ALL eyes of the world will fall on Glasgow in November as the biggest names in politics travel to our city to tackle the climate emergency.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will greet famous faces, including the likes of President Joe Biden, US special envoy John Kerry, Pope Francis, and even Terminator star Arnold Schwarzenegger all rumoured to attend, later this year.
However, angry Glaswegians have taken to social media to show why they think the city isn't quite prepared to take centre stage quite yet.
As GMB union's chief Gary Smith says Glasgow "cleansing crisis" is proof the city is not fit to host such an event, we take a look at what the people of Glasgow have to say.
READ MORE: Glasgow is not fit to host conference, says trade union boss
“Right this way Mr Biden, mind your feet.” pic.twitter.com/BV9vdnZyjH
— Scott Rogers-Wolfson (@RogersWolfson) July 2, 2021
‘World leaders if you would like to just watch your feet we can discuss how to solve the climate crisis, never mind the litter ‘ #COP26Glasgow pic.twitter.com/kpihkOKALr
— Ryan Capperauld (@ryancapperauld) July 4, 2021
Hey @glasgowcc - it's not long until #cop26 and yet the streets near the SEC campus look like this - not a great advert for Glasgow 😔 Plus, this must impact the local businesses who rely on this street for outside seating due to Covid. Please clean up our streets 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/y3CCpkLJr7
— Karen C (@KACossar) July 2, 2021
A local green space near my home. As Glasgow is hosting COP26 I wonder if this will highlight the plastic problem in this city. Unfortunately easily the worst city I've been to in terms of litter and fly tipping and I spent one month in Thailand. pic.twitter.com/Dtjz7TTR8N
— Cassia Weston (@CassiaWeston) January 12, 2020
How difficult is it to use a bin?
— Jonny Stewart (@Jonny_Stewart88) March 18, 2021
Our whole city has a litter problem - we’re going to look awful, being the #COP26 hosts!
What is being done about this? @GlasgowCC @SusaninLangside @alisonthewliss #litter #glasgow #wildlife pic.twitter.com/7mvFjPVUVI
A stones throw from the historic Park District of Glasgow. If I was leader I’d be embarrassed to show @COP26 delegates our city @LeaderGCC @GlasgowCC pic.twitter.com/cZk2GmN35x
— Dougie M (@dougiewestender) January 22, 2021
Speaking in her Glasgow Times column, council leader Susan Aitken said: "Our efforts to make the Dear Green Place greener still are now internationally recognised. But as transformed a city as we’ve become, social and environmental issues rooted in the decisions of the past still stand in our way.
"COP isn’t a prize for the city with the greenest credentials. It’s about finding the solutions cities just like ours need to make in the years ahead to improve the wellbeing of our citizens and secure the future of our planet."
Glasgow City Council insists there is no cleansing crisis and it works diligently to ensure all litter issues reported are dealt with as swiftly as possible.
The local authority has previously stated bins are widely available throughout the city and urged members of the public if there is not one in sight, or it is full, to carry their rubbish to the next available stop.
READ MORE: Glasgow sheriff trials to be put on hold because of Cop26 policing demands
A spokesman said: “Any public bin can fill up quickly if there’s an unexpected surge in demand. We always urge members of the public to report an issue with a public bin so that it can be dealt with promptly.
“Glasgow spends far more on street cleansing than any other local authority both in real terms and spend per head of population.
“We have also been replacing our public litter bins in streets and parks, substantially increasing the bin capacity for people who need to dispose of litter on the move.
“We are currently working on a plan to ensure that Glasgow is in good shape in time for the arrival of delegates for the COP26 conference in November.
“ For Glasgow, COP is about attracting investment, making safer and healthier places to live, creating jobs and providing skills for a new low carbon economy, making our homes more affordable to heat and connecting communities with accessible, green public transport.
“Glasgow is the right host for COP26 precisely because of the challenges we face as a post-industrial city, which are replicated across the world.”
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