The president of an island nation "already living the reality" of climate change has been confirmed as one of more than a dozen COP26 delegates staying at the Cameron House resort on Loch Lomond.

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, president of the Republic of Maldives, was formally welcomed on behalf of the Queen by Andrew Nicholson, a Deputy Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire, on Sunday as he arrived leading a convoy of six vehicles.

The delegation yesterday met at the hotel 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.

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.”

Dozens of world leaders have flown to Glasgow for the summit, sparking criticism of the carbon footprint of a conference aiming to dramatically decrease CO2 in the atmosphere.

Rising temperatures will make sea levels rise even more, wiping Maldives off the map.