We were 5-1 down in humanity’s match against climate change, Boris says – but now we’re looking at extra-time
PLANET Earth is making a half-time comeback against impending climate doom, Boris Johnson cheered tonight after a day of haggling at COP26. The PM told a press conference in Glasgow he was “cautiously optimistic” world leaders were turning the tables on global warming to bag a last-minute winner. In Rome two days ago he said […]
PLANET Earth is making a half-time comeback against impending climate doom, Boris Johnson cheered tonight after a day of haggling at COP26.
The PM told a press conference in Glasgow he was “cautiously optimistic” world leaders were turning the tables on global warming to bag a last-minute winner.
In Rome two days ago he said humanity was 5-1 down in the match-up against the spectre of climate change.
But this time he said: “After two days of talks with around 120 world leaders we have pulled back a goal or perhaps even two.
“And I think we’re going to be able to take this thing to extra time because there’s no doubt that some progress has been made.”
World leaders are preparing to jet out of Glasgow and leave the rest of the bargaining to junior ministers and officials.
Mr Johnson hailed counterparts for ending the “Great Chainsaw Massacre” by vowing to stop chopping down rainforests by 2030.
But he’s really holding out for breakthrough commitments for countries to stop cooking the planet with coal and gas-guzzling cars.
At the climate summit in Glasgow:
- The PM ruled out holding a referendum on whether to go for Net Zero
- Mr Johnson insisted progress could still be made without the presidents of China and Russia present
- Prince William urged leaders to be “bold” in their actions to repair the planet
- Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos said he had an eco epiphany when he jetted into space
- Emmanuel Macron left the summit early and did not pose for pics with other world leaders
- Downing Street insisted the climate conference had gathered “significant momentum”
During the last two days Mr Johnson has dialled up the charm and received support from national treasurer David Attenborough and the Queen.
The 95-year-old monarch urged the world’s presidents and prime ministers to “rise above” politics for the sake of their children and grandchildren.
Asked by the Sun who slotted in the extra “goals”, the PM said it was a team effort and.
He dismissed fears that Cop would flop after Presidents Putin and Xi stayed away and India announced laggard net zero targets.
But he did say “we need China to make commitments” on bringing down emissions.
Mr Johnson also once again compared global warming to a Bond villain threatening to blow up a bomb.
He said: “I think we can be confident about one thing in the days ahead – the couple of weeks we’ve got – the clock on the doomsday clock I was talking about is still ticking, but we’ve got a bomb disposal team on site, and they’re starting to snip the wires, I hope some of the right wires.”
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Earlier today the PM hailed the deal on forests as protecting the “lungs of the planet”.
He said: “Let’s end this great chainsaw massacre by making conservation do what we know it can do, and that is deliver long-term sustainable jobs and growth as well.
“Today is not just a vital win in the struggle to contain global temperature increases, it is also a huge economic opportunity.
“This is the long-term sustainable path to maintaining to ending the loss of our forests, protecting our sacred biodiversity and helping to keep alive the ambition of 1.5 degrees by the end of the century.”
Downing Street said the pledges have been backed by £8.75 billion of public funding with a further £5.3 billion in private investment.