Yes it’s expensive, but failing to meet climate challenge will cost a lot more | Larry Elliott

Cop26 breakthrough will require rich nations to finally make good on promise to help poorer ones

Next month's Cop26 talks could end in abject failure. Anybody who has monitored the tortuous attempts of the World Trade Organization to piece together a global free trade agreement knows how hard multilateral negotiations can be.

A breakthrough in Glasgow is possible but requires two things to happen: the world's leading emitters of greenhouse gases need to accelerate their net zero carbon plans; and they have to recognise it is their own self-interest to help the less fortunate countries already struggling with the effects of global heating.