CLIMATE activists staged a 'funeral ceremony' in Glasgow today as COP26 crunch talks continue.

The 'ceremony of grief', organised by Extinction Rebellion (XR), took place to symbolise the "failure of the COP process". 

The event began this morning at 11am after XR's 'Red Rebels' led a procession from Glasgow Cathedral across Church Lane Bridge to the Glasgow Necropolis. 

Glasgow Times: [Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images]. [Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images].

Activists can be seen dressed in black shrouds representing each COP meeting held since the first in 1995.

Glasgow Times: [Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images]. [Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images].

 

Performers lay down next to a row of individual "headstones" as the 'Red Rebels' walked between them performing "grief poses".

Glasgow Times: [Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images]. [Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images].

The 'Blue Rebels', a Scottish group similar to the 'Red Rebels', then escorted "COP26" who lay down to complete the pattern.

Glasgow Times: [Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images]. [Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images].

Karen, an XR member from the Isle of Barra, said: "We are here grieving for a planet that has been sacrificed by the failure and stupidity of COP26.

"The bare minimum needed from COP26 were commitments to leaving oil in the ground and an immediate halt to fossil fuel funding.

"Anything less than that is idiocy. As intelligent life on this planet we are already extinct. We know exactly what we need to do and we’re not doing it."

Glasgow Times: [Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images]. [Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images].

It comes as negotiations at COP26 went into overtime after talks were due to wrap up at 6pm on Friday.

Today's stocktaking plenary (meeting of the parties) has been delayed until 2.30pm to allow negotiators who are still having discussions to resolve issues time to do so.

COP26 President Alok Sharma said he intends to close the UN climate talks "this afternoon".

He said: "At the end of the day, what has been put forward is a balanced package.

"Everyone has had a chance to have their say, and I hope that colleagues will appreciate that what is on the table here, whilst not every aspect of it will be welcomed by everyone, collectively this is a package that really moves things forward for everyone."