COP26: Elizabeth II asks world leaders to 'rise above politics, achieve true statesmanship' to solve climate crisis

GLASGOW, Scotland (AA) – Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II told a key UN climate conference that she hopes to see world leaders “rise above the politics of the moment and achieve true statesmanship” in solving the climate crisis the planet now faces.

In a video message to the Scotland summit, the queen, 95, whose reign began in the aftermath of World War II, told the leaders that "history has shown that when nations come together in common cause, there is always room for hope."

The world has “the chance to join in the shared objective of creating a safer, stabler future for our people and for the planet on which we depend,” she said.

“None of us underestimates the challenges ahead: but history has shown that when nations come together in common cause, there is always room for hope. Working side by side, we have the ability to solve the most insurmountable problems and to triumph over the greatest of adversities.”

The queen’s message was recorded after it was announced that at the advice of her doctors she would not be able to attend the COP26 conference.

She said: “It is the hope of many that the legacy of this summit – written in history books yet to be printed – will describe you as the leaders who did not pass up the opportunity, and that you answered the call of those future generations.

She added: “That you left this conference as a community of nations with a determination, a desire, and a plan, to address the impact of climate change; and to recognize that the time for words has now moved to the time for action.”

“Of course, the benefits of such actions will not be there to enjoy for all of us here today: none of us will live forever. But we are doing this not for ourselves but for our children and our children’s children, and those who will follow in their footsteps.”

The COP26 meeting will continue through Nov. 12 with numerous panels, meetings, and side events, all seeking remedies to reduce the levels of global warming by keeping it to 1.5C.

More than 25,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries are at the Glasgow conference, with the first two days seeing sessions attended by many world leaders.