Major countries are attempting to put pressure on scientists to water down a key United Nations report into climate change, it has today been reported.
Countries including Australia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Japan are reportedly among the countries who have asked the UN to play down the need to move rapidly away from fossil fuels.
Wealthier nations have also reportedly questioned giving more funding to poor countries to assist the move to greener technologies.
The claims comes from a leak of documents, seen by the BBC, and just days before the major COP26 climate summit due to be held in Glasgow.
Leaders a the summit will be asked to make commitments to slow down climate change and keep global warming to 1.5 degrees.
According to the BBC, the documents contain 32,000 submissions made by governments, companies and other interested parties.
They have been sent to a team of scientists compiling a UN report aiming to bring together scientific evidence on how to tackle climate change.
Countries including Australia, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and Japan are reportedly among the countries asking the UN to play down the need to move rapidly away from fossil fuels (pictured: Library image)
It comes as Boris Johnson's big COP26 moment suffered another blow yesterday as Vladimir Putin confirmed he is snubbing the summit.
The Kremlin said the Russian president will not be attending the gathering in Glasgow at the end of the month.
It comes after China's Xi Jinping made clear he is not intending to travel to the UN event, heightening fears that the summit will fail to make significant progress in the fight against climate change.
Although both countries are expected to send delegations, the presence of national leaders is seen as crucial to add impetus to the process.
Mr Johnson has insisted he is hoping for a 'good' turnout in Glasgow, but pointed to the pandemic as a factor.
The Kremlin said Vladimir Putin (left) will not be attending the gathering in Glasgow at the end of the month. China's Xi Jinping (right) is also not expected to go
Boris Johnson has insisted he is hoping for a 'good' turnout in Glasgow, but pointed to the pandemic as a factor
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Covid situation was preventing Mr Putin from travelling.
'He will also not fly to Glasgow, unfortunately,' the spokesman said. 'We need to work out in what format it will be possible to speak via video conference, at what moment
'The issues that will be discussed in Glasgow right now form one of the priorities of our foreign policy.'
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro have also not committed to attending.
US President Joe Biden confirmed only last week that he will be there, and Australian prime minister Scott Morrison is coming despite initial doubts.
If China does not commit to new action, the prospect of keeping global warming to 1.5C could well be scuppered. The country is responsible for 27 per cent of global carbon emissions.
Even the Queen has been unable to conceal her frustration at the vague guest list for COP26.
Caught on microphone while attending the opening of the Welsh parliament in Cardiff last week, the monarch said: 'Extraordinary isn't it... I've been hearing all about Cop... still don't know who is coming... no idea.
'We only know about people who are not coming... It's really irritating when they talk, but they don't do.'
Mr Johnson vowed to make Britain the 'Qatar of hydrogen' today as he wooed businesses chiefs including Bill Gates at a glitzy
