The COP26 climate conference’s President, Alok Sharma, has intimated that the summit is “our last hope” of limiting global warming to 1.5C.
He also warned that failing to act now threatened a “catastrophe the likes of which the world has not seen”.
His assessment comes as world leaders prepare to discuss the climate crisis at the UN COP26 event in Glasgow from 1 and 12 November 2021.
In a press briefing, Sharma stressed on the need to meet the global warming cap.
“This is our last hope of keeping 1.5C alive. Our best chance of building a brighter future. A future of green jobs and cleaner air.
“I have faith that world leaders will rise to the occasion and not be found wanting in their tryst with destiny.
“That, in six months’ time, when we are packing up and going home, we will be able to say that at this critical juncture, each of us took responsibility. That we chose to act, and that we kept 1.5C alive.”
Sharma also revealed that he had enlisted the help of his daughters in creating a message to deliver to world leaders.
According to him, “Their response was simple – ‘please, tell them to pick the planet’.
“And that’s the message I want to leave you with today. A message from my daughters, a message from future generations.
“This is our moment, there are no second chances. Let’s pick the planet.”
The COP26 President, then cautioned that “Human activity is damaging our earth, is imperilling this brilliant jewel.
“And if we do not act now, the science tells us these effects will become;more frequent and more brutal, that we will witness a scale of global catastrophe the likes of which the world has not seen.”
Coal must be consigned to history
COP26 President, Alok Sharma also called for governments to consign “polluting” coal to history at the summit.
This comes amid calls by several climate activists;for the UK to take the lead in banning the use of coal.
Addressing the issue, Kate Blagojevic, head of climate at Greenpeace UK, said;that “The UK can’t claim climate leadership overseas whilst at home the government continues to entertain a new coal mine;in Cumbria or maintains the planning block on English onshore wind.
“With only six months left the clock is ticking, if the government;wants to be climate leaders it’s time they act like it.”
Meanwhile, climate scientists have called for greater capacity and cooperation between space agencies to make the best use of Earth’s observation satellites and the holistic view they provide of the planet’s wellbeing.
The data collected, according to experts, includes winds, waves, sea level change,;surface temperatures, soil moisture and snow and ice cover.
In an interview, Professor Jonathan Bamber, from the University of Bristol, said “Earth observation satellites are our eyes on the planet.
“Without them we would be virtually blind to the magnitude and timing of climate change and to human interference with the fragile ecosystems that we all depend on.”
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