Boris Johnson has warned that all countries are “going to have to do more” in the fight to tackle global warming.
Speaking on the second day of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, the prime minister said “coalitions of support” are being created to help countries, including China, which “find it most difficult to transition away from fossil fuels”.
The PM said there is “still a very long way to go” in tackling climate change, but that he is “cautiously optimistic” that progress is being made.
Recalling a football reference he made before the G20 meeting in Rome where “team world” were 5-1 down in a match against climate change, the PM said humanity has “pulled back a goal, or perhaps even two”.
He added: “I think we are going to be able to take this thing to extra-time, because there’s no doubt that some progress has been made.”
The prime minister also dismissed suggestions that the country could hold a referendum on the government’s net zero plans.
“I think this country has probably had enough referendums to be going on with for a while, that’s my general view on the matter,” he said.