As the Cop26 climate summit began in Glasgow, world figures stepped up their end-of the-world rhetoric.
At the beginning of the conference, delegates were treated to a slew of hyperbolic metaphors and melodramatic statements intended to instil urgency in international climate negotiations.
Antonio Guterres (UN secretary-general) accused countries of treating nature like a bathroom, warning of a looming climate catastrophe.
Sir David Attenborough, broadcaster and naturalist, stated that humanity was in trouble already but that there was a way to turn tragedy into victory at the two week meeting.
Today, world figures stepped up their end-of the-world rhetoric as they delivered a series of harsh warnings in speeches marking Cop26’s start in Glasgow. Antonio Guterres, UN secretary-general, accused countries today of treating nature like a bathroom.
Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, stated that the outcome of the climate summit would determine ‘life and death for millions’. This suggests that leaders who ignore warnings about Nazis in 1930s could be worse than those who failed to act – a comment he later apologized for.
Over 130 countries are being represented at the leaders’ summit portion of the conference which kicked off with a series of speeches welcoming those set to be involved in negotiating new pledges to cut emissions.
However, viewers complained that speakers’ tone ranged from doom-mongering and hyperbole.
This began with Boris Johnson, Prime Minster,’s speech describing global warming as ‘a doomsday machine’ attached to humanity.
The hosting premier however was outdone by the UN’s chief Antonio Guterres, who said he had had enough of countries ‘treating nature like a toilet’.
Welby took to Twitter to apologize for the comments made before the interview aired. He said, “I unambiguously apologise for using the words when trying to emphasize the gravity of the situation at COP26,”
Justin Welby, Archbishop and Canterbury of Canterbury, said that the outcome at the climate summit would be a matter of ‘life or death’ for millions of people. He suggested that leaders who ignored warnings from the Nazis in 1933 could be worse than leaders who failed to act.
“We are digging ourselves our own graves,” he said, referring specifically to the addiction to fossil fuels that threatens to drive humanity and the planet to the brink.
It came as earlier today the Archbishop of Canterbury was forced to issue a grovelling apology after saying failure to get a climate change deal would mean a worse ‘genocide’ than committed by the Nazis.
Justin Welby said he was sorry for ‘offence caused to Jews’ after making the extraordinary remarks at the COP26 summit.
In an interview with BBC, he stated that leaders would be ‘cursed” if they fail to reach an agreement on climate change within the next fortnight.
Sir David Attenborough, naturalist and broadcaster, stated that humanity was in trouble but that there was still a chance to turn tragedy into triumph at the two week meeting
He also stated that a failure of action would result in a genocide on an inexorable magnitude than what Hitler’s regime committed.
He tweeted to try and defuse the backlash before the footage was even air.
He wrote: “I unequivocally apologise” for the words he used to emphasise the gravity and urgency of the situation we are in at COP26.
“It’s wrong to make comparisons to the atrocities committed by the Nazis, and I’m sorry to the Jews for the offense caused by these words.
These remarks were just a few of many that were harshly critical of world leaders, some of whom were absent, who have so far failed to make substantial commitments to combat climate change.
Mia Mottley from Barbados, the Prime Minister of Barbados, spoke for the island nations. She also warned leaders not to allow greed and selfishness ‘to sow the seeds our common destruction.
She continued, “This is immoral and unjust.” “Are we so blinded or hardened that it is difficult to hear the cries and plights of humanity?”
Wavel John Charles Ramkalawan was the President of Seychelles, an island nation. He said: “We are already gasping to survive. Tomorrow is not an option, for it will be too late.