Rishi Sunak will attend the COP27 weather summit in Egypt next month, Downing Street confirmed.
A No. 10 spokeswoman said the prime minister had “other pressing national commitments” that would prevent him from attending the weather convention in Sharm el-Sheikh, but that Sunak remained “absolutely determined” to the event.
Liz Truss, Sunak’s predecessor, is scheduled to attend the UN meteorological convention in Egypt, which runs Nov. 6-18.
“The prime minister is expected to attend COP27 and this is due to other pressing national commitments, adding arrangements for the autumn budget,” the spokeswoman said.
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“The UK will be fully represented through other high-level ministers such as COP President Alok Sharma. “
The spokeswoman also denied that Mr. Sunak attending COP27 means a degradation of the climate update as a priority for the new administration.
Earlier this week, while forming his new senior ministerial team, the new prime minister downgraded Mr Sharma’s role to avoid attending cabinet meetings.
Climate Minister Graham Stuart has been re-elected and will no longer attend the leadership team’s discussions.
The Number 10 spokesperson said: “We remain committed to achieving 0 and taking domestic and foreign action to combat climate change. The UK is ahead of many other countries by 0.
“We will continue to work hard with Egypt as host of COP27 and for all countries to advance the historic commitments they made in the Glasgow Climate Pact. “
Labour Party shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband said it was a “big mistake” on Emiband’s part not to attend the climate replacement summit next month.
“This is leadership. It’s giving up leadership to move to COP27,” he told Sky News.
“We were the president of COP26 and for those who look and think, yes, climate is important, but there are other issues, in fact, if we pass strong and fast in blank energy, it is not only because of our climate commitments.
“It’s to reduce energy costs because renewables are now the cheapest energy source. This is for energy security. It’s for jobs. “
“So it’s not just for weather reasons, it’s when it comes to energy bills, security and jobs. “
Sir Keir Starmer added that a Labour would “show climate leadership”.
“Britain appearing in pictures with world leaders is an opportunity. It is not an occasion to avoid,” the Labour leader said.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey added that Davey said Sunak “opposes the UK’s proud record as a leader in the fight against climate change”.
Just yesterday, Egypt suggested to the new prime minister that he step down from the UK’s meteorological leadership role.
Egypt’s chief negotiator said the UK “showed leadership in Glasgow,” where it held the COP26 climate summit just now last year.
“We know that there are demanding situations, demanding economic situations facing the UK and other countries, but we hope that demanding situations will not lead to a backsliding on promises,” Ambassador Mohamed Nasr said in response to a query from Sky News. .
He also said Egypt “still expects King Charles to participate in this year’s negotiations in Sharm el-Sheikh. The monarch, a longtime environmentalist, pulled out of the talks this month after consulting with then-Prime Minister Truss.
The invitation “is still there, it is an open invitation,” the diplomat said.
A government minister insisted the king was banned from attending the upcoming COP27 weather summit.
World leaders made a series of climate commitments at COP26, culminating in an agreement on emissions reduction targets for 2030 until the end of next year.
Ending and reversing deforestation, reducing methane emissions and moving towards net 0 was agreed at last year’s two-week climate summit in Glasgow.
On Thursday, Sunak met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and praised his counterpart for his “leadership” in the fight against climate change.
“Speaking about shared global challenges, the prime minister praised Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in addressing climate replacement and leaders welcomed opportunities for our economic, security and defence partnership,” a Downing Street spokesman said.
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