The UK’s chief scientific adviser has warned that the 1.5C global warming limit is “non-negotiable”.

Speaking at COP26, Sir Patrick Vallance said the pledges made by countries in Glasgow are “steps in the right direction” but reaching the target by the end of the century will still be “really tough”.

“It’s crucial that the 1.5C is kept alive,” he told a news conference on Tuesday.

“I don’t think this is a negotiable thing. It has to happen.”

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He also said that while individual behaviour will help curb rising temperatures, governments need to implement green policies, infrastructure and technologies to make eco changes “easier” for people.

“Behaviour change is part of this, and some of that is down to what we do as individuals and some of it is what needs to make things easier for us,” he said.

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“We can’t assume it’s going to be dramatic personal behaviour change that’s going to be the solution to this unless we have some way of making that easier so the green choice is actually the easy choice.”

Sir Patrick’s warnings at COP came after he told the BBC that climate change poses a much bigger problem than coronavirus – affecting humanity for 50 to 100 years as opposed to just two to four.

“If this is not stopped, this will be a bigger, bigger challenge to the way we live and lives will be lost,” he said.

He also signed a statement with 39 fellow leading scientists before the conference warning that steep reductions in emissions are required by 2030 – and net zero by 2050 – to achieve the 1.5C goal.

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With three days to go of the two-week UN climate conference, so far pledges have been made on methane emissions, deforestation and funding for agricultural innovation.

Before COP, the UN emissions gap reported warned that pre-conference “nationally determined contributions” (NDCs) from represented countries would still see warming reach up to 3C by 2100.

On Monday, former US President Barack Obama warned the world is still “falling short” on the fight against climate change.

Negotiators are aiming to create a “cover decision” by the end of the conference to establish how to close the gap.

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