After Number 10 had stated he would not attend the climate summit in Egypt due to preparations for the November 17 budget, the Prime Minister has since reversed this decision. So why exactly is Rishi Sunak now attending COP27? In a statement, he said that there was ‘no long-term prosperity without action on climate change.’
‘There is no energy security without investing in renewables. That is why I will attend COP27 next week: to deliver on Glasgow’s legacy of building a secure and sustainable future.’
The initial decision to forego the event sparked concern from members of the public, as well as politicians across party lines. The Egyptian government also expressed its disappointment. Parliament’s environmental committee had penned the following statement to Sunak:
‘We hope that, as prime minister, you will use your power to support environmental politics which improve the economy whilst enhancing the environment at home and abroad.
‘The decisions your government takes will have a noticeable impact on the lives of people across the country, and indeed our entire planet, for generations to come.’
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What Has Been The Reaction To COP27?
Following this U-turn decision, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is set to deliver the fiscal statement in the Prime Minister’s place. The decision, though belated, will highlight the importance of taking action to mitigate the effects of climate change.
The summit itself, however, has garnered controversy based on the political situation in its host country of Egypt. Over a dozen nobel laureates have called on the UN to take action to free the political prisoners being incarcerated in that country which, they claim, number in the thousands. Egypt has cracked down on dissent, with protests still being effectively illegal in the country.
‘We urge you to use the opportunity that is now in your hands to help those most vulnerable, not just to the rising seas, but those imprisoned and forgotten – specifically in the very country that has the privilege of hosting you,’ they wrote.
Will Greta Thunberg Be At COP27?
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has expressed solidarity with the prisoners and has stated that she will not be attending the summit for multiple reasons, citing little space for civil society and a focus on gradual progress that is not in line with her approach to the climate change issue.
‘The Cops are mainly used as an opportunity for leaders and people in power to get attention, using many different kinds of greenwashing,’ she stated.
COP27 will take place from the 6th to the 18th of November.
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