Boris Johnson urges crunch climate talks to go into extra time after UN ‘failure’

BORIS Johnson urged crunch climate talks to go into “extra time” as UN chiefs were blasted for “admitting failure” in their mealy-mouthed draft deal.

The PM told world leaders to “grasp the opportunity” for a planet-saving pact or “stand in the way” of progress.

He warned the target of keeping global warming to 1.5C is “in the balance” as not enough is being done to slash emissions.

COP26 president Alok Sharma said he was fighting “tooth and nail” to force a deal, but critics slammed the text agreed so far.

Ex-PM Gordon Brown said it was an “admission of failure” that the draft deal says leaders will have to come back again next year with more targets.

Negotiators from 197 countries are due to go home on Friday night after two gruelling weeks.

But the PM said, “I don't see why we shouldn’t go to extra time if we have to” to secure a “genuine roadmap”. The early draft calls for the end of coal and of subsidies for fossil fuels, but includes no timeline.

Greenpeace’s Jennifer Morgan said: “The draft deal is not a plan to solve the climate crisis, it’s an agreement that we cross our fingers and hope for the best.”

Last night, the US and China agreed to ramp up their climate change commitments.