Rishi Sunak will not attend the COP27 climate summit in Egypt next month, Downing Street has confirmed.
A Number 10 spokeswoman said the prime minister has “other pressing domestic commitments” which will prevent him from attending the climate conference in Sharm El-Sheikh but that Mr Sunak remains “absolutely committed” to supporting the event.
Liz Truss, Mr Sunak’s predecessor, had been expected to attend the climate conference 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 said.
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“The UK will be fully represented by other senior ministers as well as the COP President Alok Sharma.”
The spokeswoman also denied that Mr Sunak’s decision not to attend COP27 signalled a downgrading of climate change as a priority by the new administration.
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Earlier this week, while moulding his new ministerial top team, the new PM downgraded Mr Sharma’s role so that he will no longer attend cabinet meetings.
Climate minister Graham Stuart was reappointed to his role, but will also no longer attend the top team discussions.
The Number 10 spokesperson said: “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 obviously continue to work closely with Egypt as the hosts of COP27 and to make sure that all countries are making progress on the historic commitments they made at the Glasgow climate pact.”
Labour’s shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband said it was a “big mistake” for Mr Sunak not to attend the climate change summit next month.
“It’s not leadership. It is abdicating leadership not to go to COP27,” he told 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 right for cutting energy bills because renewables now the cheapest source of power. It’s right for energy security. It’s right for jobs.
“So this isn’t just wrong on climate grounds, it’s wrong when it comes to energy bills, security and employment.”
Just yesterday, Egypt urged the new PM not to ditch the UK’s climate leadership role.
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The Egyptians lead negotiator told reporters that the UK “[showed] leadership in Glasgow”, where it held the COP26 climate summit this time last year.
“We know that there are challenges, economic challenges that are there, facing the UK and other countries, but we hope that those challenges does not lead to backsliding on the pledges,” ambassador Mohamed Nasr said in response to a question from Sky News.
He also said Egypt “still [hopes]” King Charles will attend this year’s negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh. The monarch, a longstanding environmentalist, earlier this month pulled out of attending the talks, reportedly following consultation with the-then prime minister Ms Truss.
The invitation is “still there, it’s an open invitation,” the diplomat said.
A government minister has insisted that the King has not been banned from attending the forthcoming COP27 climate summit.
Climate change and energy correspondent
America’s special envoy on climate change John Kerry has told Sky News that it would be “very powerful” if King Charles could attend the COP27 UN climate summit.
Mr Kerry’s comments come as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced that he would not be going.
Earlier this month it was reported that Liz Truss had asked new monarch, who is famously passionate about environmental issues, not to go despite being invited.
In an interview Mr Kerry said: “I think it would be terrific personally.
“I know that his being there would make a difference … because he has credibility because he’s been a long-term leader.
“I think it would be very powerful.”
The UN has warned that the world is on course for catastrophic temperature rises if more isn’t done.
Mr Kerry said the situation was worrying: “Right now, (nearly) every government in the world is off course … every one of the 20 largest economies of the world that represent 80% of all the emissions are off target at this moment.
“Can they get on target? If they fully implement plans they’ve made, or for a bunch of them, if they step up in Sharm el Sheikh and raise their ambition as the Glasgow agreement calls on all nations to do.”
When questioned on whether America’s record export of oil has compromised its credibility on climate change, he pointed to the global energy crisis, saying: “We’re trying to stop-gap.
“Those are countries that have fuel needs as a consequence of what Russia has done by invading Ukraine.
“So clearly, that disrupted the supply for them of fuel to keep their economy moving and keep their homes heated and the lights on.
“None of us are suggesting that you crash economies around the world.
“We don’t have to do that. We can have an orderly and sensible process of transition. That’s what we’re trying to affect.”
The International Energy Agency says the energy crisis could end up accelerating the green revolution.
But on Thursday Shell announced another near-record profit as a result of high oil and gas prices.
The UN Secretary General has called for fossil fuel companies all over the world to make payments to those most damaged by the climate crisis.
When asked if America had engaged with that idea, Mr Kerry said: “President Biden feels very strongly that we need to have fairness in this transition.
“There has to be just transition and it’s important for us to try to find a way to reflect what’s happening with the price of carbon, and to be fair to citizens around the world who’ve had pressure put on them.
“I think the US is open to ideas that are going to allow justice in the transition so that the average citizens of countries are not getting unfairly squeezed.
“The American position is that they’re going to take a look at everything that’s being put on the table and it will be part of a conversation about justice and fairness.
Who foots the bill for the damage inflicted by climate change will be a defining issue at COP27.
For many nations the costs are already running into the tens of billions and without help, they say they simply cannot pay.
World leaders made a series of climate pledges at COP26 culminating in an agreement to strengthen emissions-cutting targets for 2030 by the end of next year.
Ending and reversing deforestation, cutting methane emissions, and the journey to net zero were all agreed to at the crucial Glasgow climate summit last year which lasted for two weeks.
On Thursday, Mr Sunak had a call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and praised his counterpart on his “leadership” in the fight against climate 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 said.
COP27 is due to be held from 6 to 18 November 2022.
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