Rishi Sunak is not going to attend the COP27 local weather summit in Egypt subsequent month, Downing Street has confirmed.
A Number 10 spokeswoman mentioned the prime minister has “other pressing domestic commitments” which is able to stop him from attending the local weather convention in Sharm El-Sheikh however that Mr Sunak stays “absolutely committed” to supporting the occasion.
Liz Truss, Mr Sunak’s predecessor, had been anticipated to attend the UN local weather convention in Egypt, which runs from 6-18 November.
“The prime minister is not expected to attend COP27 and this is due to other pressing domestic commitments including preparations for the autumn budget,” the spokeswoman mentioned.
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“The UK will be fully represented by other senior ministers as well as the COP President Alok Sharma.”
The spokeswoman additionally denied that Mr Sunak’s resolution to not attend COP27 signalled a downgrading of local weather change as a precedence by the brand new administration.
Earlier this week, whereas moulding his new ministerial high staff, the brand new PM downgraded Mr Sharma’s position in order that he’ll now not attend cupboard conferences.
Climate minister Graham Stuart was reappointed to his position, however can even now not attend the highest staff discussions.
The Number 10 spokesperson mentioned: “We remain committed to net zero and to leading international and domestic action to tackle climate change. The UK is forging ahead of many other countries on net zero.
“We will clearly proceed to work carefully with Egypt because the hosts of COP27 and to make it possible for all international locations are making progress on the historic commitments they made on the Glasgow local weather pact.”
Labour’s shadow local weather secretary Ed Miliband mentioned it was a “big mistake” for Mr Sunak to not attend the local weather change summit subsequent month.
“It’s not leadership. It is abdicating leadership not to go to COP27,” he informed Sky News.
“We were the president of COP26 and for those people watching who are thinking, yes, climate is important, but there are other issues, actually, if we go hard and fast on clean energy, it isn’t just right for our climate commitments.
“It’s proper for reducing vitality payments as a result of renewables now the most cost effective supply of energy. It’s proper for vitality safety. It’s proper for jobs.
“So this isn’t just wrong on climate grounds, it’s wrong when it comes to energy bills, security and employment.”
Liberal Democrat chief Sir Ed Davey added that Mr Sunak’s actions “fly in the face of the UK’s proud record of leading the global fight against climate change”.
Just yesterday, Egypt urged the brand new PM to not ditch the UK’s local weather management position.
The Egyptians’ lead negotiator informed reporters that the UK “[showed] leadership in Glasgow”, the place it held the COP26 local weather summit this time final yr.
“We know that there are challenges, economic challenges, facing the UK and other countries, but we hope that those challenges do not lead to backsliding on the pledges,” ambassador Mohamed Nasr mentioned in response to a query from Sky News.
He additionally mentioned Egypt “still [hopes]” King Charles will attend this yr’s negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh. The monarch, a longstanding environmentalist, earlier this month pulled out of attending the talks, reportedly following session with the-then prime minister Ms Truss.
The invitation is “still there, it’s an open invitation,” the diplomat mentioned.
A authorities minister has insisted that the King has not been banned from attending the forthcoming COP27 local weather summit.
World leaders made a collection of local weather pledges at COP26 culminating in an settlement to strengthen emissions-cutting targets for 2030 by the tip of subsequent yr.
Ending and reversing deforestation, reducing methane emissions, and the journey to internet zero had been all agreed to on the essential Glasgow local weather summit final yr which lasted for 2 weeks.
On Thursday, Mr Sunak had a name with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and praised his counterpart on his “leadership” within the struggle towards local weather change.
“Discussing shared global challenges, the prime minister praised prime minister Modi’s leadership on tackling climate change and the leaders welcomed opportunities to bolster our security, defence and economic partnership,” a Downing Street spokesperson mentioned.
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