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Emma Watson hosted a panel on Thursday at the conference at the New York Times Climate Hub at SWG3 which was attended by Greta Thunberg.
When asked by Watson what it would take for the climate summit to be a success, Thunberg replied: “What would be considered a success would be if people realise what a failure this COP is”.
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COP26 RECAP: Youth activists protest in Glasgow | Barack Obama to arrive in Glasgow next week | Glasgow summit ‘most excluding cop ever’ says Thunberg
COP26: Greta Thunberg criticises Glasgow summit saying it is ‘no longer a climate conference’ but a ‘Global North greenwash festival’
In a tweet, climate activist Greta Thunberg criticised the climate change summit in Glasgow for being “the most excluding COP ever.”
On her Twitter account, the Swedish activist wrote: “This is no longer a climate conference”.
“This is a Global North greenwash festival”.
She also described the summit, which began on Sunday, as a “A two week celebration of business as usual and blah blah blah”.
Thunberg has been attending the summit, but has been critical of the mainstream discussions held by leaders.
COP26: Harry Potter actress Emma Watson hosts panel event, attended by Greta Thunberg, at Glasgow climate change summit
The Harry Potter actress hosted a panel event at COP26 on Thursday afternoon which was attended by climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The event was held at the New York Times Climate Hub at SWG3.
When asked by Watson what it would take for the climate summit to be a success, Thunberg replied: “What would be considered a success would be if people realise what a failure this COP is”.
Action needed to stop billionaires from ‘plundering the planet’, Oxfam says
Billionaires across the globe are “plundering the planet” and placing the world in “graver danger” from climate change, campaigners have warned.
Jamie Livingstone, the head of Oxfam Scotland, hit out as new research showed that by the end of this decade the carbon footprints of the richest 1 per cent of people on earth are set to be 30 times greater than what is compatible with keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees.
The authors of a new report have called for governments to bring in measures to “constrain luxury carbon consumption like mega yachts, private jets and space travel”.
It comes after earlier this year Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made a short trip into space, Sir Richard Branson journeyed to the edge of space in his Virgin Galactic rocket plane, while Elon Musk’s private spaceflight company SpaceX is developing a vehicle to take humans to Mars.
COP26: Youth activists including Greta Thunberg to march through Glasgow demanding climate action at summit
Youth activists are taking to the streets of Glasgow to demand action on climate change from leaders and politicians as the COP26 talks continue.
Campaigner Greta Thunberg, fellow activist Vanessa Nakate and other young campaigners, as well as local trade unionists will speak to crowds at the end of the march through the city where the UN summit is being held.
The climate strike organised by Fridays for Future Scotland, with participants marching at 11am from Kelvingrove Park to George Square, comes as the COP26 talks feature events highlighting the voice of young people and education in climate action.
COP26: Mum of girl killed by toxic air pollution joins Glasgow protests calling for climate action
The mother of a nine-year-old girl who became the first person to have air pollution listed as a cause of their death is part of an international group of mothers taking to the streets of Glasgow this week for a series of mass protests being staged to coincide with COP26.
Rosamund Kissi-Debrah’s daughter Ella Roberta suffered from a rare and severe form of asthma, which led to her death at just nine years old in 2013.
But in a landmark ruling last December, following a long-running campaign, pollution from the South Circular Road in London was included as a contributing factor on her child’s death certificate.
Barack Obama is reportedly going to arrive in Glasgow on Monday to attend COP26
Former president of the United States Barack Obama is due to attend COP26 next week with reports suggesting he will be touching down in Glasgow on Monday.
It is expected that he will hold a discussion with a group of ‘young leaders’ attending the summit where they will discuss the impact that young people have on the climate change debate and how they can continue to make their voices heard.
He is also expected to reflect on the Paris Agreement, which he signed America’s name to in 2016.
Nadhim Zahawi has urged young people not to miss school to protest about climate policies
Nadhim Zahawi has urged young people not to miss school to protest about climate policies while world leaders meet at COP26 in Glasgow.
When asked on Sky News if he supported young people missing school to join the protests, the Education Secretary said: “No – I would rather they march on Saturday and Sunday.
“The summit is here for at least two weekends, so I would urge children not to miss school, not to miss class – we don’t want to get into a situation where teachers and headteachers are having to issue fines for missing education.
“I would absolutely support them to do that this weekend and the weekend after, that is the way to continue to take the message to world leaders.”
He added he wants young people to “think about their own career in science and technology and innovation” to tackle climate change, instead of protesting.
Mr Zahawi said: “I want to be able to I hope, inspire the young minds, on a Saturday or Sunday if they are here, to say: engage with us, because it’s important that you are part of the solution as well as part of the pressure on world leaders.”
Police warn of ‘robust’ action against any violent disorder at Cop26 protests
Police have warned they will deal “swiftly and robustly” with any violent disorder or damage to property during planned Cop26 protests over the coming days.
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Gary Ritchie said officers have engaged with key campaign groups to ensure the protests can take place safety but will quickly crack down on any problems if need be.
Young people will march through Glasgow on Friday demanding action on climate change, with speeches from campaigner Greta Thunberg, fellow activist Vanessa Nakate and others.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of people are expected at a protest march in the city, where the Cop26 UN climate change conference is taking place.
Mr Ritchie said police have worked closely with organisers of the youth march and are “very encouraged” by the high level of engagement to help deliver a safe event.
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