As the city prepares for the arrival of many world leaders at the Cop26 climate summit, police have been seen increasing security in Glasgow.
Today saw a group of police motorbikes and vehicles leaving the Scottish Event Campus, which will host this summit – via a security gate.
Police officers wearing high-vis jackets with black face covers were seen patrolling the streets surrounding the venue.
Security will be of the utmost concern as leaders from around the world – including US President Joe Biden and German president Angela Merkel – are set to descend on the city.
They will also bring their entourages, delegates, and more than 30,000 people are expected pass through the SEC from October 31 to November 12.
This is a huge operation for security personnel, who have put up serious security barriers around the venue to prevent any potential troublemakers.
A convoy of police vehicles and motorbikes was seen leaving the Scottish Event Campus (which will host the Cop26 summit) via a security gate
Officers in black face covers and high-vis jackets were seen patrolling streets around the venue.
Security will be of paramount concern as world leaders, including US President Joe Biden (and Angela Merkel) are expected to descend upon the city.
Security forces are in for a major operation as more than 30,000 delegates will be attending the summit. (Pictured, Convoy departs venue)
Many police motorbikes leave the Cop26 summit venue at Glasgow in the rainy weather of Friday
Police are already on the alert ahead of Sunday’s summit.
Today President Biden’s enormous team arrived at Glasgow Airport. However, they were met with torrential rain and brutally wet weather.
A C17 military aircraft emitted clouds of smoke as it touched down on the runway. It then disgorged the president’s Marine One helicopter, scores of security personnel and gave them a break from the downpours.
A third plane with the inscription “United States of America” on its fuselage was seen landing at this airport before taking off again. It was joined by planes from France and other countries.
The summit’s main purpose is to persuade nations to agree to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.
Boris Johnson, the event’s host, has previously hailed COP26 a major moment. In September, he stated that COP26 was ‘the most important period I think now’.
The UK has outlined a plan to achieve net zero emission by 2050 and is encouraging other countries to follow its lead.
However, expectations seem to have been dampened by the Prime Minister’s statement earlier this week, which said that it would be ‘touch-and-go’ as to whether there will be any progress.
Sky News spoke with George Eustice, Environment Secretary. He said that it is often difficult to agree large changes at large-scale events that are attended by many countries.
He said, “These events, because it is big, multilateral events with many nations, it is often difficult for us to get progress.
“We have worked incredibly hard to achieve our agenda which is getting countries to commit net zero by the mid of the century, getting pledges on decarbonising transportation, especially electrification of vehicles.
“And in my case, working very hard on a package about forests, mobilising financing and getting agreement on reducing or halting the global net loss of forest.
“So I am optimistic regarding these agendas. But, as you know, it is normal to be nervous when you are near the end of the build-up to it.
“There are still many things to do at the summit itself. It is touch and go, but I am optimistic.
Mr Johnson said on Monday that he was ‘worried’ the COP26 summit could end in failure.
The Prime Minister stated that a deal between world leaders regarding reducing harmful emissions “can be done”, but it will be very difficult.
This is after it was revealed China, the world’s largest polluter, will not be attending.
After Beijing had confirmed his absence from the COP26 summit, Beijing told the PM that he would speak by phone to the Chinese President. Instead, he will address his fellow leaders via video link.
Today, police and security personnel gathered outside the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow. This is where the Cop26 summit takes place.
Today, a group of pedestrians sheltered under umbrellas in Glasgow as they walked past a digital display at the SEC venue.
Grey skies above the SEC in Glasgow this morning, ahead of the Cop26 conference on climate change which begins this Sunday
Before disgorging President Marine One’s Marine One helicopter, a C17 military jet emitted clouds of smoke as it touched down on the runway.
A Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, based at Stewart Air National Guard Base (Orange County, New York), with number 60005 at Glasgow Airport this Week. The President will call the helicopter Marine One.
Numerous security personnel were also seen leaving military plane. They were thankfully given a break from the downpours
China has scuttled any hopes of significant progress at the summit in Glasgow, after it reaffirmed its commitment to its climate goals but failed to set any new ones.
China is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world. Its formal submission to COP26 reiterated its goal of achieving ‘carbon neutrity’ by 2060, despite other countries urging Beijing to do more.
A Downing Street summary of the telephone conversation with President Xi showed that Johnson had ‘acknowledged China’s plans to combat climate change.
A Number 10 spokesman added: ‘He emphasised the importance of all countries stepping up their ambition on climate change at COP26 and taking concrete action to cut emissions and expedite the transition to renewable energy, including phasing out coal.’