Even though he's been vaccinated and is just 29, climate campaigner Lavetanalagi Seru has been watching COVID-19 case numbers climb in the United Kingdom ahead of the United Nations climate conference, and it concerns him. However, the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network advocate is determined to go from Fiji to Scotland to raise awareness about the predicament of island nations affected by climate change.

“It’s a scary time to be traveling,’’ he told The Associated Press. “But I’m putting my health at risk to make sure Pacific Island states are heard.''

Despite the misgivings of some of the international participants, the British government opted to conduct an in-person meeting, arguing that world leaders must act immediately to avoid catastrophic global warming – and that they will be more effective if they can speak face-to-face. The summit was supposed to take place last year, but it was postponed owing to the pandemic.

The government claims that it can now be done securely, and that it has worked "tirelessly" to provide an inclusive, accessible, and safe summit in Glasgow "with a complete set of COVID-mitigation measures."