Barack Obama mistakes Scotland for Ireland as he calls it ‘Emerald Isle’ in COP26 gaffe
BARACK Obama mixed up Britain and Ireland at COP26 yesterday.
The former US President welcomed the audience for his speech in Glasgow to “the Emerald Isles”.
His gaffe came as it emerged PM Boris Johnson is set to travel back to the summit in Scotland as soon as tomorrow to try to break the deadlock and seal a deal to halt global warming.
Mr Obama jetted in for his box-office speech at the climate summit — but stunned the audience and telly viewers with several high-profile clangers.
He started by pronouncing Glasgow as “Glass-cow” and then used his speech to make reference to Ireland — before going on to quote England’s William Shakespeare.
He said: “Since we’re here in the Emerald Isles, let me quote the Bard.
“What wound did ever heal but by degrees?”
And he raised eyebrows by slating the “weak coffee and bad food” at summit’s Scottish Events Campus venue.
Mr Obama also took a swipe at Russia and China, saying it was “discouraging” to see two of the largest emitters snub the gathering.
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And he rapped successor Donald Trump for pulling out of the Paris climate
Agreement. It came as all four of the UK NHS services committed to go green and reach Net Zero by 2050, with dozens of other nations pledging to do more to slash their health emissions.
Meanwhile, Ministers said they will plough £210million into developing baby nuclear reactors in the UK in a landmark deal with Rolls-Royce.
Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng hailed the “once in a lifetime opportunity”.
