WORLD leaders will meet face to face at Britain’s COP26 climate conference, it will be announced tomorrow.
The decision not to opt for a virtual gathering will be confirmed in a speech by summit president Alok Sharma.
It will be recognition of Britain’s successful vaccine rollout and a boost for Boris Johnson who was determined to keep it an in-person event.
It will, however, upset critics who said it would set a bad example by forcing delegates to fly in on polluting planes pumping out tons of carbon.
Mr Johnson wants to welcome leaders from across the globe to the showpiece in Glasgow.
Up to 30,000 people from nearly 200 countries are expected at November’s summit, seen as crucial to reversing climate change.
The PM will call on them to sign up to green goals to save the planet.
Critics said keeping it virtual would have saved £200million. But ministers have been reluctant to hold it on Zoom.
Insiders said leaders needed to “look into China’s eyes” to put pressure on Beijing to commit to ambitious promises — and this could only be done in person.
