The world has to turn the tide on climate change this decade, Johnson says at the Climate Leaders Summit

The world has to turn the tide on climate change this decade or risk being remembered as the generation that failed to protect our planet, the Prime Minister told the Climate Leaders Summit today.

He addressed the opening session of the virtual summit, which was hosted by US President Joe Biden and aimed to secure commitments on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, shifting to renewable energy and climate finance for developing countries.

The UK pledged this week to cut carbon emissions by 78 percent by 2035 compared to 1990 levels.

The Prime Minister is calling on global leaders and businesses to match that level of ambition ahead of COP26 if we are to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Speaking at the Climate Leaders Summit, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

"The UK has shown that it’s possible to slash emissions while growing the economy, which makes question of reaching net zero not so much technical as political.

If we actually want to stop climate change, then this must be the year in which we get serious about doing so. Because the 2020s will be remembered either as the decade in which world leaders united to turn the tide, or as a failure.

So let’s come to Kunming in October and Glasgow in November armed with ambitious targets and the plans required to reach them. And let the history books show that it was this generation of leaders that possessed the will to preserve our planet for generations to come."

More than 120 countries have made net zero commitments to date, covering 65% of global carbon emissions – more than triple the 20% covered when the UK took over the COP Presidency in December 2019.

The UK Government has also committed £11.6 billion in international climate finance to support developing countries over the next five years.

Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street