The US president has said the leaders of China and Russia lost world influence by not coming to the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow.
Joe Biden said this evening:
“I think it’s been a big mistake, quite frankly, for China not showing up. The rest of the world will have looked at China and say what value added have they provided.
“They’ve lost an ability to influence people around the world and all the people here at COP. The same way I would argue with regard to Russia.
Speaking at a news conference at the end of the two-day world leaders’ summit, Mr Biden said:
“We showed up and by showing up we’ve had a profound impact on the way I think the rest of the world is looking at the United States and its leadership role.”
Asked what he would say to people who were worried or angry about the climate, President Biden said:
“There’s a reason for people to be worried. I’m worried. I’m worried if we don’t continue to move forward and make the kind of progress we’re making.”
But he said he was cautiously optimistic about a solution to the climate crisis because people had “a different perspective” now. They had seen floods, wildfires and hurricanes that they thought would never happen.
He said new thinking was being led by his granddaughter and her friends. That generation, he said, were having “a profound impact on their parents and their grandparents.”
“Eyes of the world on negotiators”
In a separate news conference, Boris Johnson said the absence of President Xi of China did not mean that the Chinese were not engaging in the climate talks.
There had been progress with China, he said, and discussions were underway on when it would reach peak carbon emissions.
Mr Johnson also warned:
”We must take care to guard against false hope and to think in any way that the job is done, because it is not. There is still a very long way to go.”
Referring to agreements made in the past two days on deforestation and cutting methane emissions, he said
“Those commitments will be 100% useless if the promises made here are not followed up with real action.”
He said he would be watching closely to ensure there were no U-turns, no sliding back from we’ve got to.
In a message to negotiators who remain at COP until 12 November, he said
“The leaders of the world may have left or are leaving COP now but I can tell you that the eyes of the populations of the world are on you.”
DrillOrDrop’s reporting from COP26 has been made possible by individual donations from readers
DRILL OR DROP? 
“Those commitments will be 100% useless if the promises made here are not followed up with real action.” “Real action”! Thus our glorious leader whom I would like to feel able to take seriously. Is he thinking of a new coal mine and oil field, perhaps?
“The leaders of the world may have left or are leaving COP now but I can tell you that the eyes of the populations of the world are on you.” On you too, Boris. Should we take you seriously? Are you thinking perhaps of some other economic system, other, that is, than just relying on growth, on GDP as a measure of progress. Do you really “get it” or is Greta Thunberg’s “Blah, blah, blah!” a better description of what’s going on?
Remain vigilant!
Hmm.
I would have thought world leaders who whilst at COP26 (Biden) call for MORE oil and gas production across the world should be the focus.
You lost. Tough. Get over it. Beaten by “fools”.
Maybe our glorious leader has no connection with the maritime transport industry and just sees cutting transport emissions as real action? Green steel? Fine, if it is competitive, and that will be the case in some countries where they have resort to hydro power, and their own production of iron ore. But, it is a strategic industry and off shoring will not happen because of that as well.
Seems to be a link with regard to HS2 as well, with real action. Once built and some more added then perhaps internal flight taxation may not be the real action, but transfer to fast, clean rail can be the real action. Those who wish to take their unreal action against that are those responsible for the delays in the real action that our glorious leader would like to achieve. Just think, once HS2 and sons of, are up and running then the flight taxation can be reversed, unless there are new forms of propulsion up and running for flight by then. Although that could be a bit of an issue for those who made their living from building airports.
Get it?
Thinking not panicking.
Who? This Joe Biden?
Biden Falls Asleep at 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference
Must be catching? Boris Bye Byes?
Perhaps he had been counting lost, and maybe lost Governors, and like sheep that had an unfortunate result?
Might also have an unfortunate result to what degree his “awake” moments of comment will be put into action.