Greta Thunberg says Nicola Sturgeon's government is NOT a world leader in climate change '

The Daily Mail

Greta Thunberg says Nicola Sturgeon's government is NOT a world leader in climate change '

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Greta Thunberg today savaged 's efforts to tackle , rubbishing the First Minister's claims that Scotland is a 'world leader' on the issue. Miss Thunberg also trashed 's Autumn international climate change summit in and admitted she is unlikely to go unless everyone is double-jabbed. The Swedish activist, 18, also attacked countries such as Britain for 'not doing close to what would be needed' to go more green. The teenager said she has not yet decided whether she will travel to the global UN climate conference in Glasgow next month, but will do if it is 'considered safe and democratic' - including ensuring participants from poorer countries are fully vaccinated and able to travel. Speaking to the BBC she said she does not believe Scotland is a world leader on climate change, as the Scottish Government claims. Ms Sturgeon has also agreed a power-sharing deal with the Green party. Questioned on whether Scotland is a world leader on climate change, Greta said: 'No... I mean, there are some countries that do a bit more than certain others, but then if we look at it from a broader perspective then I think we can safely say there are no countries - at least in the global north - that are even doing close to what would be needed.' Scotland's climate change legislation includes a target to reach net zero by 2045, which the Scottish Government has said is 'world-leading'. The 18-year-old was also sceptical of the Scottish Government's new powersharing deal with the Scottish Greens which will bring Green representatives into government for the first time in the UK. Ms Thunberg told the broadcaster: 'Of course there might be some politicians that are slightly less worse than others. That was very mean, but you get the point. 'It's a hopeful sign that people want something that's more 'green' - whatever 'green' means - but in order to solve this, we need to tackle this at a more systemic approach.' Boris Johnson has called for urgent action to fight climate change by abandoning fossil fuels and embracing renewable technology worldwide. The UK is hosting the crucial Cop26 summit in Glasgow this autumn, which will bring nations together to stop climate change. Having returned to school after a year out leading young people in school strikes for climate change, Ms Thunberg said the conference falls in her school holidays, and if she does attend she plans to travel by train. On whether the conference should be in person or virtual, she said: 'We get much more results when we meet in person, it's hard to argue against that, but of course if it's not considered safe then we have to go for the safest option. 'To be honest, I don't think that either one will lead to much results. A physical meeting will probably bring more results, but still nowhere close to what's needed.' Asked if she was optimistic for the future, she said: 'I don't know whether 'optimistic' is the right word, but it gives me at least hope to see we have a huge potential of achieving change. 'We know that change will not come from the Cop, from within these negotiations. The change will come when there are enough people outside on the streets demanding change.' Questioned on the controversy over plans for the new Cambo oil field west of Shetland, she said: 'I think that maybe summarises the whole situation we are in - the fact that these kind of countries who are actually hosting the Cop is planning to actually expand fossil fuel infrastructure, to open up new oil fields, and so on. 'But also it's a bit strange that we are talking about single individual oil fields. 'It's not just that we need to stop future expansions. We also need to scale down existing ones if we are to have a chance of avoiding the worst consequences.' Thousands of people flying into the UK for the Cop26 climate summit will be allowed to dodge travel testing requirements. Unlike Britons returning from holidays abroad, delegates travelling to the conference in this November will not need to pay for a PCR swab two days after they arrive. They will not even have to fill in the passenger locator forms millions of travellers have had to show at passport controls when returning from overseas. It means that if there is a coronavirus outbreak linked to the major environment conference due to be attended by as many as 25,000 people from around the world authorities may struggle to track its spread. Lib Dem health spokesman Baroness Brinton said: Cop26 is the most important conference of our times... [But] the Government should urgently rethink the rules so we can have a Covid-safe conference. The new loopholes, quietly introduced over the Bank Holiday, also mean that attendees who have been officially invited from red list countries will not need to quarantine. However all delegates will have to show evidence of a negative Covid test before they set off for the UK. And the Government insists they will also have to take regular tests during the conference. A Government spokesman said the arrangements will allow the critical climate talks to go ahead while maintaining public health measures. Yesterday another 26,476 coronavirus cases and 48 deaths within 28 days of a positive test were recorded in the UK.