World leaders have been pictured gathering for the start of the Cop26 climate talks in Glasgow in Scotland.
Prime minister Boris Johnson was joined by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as he welcomed world leaders and guests to the annual UN climate summit.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Canadian Premier Justin Trudeau are among some of the 120 leaders attending the talks, which will take place over the next 12 days.
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The conference is seen as the moment when countries must deliver on pledges made in Paris six years ago to limit temperature rises to 1.5C.
Mr Johnson was pictured greeting guests before he delivered his opening speech to global leaders to mark the start of the summit.
Joe Biden was accompanied by United States special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry as he arrived at the conference today.
The US president was welcomed by former vice-president Al Gore.
Mr Johnson was also pictured with French President Emmanuel Macron, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Croatia's PM Andrej Plenkovic.
He greeted many of his guests with an 'elbow bump', which has become a popular alternative to a handshake during the pandemic.
Elsewhere, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon met up with Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who arrived in Scotland on Saturday.
Ms Thunberg along with fellow campaigner Vanessa Nakate, from Uganda, met with the First Minister and posed for photos.
In his opening address, Mr Johnson warned world leaders that the longer they fail to tackle climate, the higher the cost when they are forced “by catastrophe” to act.
He warned of the dangers of rising temperatures, jeopardising food supplies for hundreds of millions of people, more wildfires and eventually the loss of whole cities such as Miami, Alexandria and Shanghai.
Coining a phrase from young activist Ms Thunberg, he warned that the promises to limit global temperature rises under the Paris Agreement would be “nothing but blah blah blah” and the world’s anger would be uncontainable unless Cop26 was the moment they got real about climate change.
Charles, Prince of Wales, also addressed world leaders, telling them that the Covid-19 pandemic had shown "just how devastating a global cross-border threat can be".
The Royal told the leaders the “eyes and hopes of the world” are on them to act fast because “time has quite literally run out”.
Concluding his speech, Prince Charles told world leaders: “Your excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, many of your countries are already feeling the devastating impact of climate change, through ever-increasing droughts, mudslides, floods, hurricanes, cyclones and wildfires.
“Any leader who has had to confront such life-threatening challenges knows that the cost of inaction is far greater than the cost of prevention.
“So, I can only urge you, as the world’s decision-makers, to find practical ways of overcoming differences so we can all get down to work, together, to rescue this precious planet and save the threatened future of our young people.”
Natural historian and veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough then took to the stage to deliver his own address as the Cop26 People's Advocate.
Humanity is “already in trouble” from climate change, climate campaigner Sir David warned, as he charted carbon emissions throughout human history.
“Our burning of fossil fuels, our destruction of nature, our approach to industry, construction and learning, our releasing carbon into the atmosphere – we are already in trouble,” he said.
Hew continued: “The stability that we all depend on is breaking.
“This story is one of inequality as well as instability.
“Today those who have done the least to cause this problem are being the hardest hit – ultimately all of us will feel the impacts, some of which are now unavoidable.”
He told delegates: “In my lifetime I’ve witnessed a terrible decline. In yours, you could and should witness a wonderful recovery. That desperate hope… is why the world is looking to you and why you are here.”
Mr Biden gave a standing ovation to Sir David following his call to action.
Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley launched a veiled attack on leaders who have not attended the Cop26 summit in her address.
Russian president Vladimir Putin and Chinese president Xi Jinping both decided not to attend the talks.
“We can work with who is ready to go, because the train is ready to leave," Ms Mottley said.
“Those who are not yet ready, we need to continue to encircle and remind them that their people, not our people, but their citizens need them to get on board as soon as possible.”
The official opening of the summit came after long queues caused delays for delegates attempting to enter the main Cop26 venue earlier this morning.
Some on social media said access to the SEC took to two hours after more than 25,000 people descended on Glasgow for the international climate talks.
Pictures on social media have shown hundreds waiting outside the main gates to the venue.
Delegates have to go through airport-style security once inside.
Downing Street refused to apologise for the lengthy queues faced by some delegates and visitors, insisting that the government was working with the UN and operational staff.
Asked if the chaotic scenes were embarrassing for the UK, a No 10 spokesman said: “The security arrangements and accreditation for Cop are mandated by the UN and managed in partnership between the UN and Cop26 operational staff.
“You will be aware that there are thousands of delegates arriving on site each day and we are working closely with our partners like the UN FCC to minimise wait times as much as possible during busy times whilst we ensure we keep safe entry for those who wish to access the site.”
Meanwhile, some world leaders have been criticised for their choice of transport after turning up to the crunch climate talks in private jets and vehicles.
Mr Biden flew into Edinburgh on Air Force One before his motorcade of several vehicles was spotted travelling down the M8 towards Glasgow.
Foreign secretary Liz Truss defended the attendance of world leaders insisting it was critical that world leaders met face-to-face.
She told BBC Breakfast: “I think everybody who has ever done a Zoom call knows that they are quite useful for some things but when you really get into crunch negotiations, when you want to look somebody in the eye and talk to them face-to-face, you do need to meet in person, and this is really critical.
“World leaders are going to have to make some tough decisions about what’s going on in their own countries, they’re going to have to commit to things they didn’t necessarily want to when they arrived at the conference and that’s why it’s really important that we do have people face-to-face.”
Boris Johnson, meanwhile, is said to be planning to fly to Scotland on a “green flight” using Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) – biofuels from plants or waste.
