'Now, not 30 or 40 years' von der Leyen warns ahead of COP26

"We need leadership for credible commitments for decarbonisation to reach the goal of net-zero by mid-century, but also sufficient commitments to cut the emissions this decade," von der Leyen said, pointing out the "especial responsibility" of the G20 countries ahead of their meeting this weekend.

Despite climate diplomacy and national "net-zero" pledges, the world currently is on a track for global temperature rise of 2.7 degrees this century – far from the 1.5-degree limit advocated by scientists and recently defined by UN chief António Guterres as "the only liveable future for humanity".

Von der Leyen said that the EU will show global leaders that economies can grow while cutting emissions, pointing out that "the longer we wait, the more expensive it [the transition] will get". The EU has cut emissions by 31 percent since 1990.

"It is not a question of 30 or 40 years. It is now. It is this decade where we have to get better, otherwise we risk to reach irreversible tipping points," she added.

'Eight years' warning

The UN warned this week that the world has just eight years to halve global greenhouse gas emissions – prompting Guterres to say that global warming could become "an existential threat to humanity."

During the climate negotiation in Glasgow, the EU is expected to push rich countries to deliver on the longstanding commitment to give $100bn (€85bn) a year in climate financing to help developing countries cope with the impact of climate change.

Latest data show a $20 billion shortfall to the 2020 target.

"Climate finance is a question of credibility and solidarity," von der Leyen said, adding that the EU is already contributing with more than $25bn per year.

Another key debate will be finalising the Paris Agreement rulebook - needed to make "a crucial and absolutely necessary change" during the next decade, the chief of the EU executive said.

The EU remains optimistic about reaching a compromise. But civil society argues that no deal on the procedures of the Paris deal, would be better than a bad deal.

Meanwhile, the EU commission announced several initiatives to be launched during COP26.

Von der Leyen said 60 countries have now joined the US and EU-led initiative to reduce global methane emissions, the second-biggest contributor to global warming, after carbon dioxide.

And she also announced a partnership with South Africa to accelerate the country's coal phase-out and €1bn to the Global Forest Pledge – including €250m to protect Congo's forest basin.

COP26 will take place under an intense public scrutiny, as the majority of Europeans (58 percent) think their governments will fail to cut emission by 2050, according to a new survey published by the European Investment Bank.