UK’s Johnson: World is at ‘one minute to midnight’ as climate summit begins

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a new interview warned that time is running out in the international fight against climate change. 

The world is at “one minute to midnight” on climate change and global warming, Johnson told the BBC, saying international leaders need to turn “aspiration to action” on the issue. 

He also reportedly called the U.N.’s COP26 summit, which started on Sunday, a “critical” moment. 

Johnson earned international headlines in September for his remarks on climate change, when he told international officials to “grow up” and get more serious about addressing climate concerns. 

“We must show that we are capable of learning and maturing and finally taking responsibility for the destruction we are inflicting, not just upon our planet, but upon ourselves. It’s time for humanity to grow up,” Johnson said at the time.

“We have an awesome power to change things and to change things for the better, and an awesome power to save ourselves,” he added. 

World leaders are meeting at the summit this week to discuss how to better address concerns regarding climate change. President Biden is in Europe for the summit as his domestic climate agenda hangs in the balance during congressional negotiations on spending at home.  

During remarks ahead of the conference on Saturday, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg blasted international banks for what she called climate “destruction.” 

“As long as we keep ignoring the historical responsibility of the countries of the global north, and as long as we continue to ignore it, the very negotiations will not have a successful outcome,” Thunberg said.