Cop26 today: World leaders meet, young activists make their voices heard, and pedestrians' anger as road uncrossable

The eyes of the world are firmly on Glasgow as Cop26 is the only show in town.

Here’s what happened on November 1 at the SEC and beyond.

Opening ceremony

An opening ceremony for the World Leaders’ Summit heard from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres, Sir David Attenborough, the Prince of Wales and Barbadian prime minister Mia Mottley among others.

The speeches issued a series of stark warnings, that humanity is already in trouble, that we are digging our own graves, that failure is a death sentence for vulnerable countries and that leaders will be judged with “bitterness and resentment” by future generations if they fail to tackle global warming.

Leaders’ Summit

Prime Minister Boris Johnson (right) greets US President Joe Biden at the Cop26 summit

Around 120 leaders have come to the two-day World Leaders’ Summit which is being held at the beginning of the two-week Cop26 conference.

US President Joe Biden was one of the last leaders to arrive at the summit, turning up in a multi-vehicle motorcade after flying in to Edinburgh following his trip to the G20 summit in Rome.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, meanwhile, arrived in Glasgow by train and on the first day were using electric cars to get to their engagements.

It is not known what type of flight the Prince of Wales used to return from the G20 in Rome to the summit in Scotland.

Boris Johnson however flew in from the Italian capital on a private charter plane which he will use to return to London when the leaders’ summit section of the conference is over.

Sturgeon meets Thunberg and Nakate

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (centre) meets climate activists Greta Thunberg (left) and Vanessa Nakate (right) (Pic: PA)

First minister Nicola Sturgeon said world leaders gathering at the summit should feel “bloody uncomfortable” for not “doing enough” to tackle global warming.

She spoke out after meeting teenage activist Greta Thunberg, who was also at the summit today before heading out to youth climate protests outside the “blue zone” where the negotiations are taking place.

Ms Sturgeon said voices such as Ms Thunberg’s are “so important” as they challenge political leaders from across the globe on “the hard realities of our own lack of delivery”.

Young activists make their voices heard

Greta Thunberg addresses the crowd in Festival Park (Pic: PA)

Addressing young protesters in Festival Park in Govan, across the River Clyde from the Cop26 venue, Ms Thunberg said change would not come from the Cop26 conference as she repeated her criticism of the “blah blah blah” of world leaders.

Her comments come after Mr Johnson referenced her in his speech, saying all the promises made by countries under the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change six years ago “will be nothing but blah blah blah, to coin a phrase, and the anger and impatience of the world will be uncontainable”.

When in Scotland… https://t.co/QmSuLgXQ45

— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) November 1, 2021

Activists from Botswana, Mexico, Colombia, the Philippines and more made their voices heard as the Fridays For Future demonstration moved to the banks of the Clyde, opposite the Cop26 site.

Climate activists during a demonstration by the River Clyde (Pic: PA)

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Rainbow Warrior arrives

The Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior off Greenock (Pic: PA)

Climate youth activists on board the Rainbow Warrior were sailing into the heart of Glasgow after officials agreed to allow the ship into the Cop26 restricted zone.

Port authorities wanted to block the famous vessel from entering the area, which bans craft from the stretch of the Clyde next to the SEC conference centre where Cop26 is being held, but on Monday afternoon Police Scotland confirmed the vessel was to be allowed to continue to its destination.

Residents’ anger

Police line Argyle Street (Pic: Ross Crae)

There were huge diversions for residents in Finnieston as Argyle Street was closed to allow leaders and delegates to travel to Kelvingrove for the evening reception.

Police lined the route from the SEC to the museum, with people unable to cross the road at any point.

📣Finniestion St & Argyle St Update

Due to police advice, there has been a temporary change to the advertised restrictions in place at Finnieston St and Argyle St. Pedestrians will not be allowed to cross until approx 6pm tonight (1 Nov). pic.twitter.com/XAbiBPtc95

— Get Ready Glasgow (@GetReadyGlasgow) November 1, 2021

For hours, pedestrians have had to follow a long diversion of at least a mile – even if they were just trying to get to the opposite side.

Some reported being told to take the short train journey from Anderston to Exhibition Centre to get to the other side of the cordon.

US climate envoy John Kerry appeared to be one of those caught out by the restrictions.

John Kerry stuck on one side of the street closure.

Passer-by Glaswegian to the copper; “it’s John Kerry let him through”.

Copper: “I’ll ask” pic.twitter.com/Dn0wgbAoLJ

— Luke Jones (@lukejones03) November 1, 2021

Bit of a mess just outside the blue zone at #COP26

More than a mile of the Argyle Street is closed, and even pedestrians can’t cross it – because of dignitaries and high profile guests shuttling back and forth.

The rest of us have to walk over a mile to cross 🥲

— Marthe de Ferrer (@MarthedeFerrer) November 1, 2021

Absolutely ridiculous that due to Argyle Street being closed for Boris Johnstone’s banquet, my friend cannot cross the road to get to her flat! @PoliceScotland is she just expected to stand in the street until 10pm? #COP26 #Glasgow

— Beth Beattie (@bethbt) November 1, 2021

Some residents of properties near Kelvingrove told GlasgowLive that they were not allowed access by police, with some saying the cordons had impacted on carers and people requiring to collect medication.

GetReadyGlasgow, the body responsible for communicating information about road closures, had warned of the street being closed off.

Mid-afternoon, they tweeted that crossing would not be possible on Finnieston St and Argyle St until 6pm, but the restrictions continued for hours afterwards.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “Police implemented temporary changes to the advertised restrictions in place – including at Finnieston St and Argyle St. While every effort has been made to ensure restrictions are advertised in advance, whenever we are notified of short-notice changes they will be posted on social media.”