Nicola Sturgeon admitted the next few days at the COP26 summit “should not be comfortable” for world leaders after climate activists including Greta Thunberg told her to “do more”.
The UN climate change conference began in Glasgow with world leaders under pressure to meet targets and keep global temperature rises within 1.5 degrees.
The first minister met Ms Thunberg and fellow campaigner Vanessa Nakate in the host city, just as US president Joe Biden was landing in Scotland, and Boris Johnson was preparing to formally open the huge conference.
Ms Sturgeon said: “Listening, learning and having open conversations is essential to making progress.
“They rightly challenged me on where Scotland could do more, and how we could influence world leaders at this COP and I look forward to spending further time with Vanessa throughout the summit and the insight, ideas and challenge she will provide throughout, starting later today at the global assembly.”
The voices of young people like @GretaThunberg and @vanessa_vash must be heard loudly and clearly at #COP26 – the next few days should not be comfortable for leaders, the responsibility to act must be felt. pic.twitter.com/bHVwUVxmci
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) November 1, 2021
The meeting comes after Ms Thunberg criticised the Scottish Government’s climate policy, saying it was not the leader on climate change Ms Sturgeon claimed it was.
Boris Johnson: ‘We need to act now’
Meanwhile, in the opening ceremony speech to delegates at the conference, the prime minister said “humanity has long since run down the clock on climate change”.
He also pledged an extra £1 billion in climate finance to support developing countries by 2025 – but only if the economy grows as predicted and the UK’s aid budget returns to 0.7% of GDP.
Speaking at the conference, he said: “It’s one minute to midnight and we need to act now.
“If we don’t get serious about climate change today, it will be too late for our children to do so tomorrow.
“We have to move from talk and debate and discussion to concerted, real-world action on coal, cars, cash and trees.”
He added: “If Glasgow fails, then the whole thing fails.”
His comments at COP26 come after the UK Government allowed plans for a new coal mine in Cumbria earlier his year, despite government climate advisers warning of the impact this will have on the planet.
‘We need to step up and save the planet’
Ms Sturgeon earlier said it is “disappointing” not to have a commitment to meet “net zero” emissions by 2050 by the G20 nations, adding leaders must arrive in Glasgow ready to go further to tackle the climate emergency.
"It is an honour for Scotland and Glasgow to host you."
First Minister @NicolaSturgeon welcomes world leaders, activists, negotiators and campaigners to #COP26.
Plan ahead and stay safe ➡ https://t.co/P9OiOfq4PC #LetsDoNetZero pic.twitter.com/TGfitMHUGc
— Net Zero Scotland (@ScotGovNetZero) October 30, 2021
World leaders join together at COP26
US president Joe Biden arrived at a plenary hall in Glasgow around mid-day as world leaders gathered.
He was accompanied by United States special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry and welcomed by former vice-president Al Gore.
The delegates watched a performance by Skye piper Brighde Chaimbeul before the World Leaders Summit was due to formally open.