Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, told The National he would use the United Nations climate change summit to raise the issue of an independent Scotland with politicians from Europe and across the world. COP26, which is being attended by more than 120 world leaders, aims to create a united, global response to the urgent climate catastrophe. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has slammed the Scottish Green's decision to hijack the event for their own divisive political agenda.

       Speaking to Express.co.uk, Mr Davey said: “The Greens talk a good game about our keeping our environment clean and saving the planet but in reality all they want to do is split up our family of nations.

       "Nicola Sturgeon must be overjoyed at how enthusiastically the Green party has embraced its role as apologists for the SNP.

       “Their government has just missed its crucial climate targets again, these so-called Greens have a laser focus on nationalism.

       “No political party should be using COP to advance their own nationalist agenda.”

       The summit comes at a pivotal moment in the battle against climate change.

       The United Nations recently released a shocking new emissions report which found the world was on course to miss its target to limit the global temperature rise to 1.5C.

       Unless significant climate pledges are made immediately, the planet faces a grim rise of at least 2.7C.

       The core objective of the COP26 summit, which will run until November 12, is to change the trajectory of global warming and find a way back to 1.5C or lower.

       UN secretary-general António Guterres said: "If we combine forces now, we can avert climate catastrophe but, as today's report makes clear, there is no time for delay and no room for excuses."

       The UN’s climate science body predicts that a 2C rise would lead to more heatwaves, extreme rainstorms, water shortages, droughts, huge economic losses, destroyed crops, higher sea levels and greater damage to nature.

       Despite the apocalyptic urgency of the situation, as the climate change summit kicked off in Glasgow, leaflets were distributed arguing for an 'Independent Scotland in Europe'.

       The leaflets read: “Westminster democracy is broken. And now, despite promises made during the 2014 referendum, Scotland has been dragged out of the EU against our will. This isn’t democracy.

       “Independence will let us build a truly democratic and representative nation-state.

       "Independence is also our only route back to EU membership, delivering Scotland our own seat at the European table and giving us back the right to work, travel and study across Europe.”

       The Scottish Greens have been in a power-sharing agreement with the SNP since August which secures a pro-independence majority in Holyrood.

       First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a second vote would take place before the end of 2023- subject to the state of the COVID-19 pandemic.

       However, under the 1998 Scotland Act - which created the Scottish parliament and devolved some powers from Westminster - all matters relating to the "Union of the Kingdoms of Scotland and England" are reserved to the UK government.

       This law means only Westminster can grant Scotland another referendum.

       Boris Johnson has refused Ms Sturgeon permission to hold another referendum, saying the 2014 vote, in which Scotland voted to remain part of the United Kingdom, had been a "once in a generation" event.

       The Scottish Greens have been contacted for comment.