Weak commitments from the G20 cast a shadow over COP26’s opening

COP26, THE UN climate summit that began in Glasgow on Sunday, has got off to an inauspicious start. The city itself is grappling with a strike by rubbish collectors, who complain, among other things, of being attacked by growing numbers of rats. Incisors are being bared at the conference, too. On one side are the wealthy countries who want the summit to appear a success, but are loth to stump up the cash and commitments to make it so. On the other are the developing countries which feel the existential threat of climate change most keenly, and are unwilling to have their concerns smoothed over to make the conference look a success.