Speaking as the talks enter their second week, he said not enough has been done to combat climate change and called for united action.
Mr Obama, who arrived in Glasgow on Sunday night, said larger nations should shoulder more of the burden of fixing the climate crisis – as a theme of the talks on Monday is support for poorer countries to cope with the problem.
A veteran of the failed UN climate summit in Copenhagen and the successful meeting in Paris which secured the world’s first comprehensive climate treaty, Mr Obama was speaking at an event by COP26 organisers the UNFCCC on island resilience.
5. Former US president Barack Obama gives a speech during the COP 26 summit in Glasgow.
Former US president Barack Obama gives a speech during the Cop26 summit at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow. Photo: Jane Barlow
6. Obama at COP26
Former US president Barack arrived in Glasgow on Sunday night Photo: Jane Barlow
7. Former US president Barack Obama
Speaking as the talks enter their second week, he said not enough has been done to combat climate change and called for united action. Photo: Jane Barlow
8. Former US president Barack Obama during his speech at COP26
Former US president Barack Obama said: “All of us have a part to play, all of us have work to do and all of us have sacrifices to make. “Those of us who live in big, wealthy nations, those of us who helped to precipitate the problem, we have an added burden to make sure that we are working with and helping and assisting those who are less responsible and less able, but are more vulnerable to this oncoming crisis.” Photo: Jane Barlow