It's climate CHAOS! Massive queues build up for Glasgow summit as climate activists plot anarchy after Greta Thunberg's rallying call to 'p*** off' people by staging protests - as 10,000 police form 'ring of steel' around event
Huge queues built up outside COP26 today while delegates waited to get into the event as climate protesters plotted chaos and Greta Thunberg said sometimes you have to 'p*** people off' to protect the environment.
Attendees waited outside the Scottish Event Campus where thousands of officers were in place and erected a ring of steel as representatives of 200 nations gather to thrash out a deal to try to limit global warming to 1.5C.
Delegates have already needed to go through a detailed accreditation process, including getting an official letter stating they are registered and using an app to verify their visual ID. They must also present evidence of a negative Covid lateral flow test from today.
But those arriving at the SEC today were confronted with enormous queues at various layers of security – starting with the gates checking letters, then security screening, and then to pick up accreditation passes in person.
There was a particular bottleneck at security, as delegates who had picked up accreditation yesterday were forced to wait in huge lines along with new arrivals. Many found themselves waiting well over 90 minutes outside in a 9C (48F) chill and windy conditions – with complaints that meetings were being missed and anger at the shambolic organisation.
Yesterday, Swedish activist Miss Thunberg voiced support for the tactics of road-blocking group Insulate Britain as demonstrators from various organisations headed to Scotland amid a £100million policing operation.
It comes after the Queen recorded a video message on Friday that will be played to world leaders today. She had been due to attend the conference where she had hoped to deliver an in-person speech and to host a reception.
But the 95-year-old was forced to drop out last week after royal doctors said that she should only take part in 'light, desk-based' duties for at least a fortnight due to concerns about her health after an overnight hospital stay.
Among the first protests in Glasgow this morning was a group of Oxfam activists wearing 'big heads' of world leaders dressed in kilts and holding bagpipes at Royal Exchange Square.
Hundreds of delegates and media queuing to get in to the conference area at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow today
Masses of people queue as they arrive for the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow this morning
Huge numbers of people queue to get into the climate change summit in Glasgow this morning
The queue to get into the COP26 site in Glasgow this morning as large numbers of people wait to get through security
Delegates queue for the UN climate summit in Glasgow which is gathering leaders from around the world
Oxfam activists with 'big heads' of Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi, France's President Emmanuel Macron, US President Joe Biden, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China's President Xi Jinping in Glasgow this morning
Environmental campaigners of Joe Biden, Boris Johnson and Angela Merkel in Glasgow today
Eco campaigners with 'big heads' of key world leaders, including Joe Biden and Boris Johnson, dressed in kilts and with bagpipes gather at Royal Exchange Square in Glasgow today
Activists with big heads of Joe Biden and Boris Johnson demonstrate in Glasgow this morning
Oxfam activists remove their 'big heads' following their protest stunt at Royal Exchange Square in Glasgow today
The Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior makes its way up the River Clyde, near Greenock in Scotland, carrying four young climate activists today
Those represented were Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden, Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Russia's President Vladimir Putin, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China's President Xi Jinping.
An average of 10,000 officers from Police Scotland and forces around Britain will be on duty every day for three weeks during the conference, with the UK Government picking up the bill.
Among those queuing up outside today was i political commentator Paul Waugh who said it was 'an international embarrassment', adding: 'Utter chaos at security for COP26. It's not as if they couldn't plan for this is it?'
LBC Westminster correspondent Ben Kentish added: 'Security now trying to stop people taking photos of the massive, barely moving queues. Total chaos.' He added that the ban was apparently on 'United Nations orders'.
And ITV royal editor Chris Ship tweeted: 'It's entirely possibly that the accreditation queue for COP26 will take longer than the train journey to Scotland.'
Sun political editor Harry Cole added: 'Security heavies trying to stop domestic and international journalists photographing or filming COP26 queues. Really bad look.'
Downing Street refused to apologise for the lengthy queues faced by some delegates and visitors. Officials said 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.'
Asked if the UK would apologise, the spokesman said: 'We are working closely with the UN and Cop operational staff.'
It comes after Miss Thunberg, 18, who began the school strike climate change protests, was asked on the Andrew Marr Show whether 'blocking roads' was justified.
She said: 'As long as no-one gets hurt... then I think sometimes you need to anger some people. Like, for instance, the school strike movement would never have become so big if there wasn't friction, if some people didn't get p***** off.'
In Glasgow, a ring of steel is being erected around the conference site on the north bank of the River Clyde as security forces brace for threats to the heads of state in attendance and potential disruption from climate change protesters.
And police will even deploy specially trained officers equipped with high-tech devices that can bring down rogue drones using electromagnetic pulses.
Police expect to make 300 arrests a day but sources warned if the number gets much higher, custody suites will be overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, a report found last month almost half of Scotland's police officers have experienced high levels of fatigue in the previous fortnight, which does not bode well for a three-week conference during which many will have to work 12-hour shifts.
Delegates queue as they arrive for the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow this morning
Police officers patrol a roadblock at the entrance to the Clydeside Express in Glasgow today
A motorcade (left) with a police escort travels along Kingsway in Glasgow this morning
People arrive for the COP26 summit in Glasgow today after police formed a ring of steel
Police officers stand guard at a roadbloack at an entrance to the Clydeside Express today
Police officers hold back cars as a convoy makes its way onto the Clydeside Express today
Scotland's lawyers have also vowed to boycott weekend custody courts amid an ongoing row over legal aid cuts. This means the justice system could be plunged into chaos by the sheer number of people arrested at the event.
US President Joe Biden is among more than 100 world leaders expected to attend the event.
The summit will also feature a climate rally in Glasgow that could be attended by more than 150,000 people.
Tens of thousands of delegates from 193 member states and four observer states will attend the summit, with the SEC conference venue designated a 'blue zone' – meaning it will be policed by the UN, with Scottish police only allowed to enter if there is a threat to life.
Police officers watch from a footbridge above Kingsway in the centre of Glasgow this morning
Police on a bridge above Kingsway in the centre of Glasgow at the start of COP26 this morning
Climate activist Greta Thunberg is interviewed on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show yesterday
Climate activist Greta Thunberg arrives at Glasgow Central train station on Saturday
Miss Thunberg voiced support for the tactics of road-blocking group Insulate Britain. The activists are seen bringing traffic to a standstill on Bishopsgate in the City of London last week
Miss Thunberg said she speaks to activists in countries like China where they do not have the same rights, and added: 'It makes you just feel so grateful that we are actually able to protest and that just puts more responsibility on us who actually have the right to protest, to use that right.'
She also attacked Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Budget and said policies such as cuts to air passenger duty show 'climate action is not really [Britain's] priority'.
Asked about Mr Sunak's policy in the Budget of cutting air passenger duty by 50 per cent on internal flights, Miss Thunberg added: 'When you see a pattern of these policies, that all the time are avoiding taking real action, then I think you can draw conclusions from that pattern. That climate action is not really our main priority right now.'
She criticised China for being 'out of touch' on the climate crisis but warned there will always be other countries to blame for not doing enough and urged the world to work together.
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