The world climate change summit in Egypt is to hear from heads of state and government looking to galvanise global action to tackle climate change. 

The initial high-level segment of the COP27 gathering in Sharm el-Sheikh will comprise leaders’ speeches – from major oil producing economies as well as from developing countries worst-hit by the effects of global warming.

Richer nations are to outline their programmes for reducing carbon emissions.

Poorer countries have welcomed the prospect of a debate on setting up a compensation fund, with the issue included on the agenda for the first time since the United Nations adopted its climate convention.

The UN’s new climate change chief, Simon Stiell, told the BBC there was still time to limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees since the start of the industrial era – the target adopted at earlier summits