62 per cent of its usual average making it a drier than usual summer. Global Warming is a key issue that will certainly be addressed in the Cop26 summit in Glasgow. Global warming has led to extreme weather patterns in recent years including 2021 so far. Summer this year in the UK was among the hottest 10 ever recorded. Across the world, the effects of global warming were seen. Record breaking heatwave in northwestern North America, heavy floods in Germany and China bear testimony to that.

In run up to Cop26 summit, Glasgow records hottest summer

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