Sunak may go to COP27 now and guess who will be there too
RISHI Sunak could join Boris Johnson in Egypt for climate change talks if he can make enough progress on the autumn statement, according to aides.
The Prime Minister said last week he must stay in the UK to focus on the “depressing domestic challenges” the country is facing instead of attending the COP27 summit.
But insiders revealed yesterday that he could make an appearance if he and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt are happy with their financial statement planned for November 17.
The news comes after it emerged Mr Johnson intends to go to the gathering in Sharm El-Sheikh, which runs from next Sunday to November 18, to keep pressure on international leaders to stick to climate goals.
US president Joe Biden is among key figures also planning
to attend. Downing Street sources said the Prime Minister has “not totally closed the door” on going to COP27 “depending on progress” – but the priority is domestic issues.
The source insisted Mr Sunak is “totally relaxed” about Mr Johnson’s plans and supports him.The PM has faced a backlash from environmental campaigners since it was confirmed he will not attend.
Sources insisted Mr Sunak is committed to the Government’s previous commitments on climate change and hosted a finance day at last year’s summit in Glasgow where he “got a lot of allies on board”.
Alok Sharma, the UK president of last year’s COP who was demoted in last week’s Cabinet reshuffle, had said he was “disappointed” Mr Sunak was not going.
King Charles will host a COP27 reception at Buckingham Palace on Friday.
Mr Sunak will make a short speech to the group – with Mr Sharma and John Kerry, the US special envoy on climate change, on the guest list.
Michael Gove added: “When it comes to attendance, I know that across Government we want to field the strongest possible team at COP but there are strong pressures on the Prime Minister’s diary.”
The Levelling Up Secretary also confirmed he is considering ditching Liz Truss’s plans for low
tax, low regulation investment zones. He said: “We need to make sure any change is one which helps support economic growth and good jobs for people – but one of the concerns raised about investment zones was the impact on the environment.
“Under no circumstances will we weaken environmental protections.
“So I will be looking with the Chancellor, with the Environment Secretary, and with the Prime Minister at the proposals that were drawn up when Liz was prime minister.
“Anything that might undermine environmental protections is out.”