EU touts Europe to be first net-zero continent

European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, addressed the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland on Monday, reiterating Europe's ambition to become the first climate neutral continent.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the international climate negotiations she said countries had to "speed up our race to net zero. We're running out of time."

She pushed for other rich countries to aid poorer nations as much as Europe does and put a price on carbon emissions because "nature cannot pay that price anymore."

Representatives of more than 200 countries gathered for the conference.

From October 31 to November 12 they will discuss new targets for cutting or curbing the growth of emissions that contribute to climate change.

IMAGE: AP