iam i am live in rome where the biggest economies and biggest emitters are under pressure to meet words with actions. back in glasgow, as well as the delegates, climate activists have descended on the city for the summit including greta thunberg, mobbed as she arrived this morning. good morning from glasgow where the cop26 climate change conference, one of the biggest summits the uk has ever hosted, gets underway today, a year later than planned because of the covid pandemic. it's starting on the day the world meteorological 0rganisation is releasing its latest state of climate report which is expected to say that the last 10 years have been the warmest ever recorded. the challenge then for world leaders and delegates gathering here couldn't be more urgent. will they find ways to stop global temperatures rising by more than 1.5 degrees above pre—industrial levels? and will wealthier nations live up to promises to deliver climate justice by helping developing countries? this morning prince charles has made a significant intervention, speaking at the g20 leaders summit rome calling for action, describing it as the "last chance saloon". the planet's health today will dictate the health, happiness and economic prosperity of generations to come. hence, our overwhelming responsibility to generations yet unborn. now, after, isuppose, very nearly 50 years of trying to raise awareness of the growing climate and environmental crisis, i'm at last sensing a change in attitudes and the build—up of positive momentum. as you know, listening is often more important than speaking. and i have listened closely to leaders of many countries, particularly commonwealth nations, whose communities are some of the most climate vulnerable on this earth. it is also impossible not to hear the despairing voices of young people, who see you, ladies and gentlemen, as the stewards of the planet, holding the viability of their future in your hands. and i've listened to those leaders of the private sector who are now more and more anxious to invest in the projects and new technologies that could establish a more rapid transition to sustainability. some 300 of the world's top ceos from every sector of the economy, including financial services, and representing well over $60 trillion of assets under management, joined my sustainable market initiative and demonstrated how acutely sensitive they are to the way both consumers who control more than 60% of global gdp, and shareholders, who are now demanding changes in the way businesses behave, which is why they want to make a big difference but the kind of investment only they can provide. following the recent cop 15 biodiversity meeting in china, and with this week's cop26 climate change conference in the united kingdom, it is only too clear that we will need trillions of dollars of investment every year to create the necessary new infrastructure and meet the vital1.5 degrees climate target that will save our forests and farms, our oceans and our wildlife. no government has those sorts of sums, which is why i've spent so much time over the past 19 months trying to form a global alliance amongst the private sector as i've long believed it holds the ultimate key to the solutions we seek. that is why, prime minister, i am so grateful to you for recognising this central truth, and for bringing them in. giving them a seat at this most important table, so that climate change can be tackled in partnership. that was prince charles addressing 620 that was prince charles addressing g20 leaders in rome earlier on. let's go live to rome now. mark, around 200 nations will be represented at cop26 in glasgow, but to what extent is the direction of travel set by the net —— nations represented in rome in the g20, how much will that determine the result here in the next couple of weeks? i think very much so. the presence of cop26 has said that this g20 summit is make or break —— the president of cop26. the 620 is make or break —— the president of cop26. the g20 brings together the worlds largest economies, making up 80% of the world's gdp, gross domestic product, the total value of goods and services produced, but crucially also they produce around 80% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. they comprise the very big emitters, india, china, russia, saudi arabia, australia, brazil. it is really important for these countries to get on board and raise their emissions reduction targets or in some cases actually even come up with emissions reduction target in the sum —— best price. china and india have not submitted updated emissions reductions targets to achieve net zero carbon emissions by the middle of the century. a reminder that the scientific consensus is that without achieving carbon neutrality, in effect that the carbon produced is offset or cancelled by the carbon removed from the atmosphere, without achieving that by the middle of the century, there is very little hope of the aim of keeping a cap on global warming of keeping a cap on global warming of 1.5 degrees. so that is why the talks here in rome are a very important stepping stone to the talks that you are looking forward to in glasgow. and why the prime minister of italy who is presiding over the g20 summit has been so focused on keeping the goals of curbing climate change a life. so, some of us are asking, why we moved our goal posts from two degrees to 1.5 degrees? why? because science says so. we must listen to the warnings coming from the global scientific community. tackle the climate crisis this decade, and honour the paris agreement and the 2030 sustainable development agenda. italy's prime minister mario draghi there. we had just had a news flash from the reuters news agency, which has reported that the g20 has reached a deal on the climate language in the final communiqu. that is the only line we get at the moment. what we think that will refer to is that the g20 will agree that the 1.5 degrees cap on global warning should be the target. the question, though, is whether these wealthy nations and the rest of the world meeting in glasgow can provide the actions behind those words, in terms of meeting the ambitions with real concrete pledges and actions. let's find out what some people make of the direction of travel, some experts, let's speak to michael mann, professor of atmospheric science at penn state university. an author of the new climate of war. thank you very much for spending time with us here on bbc news. you get a sense there from the few words in that newsflash that the g20 leaders are perhaps coalescing around some kind of language over certainly the 1.5 degrees global warming limit. do you get a feeling from what you are hearing at the moment that the g20 is moving fast enough towards getting real progress in glasgow, or is the mountainjust too high at the moment to climb? thank you, good to be with you. the mountain_ thank you, good to be with you. the mountain is— thank you, good to be with you. the mountain is not too high to climb, but we _ mountain is not too high to climb, but we are — mountain is not too high to climb, but we are not yet there. we haven't yet made _ but we are not yet there. we haven't yet made it _ but we are not yet there. we haven't yet made it to the peak and over the mountain_ yet made it to the peak and over the mountain to — yet made it to the peak and over the mountain to the other side where we need to— mountain to the other side where we need to ramp down those carbon emissions — need to ramp down those carbon emissions by 50% within the next decade _ emissions by 50% within the next decade or— emissions by 50% within the next decade or so right now we are not on a course _ decade or so right now we are not on a course to— decade or so right now we are not on a course to do— decade or so right now we are not on a course to do that and to keep warming — a course to do that and to keep warming but —— below that catastrophic 1.5 degrees level. there — catastrophic 1.5 degrees level. there is— catastrophic 1.5 degrees level. there is some reason for cautious optimism. — there is some reason for cautious optimism, we do seek coalescence on the target _ optimism, we do seek coalescence on the target on the 1.5 degrees target at the _ the target on the 1.5 degrees target at the 620 — the target on the 1.5 degrees target at the 620 which implies that the countries — at the 620 which implies that the countries of the world collectively need _ countries of the world collectively need to _ countries of the world collectively need to bring carbon emissions down by 50% _ need to bring carbon emissions down by 50% within this decade. we have seen commitments going into glasgow from the _ seen commitments going into glasgow from the uk, us and eu to bring carhon— from the uk, us and eu to bring carbon emissions down by that amount but we _ carbon emissions down by that amount but we haven't seen yet, and i think that is— but we haven't seen yet, and i think that is alluded to in this discussion at the 620, is action on the ground — discussion at the 620, is action on the ground necessary to fulfil those commitments. we sometimes call this the implementation gap, the gaps that are _ the implementation gap, the gaps that are between the word that policymakers are using and the actions — policymakers are using and the actions in _ policymakers are using and the actions. in the case of the us, uk and eu, _ actions. in the case of the us, uk and eu, we — actions. in the case of the us, uk and eu, we are still seeing the funding— and eu, we are still seeing the funding of new oil and gas pipelines and that— funding of new oil and gas pipelines and that is— funding of new oil and gas pipelines and that is inconsistent with bringing _ and that is inconsistent with bringing carbon emissions down as rapidly— bringing carbon emissions down as rapidly as— bringing carbon emissions down as rapidly as we have to. so we still have _ rapidly as we have to. so we still have to _ rapidly as we have to. so we still have to work out the nitty—gritty, and that's — have to work out the nitty—gritty, and that's hopefully what we will see at _ and that's hopefully what we will see at cop26. actionable, actionable agreements to notjust see at cop26. actionable, actionable agreements to not just talk the talk but to— agreements to not just talk the talk but to walk the walk, to take the steps _ but to walk the walk, to take the steps necessary to bring those emissions down and to do that rapidty~ — emissions down and to do that raidl . ., . ~' emissions down and to do that raidl. ., ., ,, ., ., emissions down and to do that raidl . ., . ,, ., ., ,, rapidly. you talk about how the us and the eu — rapidly. you talk about how the us and the eu have _ rapidly. you talk about how the us and the eu have submitted - rapidly. you talk about how the us and the eu have submitted their. and the eu have submitted their emissions targets, but as you are of course well aware, the nationally determined contributions as they are known, the emission reduction targets, they haven't been submitted by some of the key emitters, china, india, turkey, saudi arabia. some other like brazil and australia have submitted them but without the ability to halve emissions by 2030, as you point out. is —— if there is as you point out. is —— if there is a real shortfall in these emission reduction targets, how could the aim of capping global warming at 1.5 degrees remain alive?— degrees remain alive? well, no ruestion degrees remain alive? well, no question we _ degrees remain alive? well, no question we need _ degrees remain alive? well, no | question we need commitments degrees remain alive? well, no - question we need commitments from these _ question we need commitments from these other countries. saudi arabia is a petro— these other countries. saudi arabia is a petro state and they have played — is a petro state and they have played an _ is a petro state and they have played an adverse role in these proceedings for decades. so to some extent, _ proceedings for decades. so to some extent, we _ proceedings for decades. so to some extent, we need to bring pressure on some _ extent, we need to bring pressure on some of— extent, we need to bring pressure on some of the — extent, we need to bring pressure on some of the bad actors. australia, under— some of the bad actors. australia, under the — some of the bad actors. australia, under the morrison government, the current— under the morrison government, the current coalition government, has not taken — current coalition government, has not taken the sort of meaningful action— not taken the sort of meaningful action we — not taken the sort of meaningful action we would like to see from australia — action we would like to see from australia. china is a different matter _ australia. china is a different matter. they are the world's largest emitter. _ matter. they are the world's largest emitter, but they are an economy which _ emitter, but they are an economy which is _ emitter, but they are an economy which is still industrialising so it's absolutely critical that we make — it's absolutely critical that we make sure that china will not double down _ make sure that china will not double down in _ make sure that china will not double down in the — make sure that china will not double down in the investment on coal and fossil— down in the investment on coal and fossil fields. there is some good news _ fossil fields. there is some good news here — fossil fields. there is some good news here. the fact that the biden administration is taking a leadership position on climate, which _ leadership position on climate, which we — leadership position on climate, which we didn't have under the previous— which we didn't have under the previous administration, that has brought— previous administration, that has brought china to the negotiating tabte _ brought china to the negotiating table. they have agreed for example to no longer fund overseas coal projects — to no longer fund overseas coal projects. that's an important step in the _ projects. that's an important step in the right— projects. that's an important step in the right direction. so we need to keep _ in the right direction. so we need to keep those negotiations going. we do need _ to keep those negotiations going. we do need a _ to keep those negotiations going. we do need a meaningful commitments from china, — do need a meaningful commitments from china, and i think those will be coming — from china, and i think those will be coming. when the united states engages _ be coming. when the united states engages as they did under the 0bama administration, china has come to the table — administration, china has come to the table and made real commitment and i expect that to happen here as wett~ _ and i expect that to happen here as well. ., , and i expect that to happen here as well. ., a ., and i expect that to happen here as well. ., ~. ., ., well. professor michael mann from penn state university, _ well. professor michael mann from penn state university, thank - well. professor michael mann from penn state university, thank you . penn state university, thank you very much indeed. all eyes will be on china as the world's largest emitter, will be on the chinese foreign minister who is here because the chinese leader xi jinping foreign minister who is here because the chinese leader xijinping has not come to rome, he is still impatient because of the covid situation. there will be a lot of pressure in rome and in glasgow. and also another strong voice will come from the developing world, the poor are companies —— countries who are putting more pressure on the richer company to up what is called climate finance, a pledge to give $100 billion a yearfrom finance, a pledge to give $100 billion a year from wealthier countries to poorer countries to help them decarbonise and move towards a greener economy. that is still too short, the goal has been pushed back to 2023, giving a sense of how much work there is still to be done here in rome and in glasgow where you are. thank you very much, mark. watch out for those themes of climate justice and the global north versus the global south, i shouldn't say verses, probably, but many countries in the developing world has said it felt like a contest almost where the developed world where they industrialise to faster and they have benefited economically from that industry which created the emissions and are causing climate change, that they need to step up and help the countries which is suffering from that climate change. it's a conference which the prime minister borisjohnson has called "a turning point for humanity" because over the next two weeks leaders from almost 200 countries will be asked to agree steps to limit climate change, to stop global average temperatures rising more than 1.5 celsius above pre—industrial levels. that's the point at which scientists say we will see more flooding, drought, extreme heat and poverty, a code red for the human race. so what's the plan to acheive this? let's take a look at the four goals of cop26. the first is to "secure global net zero by the mid—century and keep 1.5 degrees within reach". net zero is the point at which the amount of greenhouses gases being produced is no greater than the amount being removed. you will hear a lot about how a lot of work has to be done in the next ten years, to keep to the target by the mid century. countries will need to phase out coal more rapidly, stop deforestation, speed up the switch to electric vehicles and renewable energy. the second is to "adapt to protect communities and natural habitats". this is about protecting or restoring ecosytems, as well as developing a more resilient infrastructure, to protect homes and communities from the impacts of climate change. the third goal is to "mobilise finance". this is absolutely crucial, it really drives all of the other goals. developed countries are being asked to pledge at least $100 billion in climate finance per year including working with private sector. that was something that vince charles placed a lot of emphasis on in his speech in rome earlier, —— prince charles, about that being absolutely key to financing a transition to a green economy, a greener world. the final goal is to bring the "world together to deliver". this is focussed on governments collaborating, as well as businesses and civil society, in order to finalise what s known as the paris rulebook, the detailed rules agreed in the paris climate accord in 2015. so they are the goals that'll be at the heart of negotiations over the next 12 days or so. the challenge will be getting nearly every country in the world, all with their own individual set of circumstances, to agree on a common pathway forward. it's hoped that agreement will be reached by the end of the summit, which is next friday november 12th. although if past summits are anything to go by, things could slip into that weekend. as well as the thousands of delegates expected in glasgow over the duration of the conference, climate activists and protestors are also here. yesterday greta thunberg was mobbed as she arrived by train. the swedish activist was surrounded by police, media and activists at the city's central station. earlier, faith groups making pilgrimages to glasgow converged in the city as protests build ahead of the start. with me now is our science correspondent victoria gill. she has been with me all day so far. great to have your expertise on all of this. you have been living and breathing all things cop26 for quite some time now. just to say our viewers, we are going to be expecting some speeches later including from alok sharma who is officially taking on the presidency at cop26 for the uk. let's go back to basics, how crucial is the summit? it to basics, how crucial is the summit?— to basics, how crucial is the summit? , . . . ., ., ., summit? it is a crucial part of an onauoin summit? it is a crucial part of an ongoing process. _ summit? it is a crucial part of an ongoing process. the _ summit? it is a crucial part of an ongoing process. the critical- summit? it is a crucial part of an i ongoing process. the critical thing about this is that we are rapidly running out of time. that's why we keep repeating this mantra about this being such a decisive decade and we keep hearing about targets being set out for a strategy to slash emissions in half by 2030. because this has been going on for so long, we first embarks on this process of all of these countries gathering at these cop conferences backin gathering at these cop conferences back in 1995. we have dragged our heels and the whole negotiation process has taken too long to get to a point of decisive action. as the clock runs out and the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas levels still continue to build up in the atmosphere, itjust means that that window closes. so actually coming to an agreement here, whereby countries who have stepped up to the table also stepped up with their clear strategies about how exactly they will get to those emissions and when you crunch the numbers, that does get us to appoint where we can stay below that threshold of the critical temperature increase of 1.5 degrees that we kept talking about, and you will hear a lot about that in the next couple of weeks, that is why this week is ever more crucial. we are just why this week is ever more crucial. we arejust running why this week is ever more crucial. we are just running out of time. that's what the science says. band we are just running out of time. that's what the science says. and a lot of the poorer _ that's what the science says. and a lot of the poorer nations _ that's what the science says. and a lot of the poorer nations in - that's what the science says. and a lot of the poorer nations in the - lot of the poorer nations in the developing world, they feel aggrieved, don't they? they feel that wealthier nations have not lived, and they have not lived up to, we know that for a fact, commitments made on finance and on other areas to help these poor countries adapt to climate change to protect themselves and allow them to transition to a greener future. so protect themselves and allow them to transition to a greenerfuture. so i think pledges on that, pledges that are stuck to that are going to be kept, that's going to be really crucial over the next couple of weeks as well, isn't it? band crucial over the next couple of weeks as well, isn't it? and mark talked about _ weeks as well, isn't it? and mark talked about this, _ weeks as well, isn't it? and mark talked about this, the _ weeks as well, isn't it? and mark talked about this, the fact - weeks as well, isn't it? and mark talked about this, the fact that i weeks as well, isn't it? and mark. talked about this, the fact that the financial pledges have already been pushed. so we are still falling short on the 100 billion that we promised, climate finance for poorer nations and nations that are right on the coal face of this, they are really facing the brunt of climate change, far more than in developed nations because they don't have the wherewithal but also because they are low—lying nations, their climates, their weather patterns are being hit even harder and they are suffering things like droughts. we have the first climate induced salmon happening in madagascar right now. climate change is not a level —— climate induced famine. climate change is not a level playing field. but we even see flooding here in the uk. when it comes to people being at the brunt of it because of poverty, this doesn't hit people equally. so the climate finance is an issue of trust as well as an issue of helping those countries to adapt and essentially live through this mess because it is happening.— essentially live through this mess because it is happening. these are all thin . s because it is happening. these are all things we _ because it is happening. these are all things we will _ because it is happening. these are all things we will be _ because it is happening. these are all things we will be exploring - because it is happening. these are all things we will be exploring in i because it is happening. these are all things we will be exploring in a| all things we will be exploring in a lot of detail over the next couple of weeks. victoria, thank you very much. i am of weeks. victoria, thank you very much. iamjoined... let's speak now to dorothy guerrero head of policy at globaljustice now and a member of the cop26 coalition the cop26 the c0 p26 coalition the cop26 coalition is a uk based coalition of groups and activists mobilising around environ mental protection and the idea of climate justice during cop26. very good to have you with us here today dorothy. and what will need to happen for you to say that cop26 has been successful?— to say that cop26 has been successful? ., ., ., ., successful? hello, good morning, thank ou successful? hello, good morning, thank you for— successful? hello, good morning, thank you for having _ successful? hello, good morning, thank you for having me _ successful? hello, good morning, thank you for having me this - thank you for having me this morning. i think for us to talk about net zero, that will not get as near that target of capping the temperature warming by 1.5 celsius. countries especially the high and historical emitters, must get to as close to zero emissions as much as possible by 2020. i mentioned that it should be zero because net zero is not real. it is not right saying we can continue emitting as much as we can continue emitting as much as we could maybe in the future there will be a thing that exists to get will be a thing that exists to out to the emissions from the air. if we want to talk about real submissions, it should be real zero emissions. sorry... it should be real zero emissions. sor , ., ., it should be realzero emissions. sor , ., ., sorry... sorry, i was going to say, i am sorry... sorry, i was going to say, i am going _ sorry... sorry, i was going to say, i am going to — sorry... sorry, i was going to say, i am going to remind _ sorry... sorry, i was going to say, i am going to remind our - sorry... sorry, i was going to say, i am going to remind our viewers, what net zero means, it is like balancing scales. it is where you have no more emissions have been put into the atmosphere, greenhouse gas emissions, than are removed. so you have a of the two. just to pick up —— balancing of the two. just to pick up on the theme of climate justice i was exploring with victoria, whether it is here in the uk or around the world, people are not feeling the effects of climate change equally, are they? and it's often the most disadvantaged who are suffering the most. yes. often the most disadvantaged who are suffering the most.— suffering the most. yes, indeed. if we sa , suffering the most. yes, indeed. if we say. the _ suffering the most. yes, indeed. if we say. the un _ suffering the most. yes, indeed. if we say, the un general— suffering the most. yes, indeed. if we say, the un generalassembly, we say, the un general assembly, last month, the un secretary general said that at the rate we're going, and if things do not change dramatically, we are heading for 2.7 degrees centigrade, average warming. we have to remember that temperature is different in many different parts of the world. so that could mean maybe three or four degrees centigrade in sub—saharan africa, for example. so that means at the moment where we already have all this climate conducive catastrophe, and we only at 1.2 celsius, more can happen if you go past 1.5 celsius, or a figure to 2.7 celsius? that would be a really big challenge and a problem and that is why a lot of conflict is happening in the negotiations, conflict—of—interest. you mentioned rich versus the poor, but for the past 25 cops, that is what is happening. at the end of the day, the interests of the rich nations seem to be winning, and the interests of the poor and developing countries are on the back burner. and that comes in terms of the commitment, that comes in terms of the climate finance which is no nearer to happening. as late as last year, the 0ecd said that the development was meant to be $79 million. at 100 billion was committed and that is already very small, and very late, and now it will be much later because the developing countries still have to wait for a few more years. that is nowhere enough. most of the study say it will be at least trillions of dollars. tens of billions of dollars. tens of billions of dollars. in terms of the rich countries, if they can come up with a vaccine so quickly, they should also be in terms of climate action. this is a climate emergency and we are running out of time so actions must happen fast. but it must also be based on justice. must happen fast. but it must also be based onjustice. fin must happen fast. but it must also be based on justice.— must happen fast. but it must also be based on justice. be based on 'ustice. on a scale from o timism be based on 'ustice. on a scale from optimism to — be based on justice. on a scale from optimism to pessimism, _ be based on justice. on a scale from optimism to pessimism, dorothy, i be based on justice. on a scale from l optimism to pessimism, dorothy, how are you feeling about the prospects of world leaders notjust talking in fine words, but actually committing to action to make those words reality? and facing the costs of the transition, both in their own countries, and elsewhere? i’m countries, and elsewhere? i'm pessimistic — countries, and elsewhere? i'm pessimistic. but _ couhti’ies, and elsewhere? i�*rn pessimistic. but the thing is, that is why actions from civil society, and at the same time all of these talks of science —based arguments, they must be intensified. and although we talking about maybe less than a decade before we reach 1.5, it's better to act now than have to act at all. so we avoid the worst impacts. it's still better to do as much as possible now and try to get to as near as possible to zero emissions by 2030. with the realisation as well that everyone must contribute, but then at the same time the rich countries must lead on this. they must cut their emissions drastically and for the rest of the world to follow. dorothy, thank you very much for joining us. head of policy at the globaljustice now and a member of the cop26 coalition coordinating committee which is a group of coalition activists, environmental activists seeking climate justice. not everyone is feeling the impact of climate change equally. some countries have already reached 1.5 degrees of global warning. chad, for example, and i hope to speak to an activist from chad later on, is already at 1.5 degrees above 1990 temperatures. and the impact on the controversies of that are huge. lake chad, once one of the largest in the world, is growing smaller and smaller so people have to walk further to get their water. it's just one example of a world of examples of how climate change is having direct impacts on people 's lives. and of course cop26 is not just about the politicians and delegates. it is about climate activists and protesters who are also here in glasgow. among them is gratitude in baku has been speaking to andrew marr about how activists are underrepresented. she said most people —— is greta thunberg who has been speaking to andrew marr. but her overwhelming message was still that while politicans can do more, what they have done so far is still not enough. if we switched our focus from trying to create loopholes and excuses not to not take action, which is very much the case now, no matter how you see it, if we switched from that focus to actually trying to combat climate change in a way that would actually solve it, taking into account the whole perspective, then i think that we could achieve massive changes. and, of course, we must also remember that there's not a point where everything is lost. there's not like a tipping point we pass and now everything is lost, there's no point in doing anything. if we can't keep the global average temperature rise to below 1.5, then we do 1.6, and then 1.7, and so on. we can always prevent things from getting worse. it's never too late to do as much as we can. we expect alok sharma to be officially taking the presidency in the next few minutes, we will go