Cop26: How the world's press saw Glasgow during global summit

But while the drama was played out in the conference halls of the SEC and on the streets as demonstrators strived to makes their voices held, what did the world's press make of the host city as it basked in late autumn sunshine or dripped with November rain? 

Here are some of the views formed by the journalists who ventured outside the SEC campus while the world's elites gathered within.

'Partly run-down streets' 

Bernd Ulrich, of the German newspaper Zeit online, drew parallels between post-industrial Glasgow and the effects a move global society onto a greener footing. 

He wrote: "Anyone looking around Glasgow, with its partly run-down streets, has to admit: The rapid transformation could not be achieved entirely without crises and interim victims.  

"The proximity to one of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe, the Scottish Highlands, doesn't necessarily help.  

"But a bit strange, of course: The shutting down of entire branches of industry for economic reasons was simply pulled through, especially in Great Britain with unbelievable severity. For ecological reasons it seems unthinkable."  

'Some wore kilts, nevermind the rain' 

Karla Adam, of The Washington Post, looked at the parallels between the Scottish Independence movement and the protestors calling for action on climate change 

Attending one demonstration, she wrote: "Hundreds of Scots in favor of independence from Britain were among those protesting in Glasgow, many waving the blue-and-white Saltire, Scotland’s national flag. Some wore kilts, nevermind the rain.  

Glasgow, Scotland’s most populous city, has a strong independence movement, which has gained momentum since Britain’s departure form the European Union.  

“We want powers in our own hands,” said Ewan McGregor, 50, a gardener who shares the same name and age and nationality as the Star Wars actor. “Scotland ran itself a few hundred years ago, and we were more successful then.”  

His father, Ken McGregor, 80, a retired educator, said hosting the COP26 summit helped to raise the profile Scotland — more than it helped the United Kingdom.  

“The spotlight of the world is on Scotland,” he said. 

Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow, the epicenter of a global climate mobilization

Anne-Laure Frémont, special envoy of the French newspaper Le Figaro, attended the climate march last Saturday.  

She wrote: “ What do we want? Climate Justice! When do we want it? Now!". 

READ MORE: Sturgeon confirms Scotland 'considering joining' alliance to end oil and gas use​ 

Despite the pouring rain, they were thousands gathered late Saturday morning at Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow, the epicenter of a global climate mobilization.

'Glasgow stands apart from Edinburgh with pride'  

Alasdair Soussi, of Arabic new service Al Jazeera, gave readers a tour through history, and praised Glasgow's tenacity in overcoming the violence which had stained its past.  

He wrote: "The fact that Glasgow, home to about 600,000 people, will host such a significant event should be of no surprise to those who know the city well. 

"Ever since the 1707 Act of Union, which saw Scotland and England unite to form Great Britain, Glasgow has been making international waves – for good and ill." 

He added: "Politics, culture and innovation have been part of Glasgow’s makeup for generations. Now, the hosting of COP26 represents something of an extension of this.  

"From the city’s football rivalry between Celtic, with its Irish Roman Catholic roots, and Rangers, a club of Protestant extraction, to its status as one of only two cities in Scotland to vote Yes to Scottish statehood in 2014’s independence referendum – which saw Scots opt relatively narrowly to remain in the UK – Glasgow, once styled the “second city” of the British Empire, has stood apart from Edinburgh, the Scottish capital, with pride."  

'Irn-Bru a silver lining of this disastrous COP' 

After Democrat Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hit headlines by announcing a quest to taste Scotland's other national drink, the Washington Post published an article dedicated to the 'amber nectar' and it's impact on the conference.   

Florence Baker, an organizer with the Sierra Club’s British Columbia chapter, saw the drink as a welcome pleasure amid a stressful conference that has been characterized by late nights and frantic negotiations. 

READ MORE: AOC gets her first taste of Irn-Bru — and gives her verdict: Video

“Irn-Bru is one of the few silver linings of this disastrous COP,” Baker said in the COP26 cafeteria. “It would be better if everyone had an Irn-Bru rather than locking in carbon markets into the text.” 

Baker was referring to negotiations at the U.N. climate summit over international carbon markets, in which countries that exceeded their goals under the Paris agreement could sell carbon credits to nations that fell short.

The final text of the COP26 agreement is expected to include language about carbon markets, despite concerns from some climate activists.