Summary

  • The US president hails progress at COP26 before he and other leaders leave Glasgow

  • But he says it was a big mistake for China and Russia's leaders not to show up at the summit

  • Despite their leaders not attending, both countries have sent delegations to the event

  • Earlier UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "cautiously optimistic" about COP26 at the end of the two-day leaders' meeting

  • More than 100 countries have signed up to a global methane pledge, agreeing to cut emissions by 30% by the end of the decade

  • The US and EU leaders say tackling the potent greenhouse gas is crucial to keeping warming limited to 1.5C by 2100

  • Earlier, a plan was announced to end and reverse deforestation by 2030 but many activists are sceptical

  • COP26 is seen as a crucial moment if we are to tackle climate change and avoid the worst impacts of global warming

Live Reporting

Edited by Gary Kitchener

  1. Why is COP26 so important?

    Man on roof watching wildfiresGetty Images

    Many are calling COP26 a last chance in preventing the worst environmental consequences for the world

    As we enter day three, it's worth a quick reminder on why these two weeks are seen as so important.

    COP26 is seen as crucial if climate change is to be brought under control.

    In many ways it is seen as the successor to COP21. That’s where the Paris Agreement, an international deal to tackle climate change, was signed in 2015.

    There were many aims in the Paris deal, but its most important was to keep global temperatures "well below" 2.0C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times and "endeavour to limit" them even more, to 1.5C.

    As part of that countries were meant to ratchet up their ambitions and submit new targets every five years on cutting emissions.

    But many scientists are concerned that action since then has been too slow. US climate envoy John Kerry has called COP26 "the last best chance" to avert the worst environmental consequences for the world.

    Governments pursuing greener policies will continue after COP26 regardless, but many are billing this as one of the most important meetings for the future of the planet.

    Read more: Why is COP26 so important?

  2. Welcome to our coverage

    Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the climate conference in Glasgow.

    It’s day three of COP26, and the second and final day of the summit of world leaders attending the event. It promises to be another busy day.

    Here are the main stories from COP this morning:

    • World leaders will promise to end and reverse deforestation by 2030. The commitment, with almost £14bn pledged in public and private backing, is supported by nations covering about 85% of the world's forests, including Canada, Brazil, Russia, Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
    • The US and EU are also launching an initiative that aims to drive global efforts to cut emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas which comes from sources including fossil fuel extraction and livestock farming. Dozens of heads of state will join the pledge, which commits countries to cut their emissions of the gas by 30% by 2030.

    We'll bring you more updates throughout the day.