London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Oct 18, 2026

In Pictures: The world gathers for the COP26 climate summit

In Pictures: The world gathers for the COP26 climate summit

World leaders, campaign groups and protesters have descended on Glasgow for the COP26 climate change conference.

Here are some of the best images and key moments from the crucial climate summit so far.

Ahead of the conference First Minister Nicola Sturgeon met indigenous delegates at a ceremonial gathering at the Tramway in Glasgow.

One of the main aims of the conference is to limit a rise in future global warming to a ceiling of 1.5C.

As delegates gathered, campaigners arrived. Greenpeace's flagship Rainbow Warrior sailed up the Clyde, here passing under the Erskine Bridge.

Climate activist Greta Thunberg arrived by train and joined protesters at Festival Park near the Clyde to send her message of "no more blah, blah, blah".

While on the streets the message was put across in a more Scottish accent.

The slogans were being driven home as Scotland was enjoying a more traditional guising, in the wake of the lockdown restrictions of the Covid pandemic.

Back on the conference trail, and US President Joe Biden's journey to Glasgow drew a lot of attention on the M8 as his motorcade travelled from his accommodation in Edinburgh.

Meanwhile, much was made about the non-attendance of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Queen addressed world leaders and other senior royals at a reception at Glagsow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, with a message to "rise above politics and achieve true statesmanship.

At the conference venue and around the city security has been extremely tight, with thousands of officers drafted in from around the UK.

Inside, all eyes have been on world leaders, to see what agenda can be agreed as deals are set out on emissions, investment and global climate targets.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined one such pledge along with the United States to slash emissions of the powerful greenhouse gas methane.

Keeping up the pressure are groups like Extinction Rebellion, who have also been targeting green investment and financial insitistutions.

As talks continued, there was some disappointment as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi only committed to a net zero target for his country by the year 2070.

Activists outside the summit drove home their message that COP26 needed to be a time for action and not "climate games".

Someone else to get her message across was Earthshot Prize finalist Vinisha Umashankar, a schoolgirl from India who has created a solar-powered ironing cart. She took the opportunity to tell world leaders her generation "will live to see the consequences" of their actions at COP26.

Delegates representing indigenous peoples around the world and the global south have been working to make their voices heard among the speeches of world leaders.

And one campaign group seeking to amplify those voices had their inflatable "debt monster" - in the shape of Nessie - seized by police as they sought to launch it on the River Clyde.

More voices were raised by the Glasgow Youth Choir at St Lukes Church in the city, bringing their message to the conference.

Adding a bit of celebrity glitz was Leonardo DiCaprio, who attended the conference and also met Prince Charles and Stella McCartney at a fashion installation by the designer, at the Kelvingrove.

The world leaders summit has finished but the work of the negotiators from countries around the globe will continue as COP26 runs its course.

Security around the event remains as tight as ever, with talks continuing through until 12 November.

And the work of campaigners and protesters is also continuing on the streets and at venues surrounding the conference.

The use of coal around the world is a key issue, and these Pikachus joined activists from the No Coal Japan coalition

Youth climate activist Kato Ewekia Taomia, from Tuvalu, addressed delegates in the hall. Tuvalu is one of the nations particularly under threat from rising sea levels.

The seas are also the focus for Ocean Rebellion, who have been drawing attention to the climate's impact on the world's marine life.

Tongan activist Uili Lousi stands alongside "Flare Oceania 2021", created by artist John Gerrard, a real-time moving image showing a simulation of the seas around Tonga with the flag/flare embedded in it.

As the weekend approaches, larger mass protests are being held, with the Fridays For Future Scotland Climate Strike on Friday and the Global Day for Climate Justice march on Saturday.

Placards were in full effect on the Climate Strike march, which took place through the centre of the city.

The young activists march gathered in Kelvingrove Park in the west of the city.

Thousands took to the streets to call for world leaders to take more urgent action on the climate.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Competition and Markets Authority Launches Formal Inquiry Into Corporate Artificial Intelligence Partnerships
Automotive Industry Leaders Urge Westminster to Accelerate Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Rollout
Home Office Expands Digital Border Security Framework With Mandatory Electronic Travel Authorizations Across United Kingdom
Northern Ireland Executive Reaches Final Consensus on Public Sector Pay Reform and Budget Allocations
Welsh First Minister Secures Additional Funding for Rural Agricultural Transition and Sustainable Farming Schemes
Scottish Government Unveils Accelerated Regional Infrastructure Strategy to Boost Clean Energy Manufacturing
National Health Service England Launches Emergency Recruitment Drive to Alleviate Severe Acute Care Winter Backlogs
Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee Signals Cautious Approach to Interest Rate Reductions Amid Persistent Wage Growth
British Government Finalizes Emergency Energy Support Package to Protect Households From Winter Price Surges
Russell Brand Trial Begins at Southwark Crown Court
UK Parliament to Debate Climate Risks and Council Tax Following Public Petitions
Department for Transport Demands Safety Audits Following Regional Rail Disruptions
House of Lords Scrutinizes Amendments to Armed Forces Bill
Devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales Criticize Post-Brexit Funding Framework
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Defends Middle East Military Support Under Parliamentary Scrutiny
NHS Leaders Warn of Severe Pressure on Hospitals from Winter Virus Outbreaks
Retailers and Business Groups Lobby Chancellor for Relief from Rising Employment Taxes
City of London Taskforce Urges Radical Reform to Prevent UK From Becoming "Incubator Nation"
Bank of England Officials Signal Potential November Interest Rate Hike
Institute for Fiscal Studies Warns of £35 Billion Funding Gap in Upcoming Autumn Budget
IMF Upgrades UK Growth Forecast to 1.3% for 2026
Former UUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson sentenced to 15 years in prison for historical child sex offences
UK ministers adopt independent commission blueprint to fast-track AI in the NHS
Labour leadership orders local councillors to end power-sharing deals with Green Party
UK government considers regulatory intervention in proposed Sky and ITV merger
Environment Agency declares severe drought across six English regions as reservoirs hit critical lows
NHS England issues new guidance prohibiting transgender women from female-only wards
Norwegian teenager sentenced to 20 years for part of Iran-backed assassination plot in Britain
UK government threatens complete visa ban on Eritrea over refusal to accept deportees
UK Treasury lobbies UBS to move global headquarters to London amid banking sector tax threats
MI5 Warns of Growing Russian Sabotage and Espionage Threats Across Britain
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Plans Brussels Talks to Renegotiate Post-Brexit Trade Deal
MI5 Warns of Rising Russian and Iranian Sabotage Threats to British Military Facilities
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Pledges Closer EU Ties as MI5 Reveals Russian Brexit Interference
UK Orders Security Review Following Reported Killing of Former Politician Ann Widdecombe
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Meets German Chancellor Merz to Strengthen European Security Ties
Nearly 100,000 NHS Patients Treated in Hospital Corridors as England Braces for Winter Pressures
UK Government Rejects US-Russia Diesel Agreement and Reaffirms Sanctions Against Moscow
UK and Germany Agree to Deepen Security and Economic Cooperation Following Berlin Talks
British Prime Minister Burnham Pledges Closer EU Ties During Visit to Germany
UK Announces New Sanctions on 17 Russia-Linked Entities During Foreign Secretary's Ukraine Visit
UK and Germany Finalize Kensington Treaty to Strengthen Defense and Technology Cooperation
Britain Maintains Diplomatic Mission in East Jerusalem Despite Israeli Closure Deadline
English Councils Push Government to Rethink Proposed Funding Cuts
Scottish Homebuilding Falls to Lowest Level in 11 Years
BBC Chief Matt Brittin Defends Restructuring as Staff Challenge Job Cuts
UK Finance Warns High Energy Costs and Bond Yields Are Complicating Fiscal Outlook
UK Adopts All 44 Recommendations on Regulating AI in Healthcare
Chancellor John Healey Prepares Autumn Budget as Borrowing Costs Strain Public Finances
UK Investigators See Strong Indications of Iranian Link After RAF Fairford Security Operation
×