Cop26: Humanity 5-1 down at half-time on climate crisis, says Johnson

Prime minister on way to Italy says our civilisation could mimic the decline of the Roman empire unless we get this right'

Boris Johnson has likened the globe's battle against the climate emergency to a football team losing 5-1 at half-time, as he flew to Rome for a world leaders' gathering seen as crucial for setting the tone for next week's Cop26 climate summit.

Speaking to reporters on the flight to Italy for the G20 meeting, Johnson conceded that he had not always been convinced about climate change, and that his mind had been changed in part by a briefing given by government scientific advisers soon after he became prime minister.