Boris Johnson battling alone on world stage to save COP26 climate conference as other countries demand it be delayed

BORIS Johnson is now battling alone on the world stage to save the COP26 climate conference this year as other countries demand it be delayed.

Ministers are reluctant to put the international summit on Zoom instead, meaning a delay for a second year running looks more and more likely.

Government sources stressed they want an in-person and “inclusive” event to bring world leaders together to fight climate change.

But insiders admitted it’s up in the air thanks to rising Covid cases around the world.

A diplomatic source told Trending In The News: “Britain is increasingly isolated on this front. 

“No one in Europe thinks it’s going to happen and the US are increasingly sceptical it can happen without a delay.”

President Biden is hosting a virtual climate summit for Earth Day next week which could pile on more pressure to put it off.

Britain has vaccinated over half the adult population so far, but other countries around the world are lagging behind and seeing another wave of the virus.

It came as climate warrior Greta Thunburg said this week she would boycott the Glasgow event and called for it to be delayed until global jab rates have risen.

She’s attended every major climate event since rising to fame over her eco-protests.

Downing Street insists no final decisions have been taken on whether to delay the event, which will see people coming from nearly 200 countries around the world.

A Government spokesperson said: “We are working on the basis of COP26 being held in person this November, while closely monitoring the covid situation.

“The summit team is working closely with all partners and exploring what different scenarios might mean for COP26 and how we plan for that, whilst putting the health of the participants and the local community first.

“We are not looking to postpone the summit.”

It came as a fresh study said that rich elites must slash their gas-guzzling car emissions, insulate their homes better and fly less to save the planet from being destroyed.

UN scientists say the world’s wealthiest one per cent produced double the combined carbon emissions of the poorest 50 per cent.

Rich frequent flyers who don’t have to worry about the cost of heating are to blame and must be persuaded to change their ways, the report from UK-based Cambridge Sustainability Commission on Scaling Behaviour Change said.