GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) 鈥� The U.N. climate summit in Glasgow has formally opened, kicking off two weeks of intense diplomatic negotiations by almost 200 countries on how to tackle the common challenge of global warming.
Following the opening gavel, officials set about addressing a raft of procedural matters before leaders from around the world gather in Scotland鈥檚 biggest city Monday to lay out their countries鈥� efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions and deal with the effects of climate change.
The meeting will see negotiators try to resolve issues left hanging since the 2015 Paris climate accord was forged, and find ways to ratchet up their efforts to keep global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) this century compared with pre-industrial times.
Scientists say the chances of meeting that goal, agreed in the French capital six years ago, are slowly slipping away. The by more than 1.1C and current projections based on planned emissions cuts over the next decade are for it to hit 2.7C by the year 2100.
The amount of energy unleashed by such planetary warming would melt much of the planet's ice, raise global sea levels and greatly increase the likelihood and intensity of extreme weather, experts warn.
鈥淭here has been progress over the last few years but I would say that actually the task we have here is in many ways tougher than Paris,鈥� said Alok Sharma, the British government minister chairing the Glasgow talks.
鈥淲hat we鈥檝e had to do since (Paris) is agree some of the detailed rules and some of the most difficult rules are still outstanding after six years, and that makes it really challenging," he told Sky News.
鈥淥f course, we know that the geopolitics is more difficult than it was at the time of Paris," he said, adding that it was time for governments to 鈥渓eave the ghosts of the past behind."
鈥淲hat we need to come from Glasgow is to be able to say with credibility, 鈥榃e have kept 1.5 alive,鈥欌�� said Sharma.
He noted that China, the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, had just raised its climate targets somewhat.
"But of course we expected more,鈥� Sharma told the BBC.
U.S. climate envoy John Kerry warned last week of the dramatic impacts that exceeding the 2015 Paris accord鈥檚 goal will have on nature and people, but that the world is heading in the right direction. The United States is currently the world's second biggest polluter, though historically it is responsible for the biggest amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
India, the world's third biggest emitter, has yet to follow China, the U.S. and the European Union in setting a target for reaching 鈥榥et zero鈥� emissions. Negotiators are hoping India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi will announce such a goal in Glasgow.
鈥淲e need all of the G20 to come forward," said Sharma. "The G20 represents 80% of global emissions and that鈥檚 why every country matters, but the G20 matters particularly.鈥�
Some of being discussed during the Oct. 31-Nov. 12 talks have been on the agenda for decades, including how rich countries can help poor nations tackle emissions and adapt to a hotter world. The slow pace of action has angered many environmental campaigners, who are expected to stage loud and creative protests during the summit.
Speaking in Rome Sunday, Prince Charles urged world leaders to heed the 鈥渄espairing voices鈥� of young people who will bear the brunt of climate change.
The heir to the British throne described the talks in Glasgow as 鈥渓iterally the last-chance saloon鈥� for the Earth.
Charles told Group of 20 leaders meeting in Rome that they have an 鈥渙verwhelming responsibility to generations yet unborn.鈥�
鈥淚t is impossible not to hear the despairing voices of young people who see you as the stewards of the planet, holding the viability of their future in your hands,鈥� he said.
On Monday, Charles is due to welcome leaders to COP26 in Glasgow. His 95-year-old mother Queen Elizabeth II was due to attend but has been advised to rest by her doctors.
The opening day of the talks is expected to focus on procedural issues. One big worry is that not all the delegates will be able to meet in person, as the venue and room capacities have been limited due to COVID concerns.
The outgoing president of the meeting, Chile鈥檚 Carolina Schmidt, started the talks by asking officials to observe a minute鈥檚 silence for those who have died due to the coronavirus pandemic since the last U.N. climate conference was held in Madrid in late 2019, shortly before the outbreak began.
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Jill Lawless in Rome and Silvia Hui in London contributed to this report.
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Frank Jordans, The Associated Press
