Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK is calling for net-zero CO2 emissions as soon as possible as he attended the launch of a Glasgow U.N. Climate Change Conference.
The launch of the summit known as COP26 took place in London’s Science Museum.
It came as Britain announced it will ban the sale of new petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars from 2035, five years earlier than planned.
Johnson is seeking to use the announcement to elevate the United Kingdom’s environmental credentials after he sacked the head of COP26, Claire O’Neill.
Johnson declined to answer any questions on O’Neill, but last week the government said the role would be filled by a minister.
O’Neill, a former energy minister, accused Johnson of a lack of leadership and said he had admitted to her he did not understand climate change.
Outside the COP26 launch event venue, climate action group Extinction Rebellion held a protest urging greater action.
