Rishi Sunak supports the decision of his predecessor, Liz Truss, to prevent the King from attending the Cop 27 climate summit in Egypt next month, despite the King’s desire to participate.
The new Prime Minister has been accused of a “major leadership failure” after deciding not to attend the event where Truss was scheduled to represent the United Kingdom.
Allies have recommended that Sunak should allow Charles to attend in order to highlight the United Kingdom’s commitment to addressing climate change.
Charles is reportedly sad that he cannot attend, but he understands that his presence would require official approval and will not press the issue with No10, according to The Times.
A source told the newspaper, “He will be chomping at the bit, but he understands that official approval is required.” The Prime Minister has rescinded the decision to allow fracking, so this might be another environmentally conscious decision.
The Telegraph said that the King also wishes to find a means to convey his support, maybe by sending a message or holding discussions through video-link or telephone.
Yesterday, Downing Street acknowledged for the first time that the King was advised not to attend the meeting during the Truss government.
According to his advisors, he is cognizant of his new constitutional duty as monarch and is aware that a short journey to Egypt would not be suitable for his first official visit overseas.
They made it plain that the environment is his and his family’s first priority.
A Downing Street official stated that, as is’standard procedure,’ the Government was consulted and it was determined that it was not the ‘appropriate time’ for Charles to visit in person.
She stated that she is “unaware” that the recommendation has altered.
She stated, “As is customary procedure, government opinion was sought and delivered under the former prime minister, and it was unanimously determined that it was not the appropriate time for the King to visit in person.”
“I’m unaware of any change to that guidance, but obviously any confirmation of the King’s travel would go to the Palace.”
When asked if there are any intentions to renew the conversation between the Palace and the Government, she reiterated that she is unaware of any change in the advice.
The summit’s Egyptian organizers claim that approximately 90 heads of state have confirmed their presence, including Presidents Biden and Macron.
A year will have passed since the United Kingdom hosted the Cop-26 meeting in Glasgow, which was attended by a number of Cabinet members, including Mr. Sunak as Chancellor.
A No10 official confirmed that Mr. Sunak will not be attending this year’s follow-up summit by stating, ‘The PM is not expected to attend Cop27 owing to other pressing domestic commitments, notably the preparation of the Autumn budget.
The United Kingdom will be fully represented by key ministries in addition to Cop President Alok Sharma.
Downing Street claimed the prime minister remained “totally committed” to supporting the climate conference and rejected that his choice to forgo the summit indicated a reduction in the importance of climate concerns to the government.
The spokesperson for the White House stated, “We remain committed to net zero and to leading international and local efforts to combat climate change.”
The United Kingdom is ahead of several other nations in terms of net zero emissions.
‘We will continue to work closely with Egypt as the hosts of Cop-27 and to ensure that all nations are meeting the historic pledges they made at the Glasgow climate deal,’
Despite the Prime Minister’s concentration on the impending Autumn budget on November 17, Mr. Sunak has told international leaders in phone calls this week that he is eager to meet them in person at the G20 conference in Bali, Indonesia, slated for November 15 and 16.
Ed Miliband, the opposition climate secretary for Labour, described Mr. Sunak’s absence from Cop-27 as a “major leadership failure.”
“We hosted Cop-26, but the British Prime Minister isn’t even bothering to attend Cop-27,” he continued.
What Rishi Sunak fails to see is that addressing the climate catastrophe is not only about our reputation and position overseas, but also about the prospects for cheaper bills, jobs, and energy security that it can provide at home.
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, stated, “Rishi Sunak does not speak for the British people when he refuses to take climate change seriously.
‘He has failed to rule out a new restriction on onshore wind, failed to assist homeowners in making their homes warmer, and now refuses to attend the Cop summit.
It contradicts the United Kingdom’s strong record of leading the world in addressing climate change.
Green representative Caroline Lucas tweeted, “He should be ashamed.”
Darren Jones, the Labour chair of the Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy Committee of the House of Commons, also criticized Mr. Sunak for lowering government climate tasks.
He tweeted, “In the first week, Rishi Sunak has been demoted from both Cabinet-level positions related to climate change.”
‘The President of COP26 and the Climate Change Minister are now seen as subordinate ministerial issues.
Not surprising coming from a former Chancellor who could not bring himself to declare “benefits of net zero.”
Environment Secretary Theresa Coffey supported Sunak’s choice not to attend by pointing out that ‘major political’ summits occur every five years.
She stressed that the climate problem is “very important” to the new government, despite the removal of climate minister Graham Stuart and Cop26 president Alok Sharma from their Cabinet positions.
“The major push occurred in Glasgow last year,” she told Sky News.
“I do not know if, for example, President Biden, President Macron, or any of those other individuals will be present.” It is common practice that every five years there is a large political assembly.
She stated that’several senior government ministers’ will attend the upcoming meeting in Egypt.