Countries try to change UN climate report - BBC Learning English

COP26 is underway in Glasgow, but leading up to the conference a leaked report seen by the BBC showed how some countries are trying to change a scientific report on climate change.

Roy and Neil discuss the news story and teach you some related vocabulary so you can talk about it too.

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Video chapters:
0:00​​​​​​​​​​ - Introduction
0:35 - Story
1:23- Headline 1: Leaked documents show major polluters trying to water down UN climate report
5:15 - Headline 2: These countries plan to throw a spanner in CoP26 works, warn BBC
8:35 - Headline 3: COP26: Document leak reveals nations lobbying to change key climate report
10:50 - Language summary

Key words and phrases:
water down
make something less effective; weaken

* The initial plan was watered down after some of the ideas were seen as too radical.
* The pure orange juice is sometimes a bit strong, so I like to water it down.

spanner in the works
something that stops a plan from succeeding

* When the millionaire stopped paying for the project, it really threw a spanner in the works.
* The rain really threw a spanner in the works for the picnic.

lobbying
trying to persuade someone in authority to do something

* Campaigners are lobbying against the upcoming tax increases.
* We lobbied the government to change the laws on new housing developments.

To download the audio and a transcript and test your understanding, go to our website:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish...

[Cover: Getty Images]

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