ONE of the COP26 guests staying on the shores of Loch Lomond is also one of the most important - the president of islands set to disappear by the rising oceans of the climate crisis.
The president of the Maldives was formally welcomed to Cameron House on Sunday on behalf of the Queen by Andrew Nicholson, Deputy Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire.
Leading a convoy of six vehicles, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih arrived to plea to the world for action on climate as his islands face being wiped off the map by rising seas.
Mr Nicholson, who lives in Rhu, stepped in for the Lord Lieutenant, Mrs Jill Young, but said his role was brief.
He said: “We stood at the front door as the entourage of six cars arrived. It was slightly wet. I welcomed him on behalf of the Queen and the government. We’re not shaking hands - just a wee nod of the head.
“If the weather had been more clement, I might have been able to say ‘you’re one of the most important countries coming here, because you’re most under threat’. But the rain put paid to that.
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“I’m told 19 dignitaries and entourages are staying at Cameron House.”
He continued: “As far as COP26 is concerned, that’s it [for me]. But COP26 is an amazing concept. Whether it will achieve its aims, I don’t know.
“It’s a major coup for getting it here. Everybody is going to be disrupted but whether we will be able to touch the results remains to be seen.”
The Maldives delegation met at the hotel on Monday with Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al Hussein, a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. He was appointed as an advisor to the Maldives delegation.
The Indian Ocean chain of islands is facing one of the biggest threats from climate change and in his remarks to the conference in Glasgow, President Solih said: “Our islands are slowly being inundated by the sea, one by one.
“I am here to tell you that my people are already living the steady onset of this reality.”
The leaders of 120 nations flew to Glasgow for the start of the summit. Many leaders have already left, and there follows more negotiation from civil servants.
The travel to Glasgow has sparked criticism of the carbon footprint of a conference aiming to dramatically reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.
Rising temperatures will make sea levels rise even more, wiping Maldives off the map.
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