LEGENDARY singer-songwriter Annie Lennox OBE has spoken of her ‘anxiety and dread’ for the future of young people as the city gets ready for COP26.

The Glasgow Caledonian University Chancellor has called for political leaders to take urgent action on climate change, and says “words and targets are not enough” as an “apocalyptic scenario” is impending.

The passionate social activist, who formed part of the pop duo Eurythmics, wants there to be real steps taken to cut fossil fuels, stop banks who fund climate-wrecking industries and provide protection for the forests and oceans.

She also wants to see money from nations who have profited from ecological destruction to support the countries now bearing the brunt of it.

Annie said: “As Chancellor, my role involves young students who work hard to become graduates, scientists, visionaries, planners and leaders.

“I’m deeply concerned about the challenges they will have to face in the years that lie ahead.

“I must say that climate change, or more frankly climate emergency, is truly THE issue that gives me the worst sense of anxiety and dread about the future, not only for our children, but for their children’s children.

“A Greta Thunberg points out so forcefully, ‘We are in the beginning of mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!’”

Annie Lennox says she first became aware of the environmental and social damage caused by pollution and the exploitation of the planet's resources in the early 1970s, even though 40 years ago the idea was seen as an “eccentric notion”.

“In 2021, we are seeing the cumulative impact of relentless human exploitation of the planet – something we still don’t seem to be able to admit or face up to,” she said.

“We have become disconnected from nature and blind to the destruction that has been taking place for years, right under our noses.

“Our forests, jungles, great coral reefs, oceans, rivers, and all living species and organisms are in existential jeopardy, yet we still carry on as if nothing is happening.

“Over the next two weeks, I will be joining people around the world to demand that political leaders meeting in Glasgow for the United Nation’s COP26 climate summit must take the action needed to avert this impending apocalyptic scenario."