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Climate Summit; Coronavirus Pandemic; Tokyo Train Assault; Film Set Death. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired November 01, 2021 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[01:00:04]
ANNA COREN, CNN ANCHOR: Leaders from around the world will gather in Glasgow in the coming hours for a critical Climate Summit. As a new report warns the earth is now in uncharted territory.
The COP26 kicking off just as the G20 meeting wrapped up in Rome on Sunday. Leaders there ended this summer with an agreement on climate, but no firm pledges. Several key goals included ending coal financing by year's end and containing global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre industrial levels.
Climate will again be in focus at the COP26 summit in Scotland Monday, the British prime minister is expected to tell world leaders that it's time to move from aspiration to action to limit rising temperatures and take concrete steps to phase out coal.
Among the key goals for COP26, securing global net zero by mid-century and keeping 1.5 degrees within reach. They also want countries to deliver on their promise of $100 billion a year to help developing nations fight the climate crisis.
With CNN's Phil Black is following developments and joins us now live from Edinburgh in Scotland. Phil, a climate catastrophe is facing the world's will COP26 deliver.
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a key question Anna. No doubt. I think the vague promises that have come out of the G20 conference in Rome. So just how difficult it is to make progress on this on an international level. On one hand, the science is so clear. We are living in a climate crisis. We are running out of time to close the gap and fix this and yet, the Italian Prime Minister, the host of that conference said only now do all members of the G20 collectively responsible for 80 percent of global emissions except the science that says average global temperature increase must be restricted to 1.5 degrees centigrade in order to avoid the worst of climate change.
It is an understatement to say that is limited progress, especially when you consider all that is at stake because the science is so clear on that point. We are out of time.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE) BLACK (voice-over): These are just some of the biblical events the world has seen and experienced in 2021. Extreme floods, fires, droughts, and record temperatures across the U.S. and around the world. Proof scientists say were already living in a climate crisis.
TODD STERN, UNITED STATES SPECIAL ENVOY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE: It's here. I mean, it's upon us people see that people feel that.
BLACK: And Todd Stern led us climate negotiations through the Obama administration and helped forge 2015 Paris Agreement. That breakthrough document includes a critical promise, all countries will work to keep the global average temperature increase within 1.5 and two degrees Celsius.
STERN: We've got a hell of a long way to go.
BLACK (on camera): Because the reality is at the moment when nowhere near to being on track to keep things below two, let alone 1.5.
STERN: We're not near being on track, but we're but we're getting better.
BLACK (voice-over): Better ultimately isn't good enough. At the Glasgow climate conference, each country will be judged on whether it's cutting emissions sufficiently to ensure that crucial 1.5 degree target is still achievable. The scientific consensus says the goal is now slipping beyond rich and the consequences will be disastrous.
BOB WARD, GRANTHAM RESEARCH INSTITUTE ON CLIMATE AND THE ENVIRONMENT: Without action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, we could see temperatures go well beyond three degrees of warming by the end of the century, something that the Earth has not experienced for 3 million years long before humans were on the planet, it would be a very, very different world.
BLACK: U.S. leadership, through example, is vital in Glasgow to boost other countries ambitions. The Biden administration's plan is bold. How of U.S. emissions by 2030, hit net zero carbon by 2050.
WARD: That's fantastic. But it needs to demonstrate that they can deliver that and the lack of agreement at federal level and indeed, in many states, to the outside world looks like that will be a major challenge.
BLACK: Success also depends on big new commitments from China. The world's biggest polluter is responsible for more than a quarter of global emissions. China's long-term goal is becoming carbon neutral by 2060.
STERN: So it's quite important that China move much more than they have. Again, there's that long term goal is pretty good. But between now and 2030 they haven't pledged really anything.
BLACK: The urgent challenge for China and many developing countries used to stop burning coal for electricity while still rapidly growing their economies and lifting populations out of poverty. The issue is going to be a key focus in Glasgow, along with finance from rich countries to help poorer countries make the change, but even before the conference opens it's clear there are tensions over some countries and willingness to offer detailed, ambitious commitments we're behind.
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JOHN KERRY, U.S. SPECIAL PRESIDENTIAL ENVOY FOR CLIMATE: And we have to stop the BS that is being thrown at us by a number of countries that have not been willing to sign up to what Great Britain has signed up to. We've signed up to Japan, Canada, the EU, that is to keep 1.5 degrees alive.
BLACK: It's expected Glasgow will deliver progress. But will it be enough as frequent extreme events demonstrate the growing dangers of failure, scientists to show there's now very little time left to prevent climate change on a devastating scale.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
BLACK: So Anna, Boris Johnson says the Paris Agreement of 2015 is in many ways just a piece of paper filled with words, promises, aspirations, it's simply not good enough. The goal of this conference is to back that up with specific commitments, plans, details, just how countries are going to credibly move towards carbon neutrality, a growing number of countries are promising to achieve that by around the middle of the century, but unless it is backed up by detail, that is seen as simply not being credible.
And crucially, the action has to start taking place at a dramatic pace in the next 10 years, by the end of this decade, because the science is clear on that as well. Unless emissions are halved come 2030 then there is very little chance of achieving all that is necessary to prevent the worst outcomes of climate change.
So there is so much at stake. And I think it is fair to say at this moment and a not a lot of optimism that all that must be achieved will be achieved at this conference. The bare minimum will be achieving enough progress that simply keeps this process alive. So that theoretically, in the near future, pressure and ambition can be ramped up so that 1.5 degrees is still somehow achievable in the near future. Anna.
COREN: Yes, career gender political will definitely needed at this moment in time. Phil Black joining us from Edinburgh. Great to see you. Many thanks for that report.
Well, after 18 months of closed borders international travel has returned for parts of Australia and weathered emotional reunions like these a few hours ago at Sydney's airport where thousands of Australians living abroad had been unable to return home due to the country's tough pandemic restrictions.
But now, sets of Victoria and New South Wales have ended quarantine rules for fully vaccinated travelers, thanks to soaring vaccination rates. Well, let's bring in our Angus Watson joining us now from Sydney International Airport. And Angus, I bet you've seen some emotional homecomings from people who have not been able to see loved ones for almost two years.
ANGUS WATSON, CNN PRODUCER: Absolutely Anna, it was a celebration of the end of fortress Australia, this incredibly strict policy of border closures that Australia put in place in March last year to try to ride out the pandemic to try to protect itself from the rest of the world as best it could hear.
We had people this morning at Sydney Airport who had not seen each other for that length of time. So there was tears. There was emotion, as here, Australia and Sydney in particular begins to live with the virus. We've decided -- the state government has decided to eliminate quarantine for fully vaccinated travelers, remove the caps that were in place that limited the number of Australians residents and their families that could come into the country each week.
Last week, just around between 1,500 and 2,000 of the country's own citizens and residents were allowed in such was the strictness of the policy, that's all been let go now. Some 40,000 Australians stranded through the pandemic around the world now able to return back freely. But only through Sydney and Melbourne where as you say vaccination rates are high. Both cities aim to have over 90 percent of adults fully vaccinated.
But here today at Sydney Airport they are mixed feelings too. There are people that are very upset about the way that the government has handled this. Take a listen.
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NICK COSTELLO, TRAVELER: It really mixed emotions to be back in Australia. I live in the U.S. and I'm just here now for a week to attend my father's funeral who passed away last week. I've been trying to get back for the last couple of months to see my dad. I feel like there's been a huge human past it's been paid for a lot of Australian citizens that live in other places or travel overseas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: So is -- this isn't a complete free for all, Anna. The borders aren't absolutely open to anyone. As I said there are only options for Australians and residents and their families to come home. We're yet to get a date for when tourists can come in, for when business travelers and for when students coming into study can return to Australia to take up their university places.
[01:10:07]
And quite strangely, there's still a divide domestically as well between the states in Australia that are living with the virus, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and Victoria, in particular in the states that haven't had to deal with large scale COVID outbreaks like Queensland and Western Australia.
As a result, their vaccination rates are much lower. They want to give themselves some time with the borders still closed for their citizens to catch up with those vaccinations. So we're in this strange situation and where you can fly into Sydney as people need today be can't travel around the country despite having just traveled around the world, Anna.
COREN: It doesn't really make a lot of sense, does it Angus, but great to see that Sydney and Melbourne are finally open to the outside world. Angus Watson, great to see you. Many thanks.
Well Thailand is now welcoming fully vaccinated tourists from dozens of countries considered low risk for the Coronavirus and they won't be required to quarantine. Bangkok and Phuket who welcomed the first visitors with the rest of the country to follow.
This should give a much needed boost to Thailand's vital tourism industry, which has taken a massive heat during the pandemic.
Well, Coronavirus pandemic restrictions are also relaxing in South Korea as so called "Living with COVID" measures begin to go into effect. Curfews are lifted for all businesses as of Monday except dance clubs and karaoke bars. And private gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed in greater Seoul regardless of vaccination status. The government plans to continue easing rules in phases with an evaluation period in between.
Well, COVID concerns have temporarily shuttered a major amusement park in China. Shanghai Disneyland and out Sunday the park will be closed for at least the next few days are to report someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 visited. And this video from Sunday shows medical workers and police officers inside the park. CNN's Steven Jiang joins us now from Beijing with the latest. Steven is this perhaps more serious than what Disneyland is letting on?
STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Well, so far we have no indication that because said the authorities have said they have tested some 34,000 people at the -- inside the park at a time of their closure and all results had come back negative.
But of course, as you mentioned, not only the people inside park have to go through that one test. They now have to self-isolate for two days and going through more rounds of testing and before they can be given an all clear.
Now this story itself is not really surprising given China's now the only major country in the world that sticks to the zero COVID policy. That's why with the reemergence of locally transmitted cases again, we are seeing return of some of the harshest measures we had previously only seen in the height of the pandemic last year, including locking down entire cities with millions of residents. And more recently stopping high speed trains midway through their journeys when a close contacts of one confirmed case to be found on board.
Now this Disney story, of course is going viral because of the extraordinary visuals you mentioned. You know, you really have a large group of hazmat suit people descending on the part of the night of Halloween celebrations not to mention the spectacular fireworks going in -- exploding into the nice sky above the iconic castle with thousands people down below being tested for COVID. Now of course officials and state media are spinning this as another example and illustration of the effectiveness, the efficiency of their policy probably with a dash of humanity and creativity. Anna.
COREN: Steven, obviously the Winter Olympics is coming up in the New Year, China wanting to get a handle on these locally transmitted cases. Is there a fear that what we're seeing in Shanghai could lead to an outbreak?
JIANG: I think that really -- that concern is explaining these greatly tighten policies across the country, especially when it comes to travel restrictions, especially involving entry into the Chinese capital, Beijing, not just the Winter Olympics down the road, but a major Communist Party leadership meeting starting in a week.
Now, of course, we are seeing and hearing reports and complaints from people including local residents from Beijing being stuck in their travel destinations even when they just travel out for business. And so this is really a phenomenon you're expected to see in the weeks and months to come given how this country works and given the leadership's political priorities. Anna.
COREN: Steven Jiang joining us in Beijing, many thanks. Well, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki says she has tested positive for COVID-19. She did not travel with President Biden for either of his two overseas summits, more details now from CNN's Phil Mattingly.
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(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (on camera): For White House officials the focus of President Biden's two stop to summit foreign trip has most certainly been on the policy, most certainly been on international relationships. But there has been a question why White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki ended up dropping off the trip because of a family emergency. We didn't have much more detail on that family emergency until now.
We've now learned from a statement from White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki that she has tested positive for COVID 19. The reason she wasn't on that trip is because a family member had tested positive for COVID 19. Now Psaki in her statement says that, that decision was made on Wednesday with the White House medical unit and in the wake of that decision, she tested negative for COVID-19 on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
In the statement she says, while I have not had close contact in person with the president or senior members of the White House staff since Wednesday, and tested negative for four days after that last contact, I'm disclosing today's positive test out of an abundance of transparency. Psaki goes on to say she last saw the President on Tuesday when we sat outside more than six feet apart and wore masks, Psaki says thanks to the vaccine, I have only experienced mild symptoms, which has enabled me to continue working from home. So at this point, Jen Psaki seems to be OK with only mild symptoms, we now have the explanation for why she's not on the trip. And based on the negative test her last contact with the President being both outside and with masks and socially distance, there isn't any sign whatsoever. This will change anything about this White House trip, like White House officials mostly just happy to hear White House press secretary Jen Psaki is doing OK.
Obviously, we now know why she's not on the foreign trip because of potential for testing positive for COVID-19. Something we learned did happen today after four straight days of negative tests. So, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki test positive for COVID Not on the trip. And that is the primary reason why the potential for that possibility for that. Phil Mattingly, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COREN: Well, there's promising new data about America's fight against COVID 19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports two- thirds of the country's population has received at least one dose of vaccine, more than 220 million Americans. And more than 18 million people have received a third dose or booster shots since mid-August.
The progress comes as this week could mark a turning point in the pandemic. On Tuesday, the CDC vaccine advisors will consider whether to okay the Pfizer vaccine for children as young as five after the Food and Drug Administration signed off on Friday.
The CDC panel and the agency's director approve vaccinations could begin immediately.
Dr. Eric Topol is a Cardiologist and Professor of Molecular Medicine at Scripps Research and joins us now from California. Doctor, great to have you with us. You obviously, welcome this news. Is this a game changer in the fight against COVID-19?
DR. ERIC TOPOL, CARDIOLOGIST: Good to be with you, Anna. The approval which is forthcoming this week with CDC already from FDA is a big step for the five to 11-year olds. These children have been known to be the driver of the recent surge in the UK. And they clearly are an important group to get vaccinated not only to protect themselves, but their fellow kids, the people in their network in schools, and of course, the adults. So this is another major frontier in trying to prevail over the pandemic.
COREN: If the CDC approves this week that five to 11-year olds can receive what a third of the dose of Pfizer. I mean, considering COVID was the eighth highest killer of kids in this age group. Are you expecting a strong take up?
TOPOL: Well, that's unclear because no, there is a lot of concern regarding the low risk of children. And so why would you use a vaccine, that's what some people are asking. But there is a significant risk, Anna, that isn't emphasized enough. And that's long COVID. So even though children, it's unusual for them to wind up in the hospital, and even more unusual for there to be a fatal event. Long COVID occurs, not infrequently, not as much as an adult, but it can be debilitating. It can have cognitive impairment. A very large study from Germany recently of 150,000 children and teens and adults with match control showed this unequivocally. So, there's concerns here that the vaccination of children will protect them from long COVID. And that's something that really needs to be emphasized.
COREN: You mentioned that that reluctance from parents, and of course, many of these parents are people who believe in science. I mean, it's one thing to inoculate yourself. It's another thing to vaccinate your children with a relatively new vaccine. What would you say to these parents?
TOPOL: Well, there is a trial that was placebo controlled in children five to 11 and it had 90 percent plus efficacy.
[01:20:00]
And there was no concern about safety in this trial over 2,200 children. So the fact is they had symptomatic infections that were markedly suppressed without a safety concern. And so while nothing is perfect, this is as good as we can get. And the dose, and that's being used and will be approved this week by the CDC is only 10 micrograms. It's a very low dose, it's one-tenth of the adults that was given equivalent in the Moderna trials are 100 micrograms. And it's one- third of the dose that Pfizer used in its previous trials of the mRNA. So I think it's really nice compromise, maximizing safety and getting the 90 percent plus efficacy.
COREN: There is, of course, the risk, and although it's rare of myocarditis, the inflammation of the heart muscle. How do you, I guess, counted these fears?
TOPOL: Right. Well, that's important that we underscore that so far, in both the Pfizer trial and the Moderna, we haven't seen myocarditis in these young children aged five to 11. That doesn't mean it won't occur or can occur. As you know, we saw that in teens, more so in Moderna than Pfizer, again, using a higher dose, especially in boys, especially with a second dose.
So it was self-limiting. For the most part, it wasn't turned out to be a serious matter. But the fact that it hasn't yet occurred in children, and we'll know more in the weeks ahead as it goes forward and in hundreds of thousands of children, but it looks very encouraging that this should not be an issue.
COREN: Doctor, the United States will obviously be the first country to vaccinate this young age group, are you expecting the rest of the world will take your lead?
TOPOL: Well, that's the hope. We can't really control the pandemic with a strain like Delta without getting over 90 percent of our populations around the world vaccinated or having very solid prior COVID immunity. So in order to do that, we have to extend the vaccination protection to children. And we have to avoid the surges that are occurring driven by children. So it will protect them and ideally, if we had enough vaccines produced for the world, this is the next step is to get the entire population protected from this very concrete hyper contagious strain of Delta.
COREN: Dr. Eric Topol, always great to get your perspective and insight. Thanks so much for joining us.
TOPOL: Thank you, Anna.
COREN: A knife attack on a Japanese train has injured more than a dozen people. What we know about the suspect and what witnesses are telling police, that's next.
Plus, trains collide in Salisbury, England injuring several people the latest updates when we return.
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[01:25:14]
COREN: This was the scene in Tokyo on Sunday as passengers ran for their lives. Police say at least 17 people were injured when a man launched a knife attack aboard a train. State media report the attacker also started a fire. The suspect is in custody. Police say he told investigators he wanted to kill people.
Let's go now it's Blake Essig who is live outside the train station near where this happened. Blake, what more are we learning?
BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Anna, I mean, look at this point, you know, we still have a lot of information, a lot of questions about the suspect that has been arrested, you know, for allegedly carrying out this attack. What we do know is that a knife wielding man, the witnesses say was possibly dressed as the Joker from Batman or potentially a different character all together, wearing a dark green -- dark jacket, green shirt and purple pants best and tie his injured at least 17 people on a train and tried to set it on fire as it was heading into central Tokyo on Sunday night.
Now, at least one of those injured a 70-year-old man who police say was stabbed in the chest is in serious condition and passenger cell phone video captured this chaotic scene from inside the train as it was happening. In the video you can hear loud bangs and people screaming as some are running for their lives to get away from this attacker and you can also see flames coming from one of the other cars which filled the train with smoke.
A public broadcaster NHK is reporting that the suspect used cigarette lighter fluid to try and set the train on fire of a train made an emergency stop right here at the station behind me, allowing passengers to evacuate by any means necessary, including climbing on out of the trains window onto a platform.
A police say they've arrested a 24-year-old man at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. And investigators say that the suspect told him, told them excuse me, that he wanted to kill at least two people and then receive the death penalty. Anna.
COREN: Blake such distressing scenes that we are looking at right now of these passengers, it must be absolutely terrifying on the train. I mean how common is this type of attack in Japan?
ESSIG: You know, Anna, generally speaking, violent crime is rare in Japan. Typically when it comes to mass killings, attackers often use knives or arson instead of guns. And the reason according to gun control advocates is because firearm regulations are extremely restrictive here under Japan's 1958 firearm and sword law. Now, most guns are illegal in the country.
Of course, a last night's attack had the potential to be much worse if a gun was involved. But as I mentioned, in Japan, gun violence is almost nonexistent. In fact, the number of annual deaths resulting from guns hasn't reached triple digits since the year 2000. And as often annually in the single digits but this is the second attack on a train since August involving a man and a knife during the attack a few months ago. Ten people were stabbed with a suspect confessing to police that he just wanted to kill women who looked happy. Anna
COREN: Absolutely terrifying. Blake Essig joining us from Tokyo, we appreciate the update. Thank you very much. Well, several people are injured after two trains collided Sunday night in England. Officers have been responding to the crash at the Fisherton Tunnel near Salisbury station.
Police and rail investigators have declared it a major incident. But there are no critical injuries we know of and no one was killed. Britain's transport Secretary tweeted his thoughts to those affected and says an investigation is underway.
Police in New Mexico are looking for new information this week about the fatal shooting on the "Rust" film set. Authorities want a follow up interview with the movies assistant director as well as the gun supervisor about the safety measures in place. Well meanwhile, the star and producer of the movie, Alec Baldwin, told paparazzi the tragedy was a quote, one in a trillion event. CNN's Natasha Chen has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
NATASHA CHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Over the weekend, Alec Baldwin spoke on camera for the first time since firing the fatal shot that killed the Director of Photography Halyna Hutchins on the set of his movie Rust. He was in Vermont with his family when he stopped the car on Saturday and got out to address paparazzi questions. He was careful not to answer anything related to the ongoing investigation. But he did say he was friends with Hutchins and that he's in touch with her husband, who along with their son is overwhelmed with grief.
ALEC BALDWIN, ACTOR AND PRODUCER, "RUST: She was my friend. She was my friend. The day I arrived in Santa Fe to start shooting, I took her to dinner with Joel, the director. We were a very, very, excuse me. We were a very, very, you know, well-oiled crew shooting a film together and then this horrible event happened. CHEN: Baldwin also said he would be interested in future measures to make film set safer like using plastic guns and banning live ammunition, for example.
The Sheriff's Office tells CNN they are hoping to do follow up interviews with the assistant director and armorer. The two people who last handled the gun before it was handed to Baldwin. The armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed released a statement Friday saying she has no idea how a live round got onto the set.
Also on Friday, investigators executed a search warrant seizing about a dozen weapons and ammunition from the set but it's not clear if any live rounds were found. Back to you.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
ANNA COREN, CNN ANCHOR: Natasha Chen reporting there. Well, still ahead, experts say climate change is pushing the planet into uncharted territory. We'll look at whether leaders at the COP26 conference in Scotland can muster the will to avoid a catastrophe.
And denials from the Australian prime minister after an accusation from the French president. What these two were saying in the G20 after their submarine deal sec.
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COREN: Welcome back. World leaders have started gathering in Glasgow with one goal in mind, averting a climate catastrophe. The COP26 Climate Summit will get underway in earnest over the next few hours. Leaders are hoping to hammer out concrete goals to cut global emissions and slow climate change.
And it comes at a critical time. A new report from the U.N. warns climate change has pushed the planet into uncharted territory, with average global temperatures now the warmest they've ever been, and sea levels rising faster than ever.
Well, joining me now with her perspective is Katharine Hayhoe, the Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy. She's also the author of "Saving us: A Climate Scientist Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World." Katherine, great to have you with us.
Averting a climate catastrophe, that is the threat facing the world. How effective will the COP26 be at bringing about concrete action to tackle climate change?
KATHARINE HAYHOE, CLIMATE SCIENTIST: Well, it's not about saving the planet. The planet will be orbiting the Sun long after we're gone. We are the ones most at risk. And that's what we all have to recognize from world leaders down to every single one of the rest of us.
So what's on the line at the conference? Two things. First of all, the high emitting countries need to bring more to the table in terms of their emission reductions. We have enough to keep warming to 2.7 degrees Celsius, a 66 percent chances of it but we need to be lower, below two, preferably 1.5.
[01:35:05]
The other half of it, though, is something called Climate Finance. The poorest countries who have contributed the least to the problem, the poorest 50 percent of people in the world are responsible for 7 percent of carbon emissions. They need help developing without producing more carbon and dealing with the impacts of climate change. So again, the high emitting countries need to ramp up their climate finance ambition to contributing to those countries as well.
COREN: Katherine, there's obviously that talk and the United States is interested in and looking at reparations for those vulnerable countries, but obviously the push to phase out the world's reliance on fossil fuels. And yet there's so much resistance, especially from emerging economies. I mean, how can this be addressed?
HAYHOE: There's resistance everywhere, I don't think you would call Australia and emerging economy. Even in my own home country of Canada, there's resistance, where I live in the United States there is, everywhere there is, why, because we've been using fossil fuels since before the dawn of the industrial era.
And we are talking about changing how we get the fundamental energy that powers our society in a matter of a decade or two, not a century. But we need to do it. Because what's at stake again is literally us. And if we do not fix climate change, it will fix us.
COREN: Katherine, the economist said that world leaders like India's Narendra Modi and Australia, Scott Morrison, who refused to talk and plan regarding transitioning from fossil fuels is, quote, rank cowardice. I mean, it's going to take courage and collective political will seems to be to be lacking.
HAYHOE: It does take courage, and underneath to be totally honest, I think it takes love, love not only of our families and the places that we love, and the things that we love, love each other as well. Recognizing what's at stake here again it's us, it's every living thing on this planet that depends on this home. The only home we have for the air that we breathe and the water we drink, the food we eat and all the resources we have. I don't think many of us have fully recognized what is yet at stake.
COREN: Europe and the United States were the largest emitters of greenhouse gas emissions in the past that mantle has now been handed to China, the world's largest polluter. We know that China certainly has the capacity for action, and yet the will is lacking. What can be done?
HAYHOE: Well, I just want to be clear that climate is changing in response to cumulative emissions. Those are all the missions that have built up in the atmosphere over time. And there, the United States is so far in a way number one in terms of cumulative emissions.
But what this highlights is, no matter which way we slice it, or dice it, whether we look at per person emissions, whether we look at annual emissions today, cumulative emissions over the history of this problem, it is all of our problems. And we all have to fix it together. We sink or we swim together. We're not an individual ships. We are all sharing the same ship.
COREN: Katherine, if the Earth's temperatures continue to rise, I mean, what part of the world is most at risk? Can you can you spell it out to us?
HAYHOE: I absolutely can. It's the same part of the world where people live below the poverty line where they don't have enough food to feed their families, where consistent water is something that they don't have, where people lack that basic sanitation a safe place to live.
Since the 1960s, climate change has already increased the gap, the economic gap between the richest and poorest countries in the world but as much as 25 percent in some cases. We are already seeing the impacts today on the poorest and most vulnerable. And that is true right here in big urban cities and high emitting countries as it is on the other side of the world. It's those who have the least who are being harmed first and foremost.
COREN: Katherine, we hope the world leaders at the COP26 are listening. Katharine Hayhoe, many thanks for your time.
Well, the Australian Prime Minister is denying he lied to the French president over the cancellation of a multi-billion dollar submarine deal. Scott Morrison told reporters on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, France new Australia was considering other options and that he does not regret his decision.
But the French president told reporters that he knows Mr. Morrison lied to him. Last month, Australia, the U.S. and the U.K. announced a new security alliance to help Australia develop nuclear powered submarines. France was left out and lost a lucrative contract for diesel powered subs.
Well, here's what Emmanuel Macron told Australian media.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT: I think you can have disagreements. I do respect sovereign choices. But you have to respect allies and partners and it was not the case with this deal. And I think this is detrimental.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And what did you say to -- what did you say to Scott --
[01:40:00]
MACRON: We will see what you will deliver. I have a lot of respect for your country. I have a lot of respect and a lot of friendship for your people. I just say when you have respect, you have to be to and you have to behave in mind and consistently with his value.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you think he lied to you? MACRON: I don't think I know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COREN: But at least the U.S. and French presidents appear to be mending fences over the deal. Joe Biden admitted his administration was clumsy in its handling of the agreement, and said he thought France had been informed earlier that its own deal was not going through. Mr. Macron said a situation like this cannot happen again.
Well, President Macron says despite the tensions progress was made at the G20 Summit. CNN's Nic Robertson has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice-over): A coin toss for good luck in Rome's fabled Trevi Fountain, so daunting their task combating COVID and climate change leaders at this G20 Summit open for all help. Some successes coming on the sidelines. U.S. and EU reducing friction on aluminum and steel tariffs.
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT: This marks a milestone in the renewed E.U. U.S. partnership.
ROBERTSON: American-French friendship put back on track after a scuppered submarine deal soured relations, even British French tempers frayed over fish tamped down temporarily at least. Perhaps President Joe Biden, who missed the coin toss at the Trevi Fountain, and arrived beset by doubts about his and America's leadership gained most.
JOE BIDEN, U.S. PRESIDENT: We have to take action now.
ROBERTSON: Hosting a global supply chain event pushing leaders to ease bottlenecks and getting sign off on a global minimum for corporate tax.
BIDEN: I'm proud of the G20 endorsed the global minimum tax. This is an incredible win for all our countries.
ROBERTSON: But on the big ticket items, COVID and climate gains harder to see. Commitments on COVID vaccines rollout renewed at least 40 percent global population by year's end, 70 percent by mid-2022. On climate, committing to reduce emission intensity, but not fully eradicate agreeing only to end international financing for coal fueled power generation by the end of the year.
MARIO DRAGHI, ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER: Do we know exactly what the final goal goalposts of this transition are going to be? We don't. So we go step by step.
ROBERTSON: And no specific date set for global carbon neutrality. No later than 2060 falling short of a hope for 2050, our deadline, not a glowing report card.
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We've made some progress of this G20. We've had a reasonable G20. But there is a huge way still to go.
ROBERTSON: Johnson not the only leader disappointed.
(on camera): The U.N. Secretary General voicing his frustrations in a tweet saying while I welcome the G20s recommitment to global solutions, I leave Rome with my hopes unfulfilled. But at least they're not buried.
(voice-over): Leaders now on their way to COP26. The Climate Summit in Glasgow with this ominous warning from the U.K's Prince Charles.
PRINCE CHARLES, PRINCE OF WALES: It is the last chance saloon. We must now translate fine words into still fine actions.
ROBERTSON: Nic Robertson, CNN, Rome.
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COREN: Brazil's next election is less than a year away and President Jair Bolsonaro's approval rating has plummeted. But he's getting a major endorsement from another controversial leader. Stay with CNN.
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[01:46:07]
COREN: Welcome back. Newly released investigation by the Washington Post reveals in chilling detail, the missed warning signs of violence by Trump supporters before the January 6 insurrection. He is just one part.
One of the most striking flares came when a tipster called the FBI in the afternoon of December 20th, Trump supporters were discussing online how to sneak guns into Washington to overrun police and arrest members of Congress in January.
The tipster offered specifics, those planning violence believed that they had orders from the president used code words such as pickaxe to describe guns, and posted the times and locations of four spots around the country for caravans to meet the day before the joint session. On one site, a poster specifically mentioned Senator Mitt Romney as a target.
According to the Post, tips about extremist groups came pouring into security agencies during the weeks ahead of the insurrection, but the FBI regarded many statements to be protected First Amendment speech. The Washington Post investigation found some Pentagon leaders feared Trump would misuse the National Guard to stay in power. And an official who warned Washington area hospitals to stock up on blood and prepare for a quote, mass casualty event.
The paper also described then President Trump as a quote, driving force in the weeks before the coup attempt inciting, supporting and freezing key federal agencies tasked with protecting the Capitol.
The report also dives into what happened as the insurrection unfolded. Investigative reporter Aaron Davis told CNN Jim Acosta about that part of the investigation.
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AARON DAVIS, INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, THE WASHINGTON POST: We kind of took a little bit different turn in the story where we look more at the 187 minutes in between when the Capitol was breached and when Trump said anything to call off the supporters of his that were raising capital. And so many things happened in those couple hours. People died, people had heart attacks. You know, there was obviously the Ashley Babbitt shooting. There was just numerous tragedies in the course of those hours when he was doing nothing.
With everything we've looked at, you have to question why this crowd was allowed to get that close to the Capitol that day. We are able to document I think in greater detail than has been done before, that there were warning signs of this violence, dating back not just hours or days, but weeks in advance.
Then, you know, fast forward to the actual day on January 6, there were signs of violence in the hours leading up to the breach as well. There were numerous firearms taken off members of the crowd after they left the ellipse where President Trump was speaking. And they even surrounded at one point in time park police officers around the Washington Monument and started beating on the doors there. There were violent signs all the way down the mall as this crowd moved, and yet, they basically were allowed to walk straight into the cap.
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COREN: That was Aaron Davis from the Washington Post speaking to CNN Jim Acosta. Well, look, Brazil's President hoped to escape controversy by attending the G20 Summit that didn't work out so well. Local media reports Bolsonaro security teams scuffled with journalists on Sunday, were hearing his bodyguard allegedly punched a reporter after he asked why President Bolsonaro did not go to any of the latest G20 events.
He spent a lot of time alone during the summit. This comes after Brazil Senate Commission officially recommended he faced criminal charges over his handling of the pandemic.
The Attorney General will make the final decision but since he is a Bolsonaro ally, charges are not expected. The President's approval rating has taken a nosedive but he has received a vote of confidence from a former leader who shares his worldview. Isa Soares has the story.
[01:50:11]
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ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He's been dubbed the Trump of the tropics and with less than a year until the Brazilian election, President Jair Bolsonaro is getting a reelection boost from the man himself. In a statement, former U.S. President Donald Trump calls him a great president, who will never let the people of his great country down, Trump's show of support coming just hours after Brazilian Senate committee recommended that Bolsonaro face nine charges including crimes against humanity, for his mishandling of the pandemic, which is claimed more than 600,000 lives, only the United States has lost more lives.
The explosive report accuses Bolsonaro of intentionally allowing COVID-19 to spread throughout Brazil in an effort to reach herd immunity. It also claims he delayed vaccine distribution in Brazil by ignoring at least 72 e-mails from Pfizer. Bolsonaro has dismissed the charges as politically motivated, blaming his opponents and leftist groups.
JAIR BOLSONARO, BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): So they label me as genocidal, a charlatan. Document forger and exterminate. It's absurd what these guys have done.
SOARES: Throughout the pandemic, Bolsonaro has repeatedly dismissed the severity of COVID-19 calling it agrip Zinnia (ph), just a little cold, and spreading misinformation about the virus. Just last week, he claimed on a Facebook live stream that COVID vaccines could cause AIDS. Facebook, finally removing the misleading video almost a week later.
But with growing anger on the streets and plummeting approval ratings, Bolsonaro has increasingly looked to the American right for inspiration.
DONALD TRUMP JR., SON OF FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: You go the path of socialism, or do you remain steadfast and strong for freedom?
SOARES: Just a few months ago, the Conservative Political Action Conference CPAC and American import joined in hoping to revive Jair Bolsonaro's dwindling base. Taking a page from the Trump playbook.
STEVE BANNON, FMR WHITE HOUSE CHIEF STRATEGIST: Bolsonaro will win unless it's stolen by guess what, the machine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The machines.
SOARES: Bolsonaro has been sowing doubt on the integrity of Brazil's entire electronic voting system, calling for printed ballots to supplement electronically cast votes.
BOLSONARO (through translator): You don't have proof that there is fraud, but there's also no proof that there isn't.
SOARES: As the calls for his impeachment grow louder and the threats of criminal prosecution loom large, Bolsonaro continues to fight for political survival. Echoing the words of his U.S. ally and role model Donald Trump and threatening not to hand over the presidency next year if there is a suspicion of fraud.
BOLSONARO (through translator): I have three alternatives for my future. Being arrested, killed, or victory.
SOARES: Isa Soares, CNN.
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COREN: Stay with CNN, we'll be right back.
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COREN: Every day away from the spotlight, ordinary people are doing extraordinary things to make our world a better place. To us, they are heroes and we honor them every year. Anderson Cooper has announced the top 10 finalists for our 2021 CNN Heroes.
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ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: I'm Anderson Cooper. This year we celebrate a milestone, the 50th anniversary of CNN Heroes.
[01:55:04]
For a decade and a half we've had the honor of introducing you to extraordinary everyday people who are changing the world. And a time when we need kindness and courage more than ever, we're thrilled to announce this year's top 10 CNN Heroes.
From Philadelphia, pediatric surgeon, Ala Stanford, saw COVID-19 ravaging communities of color. So she built trust and brought testing and vaccinations to more than 75,000 people.
From San Francisco, David Flink is building understanding and confidence using his journey with ADHD and dyslexia to help kids with learning differences across America thrive.
In New York City, Hector Guadalupe uses fitness training tell formerly incarcerated men and women like himself, get family sustaining jobs and build careers.
From Cartagena, Columbia, Jenifer Colpas, brings eco-friendly energy, safe water and sanitation to struggling Colombians living in remote areas.
Lynda Doughty of Phippsburg, Maine monitors 2,500 miles of coastline, providing life-saving support and medical care to thousands of marine animals.
From Bali, Indonesia, exchanging plastic waste for rice. Restaurant owner Made Janur Yasa has sent tons of plastic for recycling and provided food to thousands of families during the pandemic.
And in Simi Valley, California, Michele Neff Hernandez has turned her profound grief into sustaining support for the widowed.
Oncologist Patricia Gordon who walked away from her Beverly Hills private practice to save women around the world from dying of preventable and treatable cervical cancer.
On LA's Skid Row, Shirley Raines brings dignity and respect to thousands of homeless people every week, rain or shine.
And in Maiduguri, Nigeria, Zannah Mustapha educates orphaned children from both sides of a violent extremist conflict, providing supports more than 2,000 boys and girls a year.
Congratulations, the top 10 CNN Heroes in 2021. Now it's time for you to choose who inspires you the most, who should be named CNN Hero of the Year and receive $100,000 to continue their great work. Go to CNNheroes.com right now to vote. And be sure to watch the 15th annual CNN Heroes All Star tribute as we announce the Hero of the Year and celebrate all this year's honorees live Sunday, December 12.
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COREN: All incredible people. Well, thank you so much for your company. I'm Anna Coren. CNN Newsroom continues with Rosemary Church after this short break.
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