Greta Thunberg received a rockstar reception as she arrived in Glasgow by train before being escorted by police guard ahead of the Cop26 summit, as world leaders prepare to discuss the climate crisis in the coming weeks.
The Swedish activist arrived at Glasgow Central station on Saturday evening at around 6.40pm, having taken a train from London, Euston, ahead of the international conference that begins formally on Sunday, with a summit of 120 dignitaries and heads of state starting the following day.
Activists from around the world are expected to cause chaos at the climate summit, with organisers expecting up to 100,000 people at a major demonstration Friday requiring a heavy police presence. Demonstrators are calling on world leaders to take steps to prevent global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5C degrees.
After leaving the train, Ms Thunberg was surrounded by police and other activists as she made her way around the station. She later took to Twitter to announce her arrival, writing: ‘Finally in Glasgow for the #COP26! And than you for the very warm welcome,’ along with a picture of her descending an escalator through the crowds.
She travelled to Scotland after she took part in a demonstration outside a bank in London on Friday.
There, she was also mobbed by other climate change activists at the protest outside the Standard Chartered headquarters, as they lobbied against the global financial system supporting the use of fossil fuels.
As Ms Thunberg was escorted through the station and the excited crowds, video footage picked up members of her group swearing at photographers. One Scottish man was heard asking her ‘are you happy to in Glasgow,’ to which one of her minders was heard replying: ‘Get a life!’
Other climate activists from around Europe also arrived at the station on a specially chartered ‘climate train’ on Saturday evening. They were greeted with chanting and banners from groups assembled in the station.
More than 100 leaders, including Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden, are set to attend the summit, which is considered pivotal in the fight against climate change.
Greta’s arrival in Glasgow ahead of Cop26 comes as…
- Pilgrimage groups have already marched through Scotland’s second largest city ahead of the summit
- The Daily Mail reported yesterday that eco-warriors are plotting to exploit gaps in Scottish law to wreak havoc in the city as Cop26 commences to put pressure on world leaders
- There is a growing alarm among officials at the potential chaos from activists as police brace for the ‘most complex and complicated policing operation ever seen in Britain’
- The £100million policing operation at Cop26 represents the biggest police deployment on record in the UK
- Downing Street said Cop26 will be one of the biggest events the UK has ever hosted
- Speaking on Saturday, Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Cop26 could be the ‘world’s moment of truth’, as he urged leaders to use the Glasgow summit to bring about an end to climate change
- Mr Johnson, who is due to fly from the G20 in Rome to Glasgow on Sunday evening, said: ‘Cop26 will be the world’s moment of truth
- A few dozen protesters demanding that government leaders take incisive action on climate change had to be carried away by police from the main boulevard near the G-20 summit site in Rome
- Inside, Boris Johnson looked as if he had to be held back by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau when he saw French President Emmanuel Macron at the G20 summit
- The photograph appeared to suggest the two world leaders were about to come to blows over the rising tensions caused by the fisheries row, escalated when France detained a fishing trawler earlier this week
Greta Thunberg has arrived in Glasgow ahead of the Cop26 summit, as world leaders prepare to discuss the climate crisis
On Saturday evening, Ms Thunberg tweeted: ‘Finally in Glasgow for the #COP26! And than you for the very warm welcome’, along with a picture of her surrounded by fellow activists and police officer
The Swedish activist arrived at Glasgow Central station on Saturday evening, having taken a train from London Euston
Other climate activists from around Europe also arrived at the station on a specially chartered ‘climate train’ on Saturday evening
Ms Thunberg is expected to take part in other demonstrations during the two-week summit in Glasgow.
There will be a march through the city on November 5, organised by Fridays for Future Scotland – the Scottish branch of the movement inspired by her activism. The march is planned to go through the city’s George Square.
The activist also extended an invitation to ScotRail and Glasgow’s refuse workers that had originally planned to go on strike during the Cop26 summit.
She is also expected to speak at a rally taking place on Saturday hosted by the Cop26 Coalition.
However, Ms Thunberg has said her formal participation in the summit itself is uncertain.
In a preview for his BBC One show on Sunday, Andrew Marr asked Ms Thunberg if she had been invited to Cop26, and she responded: ‘I don’t know. It’s very unclear. Not officially. ‘I think that many people might be scared that if they invite too many radical young people, then that might make them look bad.’
Ms Thunberg, who has become one of the most recognisable faces of the climate movement, is one of the 100,000 people expected to descend of Glasgow for Cop26.
Pilgrimage groups have already marched through Glasgow as protests ramp up ahead of Cop26, while the Daily Mail reported yesterday that eco warriors are plotting to exploit gaps in Scottish law to wreak havoc.
Around 400 climate activists sized up potential loopholes during a meeting promoted by Extinction Rebellion (XR) earlier this week. Conspirators noted a recent High Court Injunction banning road blockades does not apply in Scotland – and that officers will be ‘overwhelmed’ by the scale of the protests.
It was also hinted protesters with charges against their name in England may get a blank canvas across the border as forces ‘don’t always communicate to each other’.
It comes amid growing alarm within rank-and-file officers about the potential for chaos as police brace for the ‘most complex and complicated policing operation ever seen in Britain’.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg is mobbed by a crowd as she walks after arriving at Glasgow Central Station ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain October 30, 2021
Climate activist Greta Thunberg walks after arriving at Glasgow Central Station ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain October 30, 2021
Greta Thunberg at Euston Station in London ahead of boarding a train to Glasgow where the Cop26 summit is taking place from Monday. Picture date: Saturday October 30, 2021
Thousands of activists have gathered in Scotland’s largest city this weekend to make their climate change concerns known to the world leaders who will be around the negotiating table.
Attendees had come from far and wide including several other European countries, with some having walked long distances, to voice their frustrations at UN conference.
Some protesters started making their voices heard around noon on Saturday, including members of Ocean Rebellion who led a ‘dead merpeoples’ demonstration, with activists lying still entangled in netting and litter near the Clyde in Glasgow to raise awareness of marine life loss.
Members of Extinction Rebellion (XR) Faith, artists and other pilgrimage groups who have walked thousands of miles to Glasgow joined each other in a procession through the city centre on Saturday.
The event was said to be an ‘opening ceremony’ to a series of non-violent direct actions being planned in Glasgow, around the UK and the world during the United Nations climate change convention.
The procession started at 2pm at the McLennan Arch on Glasgow Green, where XR Scotland’s ‘Blue Rebels’ formed a guard of honour for the pilgrims.
Those arriving in the city included Marcha Glasgow, a group of Spanish activists who took a ferry from Bilbao to Portsmouth to embark on a 30-day hike to Glasgow.
Camino to Cop26 members have walked from London and Bristol to Glasgow in just under two months.
Young Christian Climate Network activists arrived in the city on Saturday after walking 1,200 miles from Cornwall.
Ecumenical Pilgrimage for Climate Justice arrived in Glasgow from Poland, Sweden and Germany – and Pilgrimage for Cop26 has walked from Dunbar to Glasgow.
Glasgow-based artists Zoe Walker and Neil Bromwich paraded with the Serpent of Capitalism, a 30-metre sculptural artwork alongside the pilgrimage groups.
Alex Cochrane, of XR Glasgow, said: ‘Cop26 must end a growing crime against humanity by wealthy governments where the global south are sacrificed to bear the brunt of the global north’s affluent, carbon-intensive lifestyles.
‘We welcome the pilgrims of faith – and no faith – who are walking to Cop26 to demand governments also walk the walk for the global south.’
Yaz Ashmawi, of XR Pilgrim, said: ‘Countries around the world are already suffering the consequences of our historic emissions in the west, and small island states like the Maldives will be submerged by rising seas if no immediate action is taken on the climate.
‘As people of faith we have a spiritual duty of care to those who are less fortunate than us, so we have been using this walk to raise money for activists in financially disadvantaged countries that are already impacted, to empower them to join this conversation themselves.’
Ocean Rebellion activists stage a protest against bottom trawling fishing near the Scottish Event Centre (SEC) in Glasgow
Extinction Rebellion demonstrators take part in climate change protest in Glasgow, Scotland ahead of the start of COP26, Saturday
Environmental activists stage a protest ahead of the Climate Change Conference COP26 in Glasgow, 30 October 2021
Activists march during a ‘Pilgrims Procession’, an opening ceremony to a series of non-violent direct actions being organised by the Extinction Rebellion
Activists march during a ‘Pilgrims Procession’, an opening ceremony to a series of non-violent direct actions being organised by the Extinction Rebellion
Painted artwork is placed alongside the River Clyde ahead of the COP26 climate summit on October 30, 2021 in Glasgow
Police outriders practice their vehicle escort drills ahead of the COP26 climate summit on October 30, 2021 in Glasgow
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon took part in the ceremonial event with the Minga Indigena delegates at the international arts space Tramway in the Scottish city on Saturday. Ms Sturgeon and indigenous leaders then mixed water from Scotland and Patagonia, Chile, together which Ms Sturgeon was given as a token of their meeting
The marches come the day before world leaders are to meet in Glasgow for the crucial climate conference where countries are under pressure to discuss and increase their ambition to tackle the climate crisis.
On Friday, Ocean Rebellion activists poured ‘oil’ in front of Glasgow’s Cop26 venue in protest ahead of the event.
Another four XR protesters locked themselves to the Memorial Gates at the University of Glasgow using bike locks to demand that the establishment adopt the Green New Deal – a climate strategy developed by students and staff at the university.
Police Scotland Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, Scotland’s most senior police officer, said his force will respond ‘swiftly and robustly’ to protesters who try to disrupt the summit.
He said the force – together with 7,000 officers from other parts of the UK who have been deployed to Scotland to help police Cop26 – was ‘ready for the challenges that lie ahead’.
Speaking on Saturday, Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that Cop26 could be the ‘world’s moment of truth’, as he urged leaders to use the Glasgow summit to bring about an end to climate change.
With the United Nations summit due to get under way on Sunday, the Prime Minister pressed fellow world leaders to seize the moment and deliver on the target of preventing global temperatures from rising by more than 1.5C degrees above pre-industrial levels.
Downing Street said Cop26 will be one of the biggest events the UK has ever hosted, with 25,000 delegates expected from 196 countries and the European Union.
Ministers, climate negotiators, civil society and business leaders are set to take part in talks and debates over the course of the two-week conference.
Mr Johnson, who is due to fly from the G20 in Rome to Glasgow on Sunday evening, said: ‘Cop26 will be the world’s moment of truth.
‘The question everyone is asking is whether we seize this moment or let it slip away. I hope world leaders will hear them and come to Glasgow ready to answer them with decisive action.
‘Together, we can mark the beginning of the end of climate change – and end the uncertainty once and for all.’
The Conservative Party leader has not struck an optimistic tone in the lead-up to the conference, repeating in interviews while in the Italian capital that he still rated the chances of success in Scotland as no more than six out of 10.
On Saturday, Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson (pictured with France’s Emannuel Macron) said that Cop26 could be the ‘world’s moment of truth’, as he urged leaders to use the Glasgow summit to bring about an end to climate change
A demonstrator wears a death mask during environmental protests at G20
Police in riot gear clear the road by moving the Climate Camp activists
The Cop26 summit is aiming to urge countries to advance their net-zero commitments to the middle of the century and reduce emissions rapidly over the next decade through commitments on phasing out coal, switching to electric cars and planting trees.
Developed nations are also being urged to stump up the finance – 100 billion US dollars (£73 billion) per annum – needed by poorer nations to deal with climate change.
Number 10 said there is also a need to finalise the Paris Agreement at the event.
The summit timetable will see the Prime Minister host an opening ceremony attended by dignitaries including the Prince of Wales, before giving a speech on Monday.
Charles and Sir David Attenborough, the Cop26 People’s Advocate, will be among those to also address world leaders as British environmental advocates.
The theme of the opening ceremony, due to take place at midday, is ‘Earth to Cop’, which Downing Street said would deliver a message from the people for leaders to heed warnings and advance progress to tackle climate change.
On Monday evening, the Prime Minister will host a reception to welcome world leaders to Glasgow, alongside the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall.
The Queen will address the delegates in a pre-recorded video after she was told by doctors to avoid the summit and rest following a hospital visit last week.
At the reception, guests will be offered refreshments of traditional Scottish canapes, Ridgeview vintage English sparkling wine and Cop26 blended whisky supplied by the Scotch Whisky Association.
Guests will enjoy music from a string quartet and brass quintet from the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Meanwhile, a few dozen protesters demanding that government leaders take incisive action on climate change have been carried away by police from the main boulevard near the G-20 summit site in Rome.
Hours before the leaders of the United States, Britain, France and other economic powerhouse nations arrived on Saturday for the start of the two-day gathering, the activists blocked the road, holding banners, including one that read, ‘From Rome to Glasgow, your solutions are the problem.’
Some wore death masks and others played soccer with a ball symbolizing the planet’s health on the first day of the summit where climate concerns are a top issue for many of the world leaders in attendance.
Let me at him, Trudeau! Boris looks as if he’s being held back by Canadian PM when he sees Macron at G20 – after vowing legal action over fisheries row as French fishermen call Brits ‘pirates’
Inside, as world leaders posed for photographs at the G20 summit, Boris Johnson looked as if he had to be held back by Canadian PM Justin Trudeau when he saw French President Emmanuel Macron at the G20 summit.
As the Channel fisheries row continues to intensify the PM and French President came face-to-face in Rome for a group photo of world leaders.
One hilarious image seemed to capture the moment Mr Trudeau held onto Mr Johnson’s arm as they made their way onto the platform.
The photograph appeared to suggest the two world leaders were about to come to blows over the rising tensions caused by the fisheries row.
Mr Macron grinned as European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen directed Mr Johnson to his spot.
In a round of broadcast interviews this morning, Mr Johnson warned the UK could trigger legal repercussions in the post-Brexit trade agreement as soon as next week.
But the chief of Calais port insisted this morning that Britain faces ‘disaster’ if Mr Macron follows through on a threat to block British trawlers from French ports.
French President Emmanuel Macron laughs as Boris Johnson is helped up the stage as he arrives for the group photo of world leaders at the La Nuvola conference center in Rome
Fishermen stand aboard the British trawler Cornelis-Gert Jan docked in the northern French port of Le Havre as it waits to be given permission to leave today
In the latest stoking of the row, French counterparts have claimed the British trawler-men arrested for allegedly fishing in French waters without a licence are ‘pirates’ who ‘deserve everything they get’ for endangering the fish-stock.
Emmanuel Montard criticised the UK scallop boats for jeopardising the livelihoods of future generations by over-fishing in the waters on the Normandy coast.
The 54-year-old trawler-man is one of dozens of residents of picturesque Port en Bessin, where family have been fishing for scallops for generations.
Standing on the dock of the Normandy port he told of his anger, saying: ‘These British fishermen who come into our waters and work without a licence are pirates and deserve everything they get from French justice.’
Meanwhile, French PM Jean Castex has written to Ms von der Leyen seeking backing for a new hardline stance against the UK.
Paris has so far threatened to increase checks on British boats, to initiate a ‘go-slow’ strategy with Calais customs arrangements, stop UK fishing vessels from landing in French ports and to increase tariffs on energy bills in Jersey.
They are demanding that Britain grants more licences to French fishermen to access British waters.
Mr Johnson and Mr Macron are holding talks about the Iran nuclear programme along with Joe Biden and Angela Merkel in Rome this afternoon – and will meet one-on-one at the summit tomorrow.
Asked if there was a sense of ‘de ja vu’ after he and Mr Macron clashed over Brexit at the G7 summit earlier this year, Mr Johnson insisted he wasn’t worried about the ongoing feud and said he’s got ‘bigger fish to fry’.
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