Absent from Cop27, Charles puts on his own green summit at Palace
AS PRINCE of Wales, Charles was one of the world’s most outspoken green campaigners – so news that as King he would be absent from the Cop27 climate summit came as a surprise.
However, determined to have his say, he simply held his own gathering yesterday.
The Buckingham Palace reception was attended by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who has reversed his own decision not to attend the Egypt gathering, which starts tomorrow.
In fact, Mr Sunak is said to have privately dropped the objections of his predecessor, Liz Truss, to the King attending. But by then it was felt too late to make new arrangements.
Charles brought together more than 200 international business leaders, decision on
‘Far-sighted leadership’
makers and environmentalists – and Mr Sunak was among a small group of guests who met him in a separate room before the main reception in the ballroom.
As Charles chatted to him about Cop27, which begins tomorrow in Sharm El-Sheikh, the Prime Minister could be heard saying to him: ‘I think we’re in good shape.’
In a speech, Mr Sunak hailed Charles’s ‘farsighted leadership’ on climate change, adding: ‘His Majesty has been working to help find practical solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss for more than 50 years, long before Cop1, let alone Cop27.’
Yesterday’s reception, to mark the end of the UK’s presidency of Cop26, was also attended by fashion designer Stella McCartney, who has worked with the King for years sustainable fashion initiatives. Uncertain about how to greet him now he is King, she attempted a hesitant handshake, saying: ‘Your Majesty, I don’t know what we do any more.’ Charles solved the problem by kissing her on both cheeks and then roaring with laughter when she curtseyed.
Other guests included US special envoy for climate John Kerry, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey, other international dignitaries and representatives of environmental organisations such as the WWF and European Forest Institute.
Meanwhile, campaigners in Egypt have built a huge pyramid of plastic waste taken from the Nile. In total, 18 tons of waste was used to create a structure taller than a three-storey building. Many of the bottles bear the logo of Coca-Cola – which is sponsoring Cop27.