US President Joe Biden will be attending COP26 in Glasgow, the White House has officially confirmed.

President Biden was expected to attend the UN climate summit, which takes place from October 31 to November 12, however this is the first time the attendance has been confirmed.

He will arrive after a visit to Rome, where he will meet with Pope Francis.

A statement from the White House reads: "President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and First Lady Jill Biden will travel to Rome, Italy for the G20 Leaders’ Summit on October 30-31.

"Additional information about individual bilateral engagements on the margins of the G20 will be forthcoming.

"The President and Dr. Biden will also visit Vatican City and have an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis on October 29. 

"They will discuss working together on efforts grounded in respect for fundamental human dignity, including ending the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling the climate crisis, and caring for the poor.

"From Rome, President Biden will travel to Glasgow, United Kingdom from November 1-2 to participate in the World Leader Summit at the start of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26)."

This is a breaking story and will be updated.