UK city landmarks have been illuminated with powerful messages calling for urgent action on climate change as world leaders meet for COP26.

The lit-up landmarks include Tolbooth Steeple in Glasgow, the Arndale Centre in Manchester, and London’s St Paul’s Cathedral.  

The heartfelt messages have been submitted by members of the public from across the globe, including France, Austria, India, and Canada, as well as the UK.

The "Voice of All" campaign – led by National Grid – aims to give people the chance to have their voice heard on climate change and the environment.

The light projections across the UK feature slogans such as "it’s never too late to take action" and "I'm scared for my children's future".

Duncan Burt, chief sustainability officer at National Grid, said: ‘"There is no time more crucial than now for people to have their say on the climate crisis. 

"This is an issue that will impact us all and it’s vital that everyone has the opportunity to have their views heard. 

"Through the Voice of All and as a Principal Partner of COP26, we want to share a message of hope, while also illustrating the seriousness of what is at stake. 

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"By working together, we can make people’s hopes for a greener, more sustainable world a reality."

World leaders have gathered in Glasgow for COP26 – which will run for two weeks and end on November 12.

Boris Johnson has described the conference as the “world’s moment of truth”.

While Nicola Sturgeon said the event could be "one of the most important global gatherings of this century".

The PM has warned the world could be plunged back into a new Dark Ages unless climate change is halted.

He said we stand on the brink and could go backwards as we did “after the fall of the Roman Empire” unless drastic action is taken.

Failure to act could lead eventually to food and water shortages, war and the spread of squalor and illiteracy.

Mr Johnson said: “Unless we get this right in tackling climate change, we could see our civilisation, our world, also go backwards.

“And we could consign future generations to a life that is far less agreeable than our own.”

PM'S WARNING

He explained: “Look at evidence of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire.

“When Rome fell, humanity became far less literate overall, people lost the ability to read and write, they lost the ability to draw properly, they lost the ability to build in the way the Romans did.”

In urging world leaders to take action to save the planet, he claimed the world was like a football team 5-1 down at half-time, saying there is a lot to do, but we can win.

But he laughed off calls by scientists to eat less meat, insisting he is focused on getting international leaders to slash emissions.

He wants China to go faster in weaning itself off coal and cutting greenhouse gases.

US President Joe Biden will attend COP26, having already landed in Europe ahead of the summit’s start on Sunday.

He will be joined by John Kerry, who serves as the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate.

French President Emmanuel Macron will also attend the event alongside Australian PM Scott Morrison – despite ongoing tension over the AUKUS alliance.

Other notable leaders to be attending the conference will be Italy’s Mario Draghi, Canada’s Justin Trudeau, Israel’s Naftali Bennett, Turkey’s Recep Tayipp Erdogan and India’s Narendra Modi.

China’s President Xi Jinping has confirmed that he will not be attending COP26 in person – but will instead talk to world leaders via video link.

Meanwhile, Russian President, Vladimir Putin, will not be attending.

MESSAGES PROJECTED

These are the messages which have been projected in cities across the UK:

"Let’s keep 1.5°c alive"

‘’I’m scared for my children’s future’’

‘’All living creatures deserve to live in safety’’

‘’Please help us change our future’’

‘’The small choices of the many and the big choices of the few can move us to a greener future’’

‘’I hope that humanity realises our connectedness’’

‘’Save our wetlands’’

‘’Bring nature back to our cities’’

‘’Create green jobs’’

‘’It’s never too late to take action’’

‘’We are responsible for our actions’’

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