The world is burning: Time to get serious about tackling climate change at COP26

Smoke rises from an illegally lit fire in Amazon rainforest reserve, south of Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. After the world missed out on a year of negotiations on climate change due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there is an added urgency for every country, including Malaysia, to get going on saving planet Earth. - Photo: AFP

It was a diplomatic faux pas on a global stage: During a recent US-organised virtual climate summit, French President Emmanuel Macron was delivering his country’s pledge on reducing carbon emissions when the screen suddenly switched to Moscow, showing his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, conversing privately with his aides, oblivious that leaders from around the world were looking at him.

Thankfully, the technical hiccup didn’t ruffle any egos or reveal embarrassing private talk, and after Putin delivered his speech, the screen switched back to Macron and the summit continued.