Sharma says COP26 ‘last, best hope to keep 1.5[℃.] in reach’ in opening speech to conference

Conservative MP Alok Sharma has been officially recognised as COP26 president at an inaugural ceremony in Glasgow.

In his opening speech as COP26 President, he stressed that the conference “is our last best hope to keep 1.5 in reach”, referring to the 2015 Paris Agreement to keep global warming to below 2C and endeavour to reach 1.5C.

Sharma maintained he is very aware of the “responsibility placed upon me in this role and I do not underestimate the challenge”, but insisted “[we can] ensure where Paris promised, Glasgow delivers”.

He stated that a recent UN report which stated that the past five years had been the hottest on record since 1850 was a “wake up call for all of us and it made clear that the lights are flashing red on the climate’s dashboard”.