Urgent steps are needed to withstand climate change. President Armen Sarkissian attended the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow

On November 1, President Armen Sarkissian took part in the opening ceremony of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow.

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson and the Secretary- General of the United Nations António Guterres welcomed the leaders of the countries participating in the summit. President Sarkissian had a brief conversation with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Within the framework of the summit, the President of Armenia had talks with the President of France, the Chancellor of Germany, the Emir of Qatar, the Prime Ministers of India, Canada, Spain, Italy, Australia, Argentina, Lebanon, Serbia, Montenegro, Kyrgyzstan and the Presidents of the Council of Europe.

More than 100 heads of state and government attended the Glasgow Conference, organized by the United Kingdom in cooperation with Italy. This climate change discussion, with about 30,000 participants, is the largest international conference the UK has ever hosted, as well as the most important event on climate change since the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson opened the Summit of the World Leaders and particularly said: "If we don’t get serious about climate change today, it will be too late for our children to do so tomorrow…

They will know that Glasgow was the historic turning point when history failed to turn."

In his speech, UN Secretary General António Guterres particularly noted: "Our addiction to fossil fuels is pushing humanity to the brink. We face a stark choice: either we stop it, or it will stop us. It's time to say: enough. Enough of brutalizing biodiversity. Enough of killing ourselves with carbon. Enough of treating nature like a toilet. Enough of burning and drilling and mining our way deeper. We are digging our own graves.

Over the last decade, nearly 4 billion people suffered climate-related disasters. I urge developed countries and emerging economies to build coalitions to create the financial and technological conditions to accelerate the decarbonization of the economy as well as the phase out of coal."

According to Prince Charles of Wales, the coronavirus pandemic has shown how devastating a global, cross-border threat can be․ "We have to reduce emissions urgently and take action to tackle the carbon already in the atmosphere. The scale and scope of threats we face call for global systems level solution based on radically transforming our current fossil fuel-based economy. Time has passed, the world must act now."

Other speakers also stressed the need for urgent steps to tackle climate change. They underscored that climate change will continue to be a common global challenge, and each country must take steps for the future of the planet, for the sake of future generations.

It was noted that under the 2015 Paris Agreement, the participating countries agreed to work together to curb global warming, to be prepared for the worst effects of climate change, and to provide state funding for these goals. And in Glasgow, world leaders outlined their countries' actions at the domestic and international levels, including emission reduction programs and steps to protect the planet's biodiversity, protect and restore natural environments and ecosystems.

A rapid transition to the use of renewable energy sources was underscored, noting that green supply chains and sustainable development should be given priority in climate change initiatives.

The speech of the President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sarkissian within the framework of the World Leaders Summit is scheduled for November 2.

The 2021 UN Climate Change Conference, also known as the COP26 or Glasgow Conference, is the 26th UN Climate Change Conference, attended by all the countries that have ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Armenia ratified the Convention in May 1993.