Rishi Sunak skips COP27 climate summit, faces 'failure of leadership' criticism

The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been accused of ‘leadership failure’ for not attending the COP27 climate meeting happening in November.

According to the opposition and environmental organizations, Prime Minister Sunak's decision not to attend the summit only demonstrated that the administration is not taking the climate threat seriously.

Downing Street said the UK Prime Minister has other important domestic priorities, including preparations for the October Budget. However, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak's predecessor, was scheduled to attend the conference.


Environment Secretary Therese Coffey told the BBC that she planned to attend, along with outgoing COP26 President Alok Sharma, who presided over last year's COP in the UK.



Coffey defended PM Rishi Sunak's decision, saying that 'major political events' like last year's summit in Glasgow happened every five years, and that this year's gathering will be more about implementation.

She reiterated that the government's first goal is to safeguard the environment. She went on to say that we are still dedicated to net zero emissions and to leading worldwide and domestic climate action. On net zero, the United Kingdom is well ahead of several other countries.

Speaking to the media, the minister stated, 'The UK continues to demonstrate global leadership, rather than just a gathering of individuals in Egypt.'

Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer said on Twitter that Britain turning up to cooperate with international leaders is a golden chance and not an event to be missed. This incident was also criticized by the Liberal Democrats.

FAQ

Who are the Liberal Democrats?
The Liberal Democrats are a British liberal political party.

Who is Rishi Sunak?
Rishi Sunak is a British politician, serving as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since October 25, 2022.