Prime minister Boris Johnson issued an ultimatum to world leaders to grasp the opportunity offered by the COP26 climate talks or ‘stand in the way’.
A first draft of a deal was agreed this morning, compelling countries to strengthen their emissions-cutting plans over the coming year to keep a goal to limit warming to 1.5°C within reach.
A final version must be agreed by a consensus of nearly 200 countries at the Glasgow summit, which ends on Friday.
Scientists have expressed disappointment with the commitments agreed so far.
Mr Johnson was heckled as he returned to the conference centre today to give a speech rallying fellow leaders to deliver a lasting legacy.
He said: ‘Here, in Glasgow, the world is closer than it has ever been to signalling the beginning of the end of anthropogenic climate change.
‘It’s the greatest gift we can possibly bestow on our children and our grandchildren and generations unborn.
‘And it’s now within reach at COP26, in these final days, we just need to reach out together.
‘And so my question to my fellow world leaders this afternoon, as we enter the last hours of Cop, is: Will you help us do that?
‘Will you help us grasp that opportunity or will you stand in the way?’
Mr Johnson is heading back to London after his talk, leaving COP president Alok Sharma as the UK’s lead representative.
Ahead of his speech, shadow energy secretary Ed Miliband said Mr Johnson should stay in Glasgow and call out countries that aren’t doing enough.
Mr Miliband said said Britain should be pushing for an unambiguous commitment to limiting warming to 1.5°C.
He said: ‘The world cannot wait until 2025 to return to these decisions. Because if we did, 1.5 would effectively be dead in the water.’
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