COP26: Biden Apologies; Boris Johnson Warns; Modi Cares; More highlights from the summit

The COP26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland, kicked off on Monday, a day after the G20 economies failed to agree to a 2050 target for reducing carbon emissions. 

Global leaders are meeting in Glasgow for the COP26 summit aimed at preventing the worst impacts of climate change, a task made more difficult by the inability of key industrial nations to agree on new obligations.

More than 120 leaders of states and governments have arrived in Glasgow for the UN's COP26 meeting, which is believed to be critical in defining mankind's route away from catastrophic climate change.

Stop treating nature "like a toilet.": António Guterres

The United Nations Secretary-General has advised global leaders that mankind should stop treating nature "like a toilet." António Guterres warned "addiction" to fossil fuels was "pushing humanity to the brink" in a fiery speech at the COP26 climate meeting in Glasgow.

Boris Johnson issues a warning

As the climate summit gets underway, Boris Johnson issues a warning to world leaders. The globe is tethered to a "doomsday device," according to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who began a global climate conference. The Earth's situation, Johnson said, is similar to that of fictitious secret agent James Bond, who is tied to a bomb that would kill the world and attempting to figure out how to detonate it. He warned them on Monday that "we are in roughly the same position," but that the "ticking doomsday device" is now real rather than fantasy.

Joe Biden’s apology

US President Joe Biden also publicly apologized to the UN climate conference over his predecessor, Donald Trump's, move to pull the US from the Paris accord. He says: "I shouldn’t apologize, but I do apologize for the fact the United States, the last administration, pulled out of the Paris Accords and put us sort of behind the eight ball a little bit."

Speaking to world leaders online at the climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, President Joe Biden of the United States highlighted the steps his government has taken so far for climate change and explained the new climate initiatives. Biden has stated that the focus is on a swift and coordinated response to global warming. He criticized China for its environmental policies and assured other leaders that he was committed to working with them on the problem.

Joe Biden said that the world economy should see the measures needed to prevent the climate crisis as an opportunity. "Within the growing catastrophe, I believe there’s an incredible opportunity — not just for the United States, but for all of us," he said.

Barbados PM: Failure to act on climate change is the 'death penalty' for countries like ours.

Speaking at Glasgow's COP26 climate summit, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has warned world leaders that failure to take prompt action on climate change might result in the "Death Penalty" for islanders like her. She was speaking at Glasgow's COP26 climate summit. This is a significant problem for the countries most vulnerable to global warming.

She also reminded us that, sadly, some of the needed faces are missing in Glasgow, referring to the presidents of China, Russia, and Turkey. They were among those who didn't show up to the conference.

PM Modi: India will collaborate with other world leaders in order to combat climate change.

At the UN Conference of Parties conference on climate change, Prime Minister Narendra Modi explained India's position. The Prime Minister stated that in order to combat climate change, indigenous groups that live in harmony with nature should be consulted. He stated that he will collaborate with other world leaders in order to combat climate change.

According to Modi, India will reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. He also stated that India's non-fossil energy capacity will reach 500 GW by 2030, and that renewable energy will cover 50% of India's energy needs.

“We have to make adaptation the main part of our development policies and schemes. In India, schemes like ‘Nal Se Jal’, Clean India Mission & Ujjawala have not only given adoption benefits to our citizens but also improved their quality of life,” PM Modi said.

Israel the ‘climate innovation nation’

In his presentation to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett promises, "Israel is at the beginning of a revolution on climate change,". Israel has begun implementing its "100-step plan," a $4.8 billion action plan presented for cabinet approval last week, according to Bennett. He also emphasizes Israel's commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and eliminating coal use by 2025.

Palestine bashes Israel

Mohammad Shtayyeh, the Palestinian Authority's PM, criticizes Israel for the Palestinians' challenges in shifting to a green economy. He accused Israel and Israeli settlers of allegedly expanding settlements on what was once green land and disallowing Palestinians from starting to build solar panels on their land in Area C of the West Bank.

Shtayyeh applauded Saudi Arabia for declaring that it will start a fund to help the Middle East transition toward a green economy.