Boris Johnson has confirmed he’ll attend COP27 in Egypt subsequent week as query marks stay over whether or not the UK’s new prime minister will be part of him.
In an unique interview for Sky News’ Ukraine: A Modern War programme, the previous PM advised Mark Austin he was “invited by the Egyptians” to the local weather convention.
And he mentioned he was “very happy to go”, including: “I happen to have a particular interest.”
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Mr Johnson claimed it had “become unfashionable” to speak in regards to the earlier COP that was held in Glasgow final 12 months – maybe making a dig at a few of his much less local weather aware colleagues in parliament.
But he mentioned the convention had been a “fantastic global success” which did “a huge amount of good for the planet”, and at this 12 months’s occasion, resulting from kick off on Sunday, he needed to “talk a little bit about how I see things and how we see things in the UK”.
During the interview, Mr Johnson additionally advised Sky News Vladimir Putin “would be crazy” to make use of a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine and that he didn’t suppose he would.
You can watch the total interview on Ukraine: A Modern War on Sky News from 7.30pm tonight
Mr Johnson’s affirmation might put further stress on Rishi Sunak to attend COP27, moderately than leaving the worldwide stage for his predecessor to carry out on.
Initially, the brand new resident of Number 10 was not going to go to the convention in Sharm El-Sheikh resulting from “other pressing domestic commitments”.
But Mr Sunak confronted a raft of criticism, with Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer accusing him of displaying a “failure of leadership” and Greenpeace UK saying he was not taking local weather change “seriously enough”.
COP26 president and former cupboard minister Alok Sharma – who misplaced his seat on the desk within the new PM’s reshuffle – additionally recommended Mr Sunak risked undermining the UK’s place as a world chief on inexperienced points if he shunned the convention.
Within days, Downing Street modified course, saying the PM’s attendance was “under review”, relying on progress round preparation for the financial assertion, set for 17 November.
Other politicians attending COP27 embody US president Joe Biden and America’s particular envoy on local weather change, John Kerry.
A spokesperson for the Scottish authorities additionally confirmed final week that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is planning to attend.
Mr Sunak’s predecessor Liz Truss had been resulting from go to the summit earlier than the demise of her personal premiership.
King Charles, who as Prince of Wales was a vocal campaigner on local weather points, may even not attend this 12 months, however will host a reception for key COP27 figures at Buckingham Palace on Friday forward of the occasion.
Source: information.sky.com”