Green risks
Sharma turns screw on Sunak over COP27 snub
Rishi Sunak is coming under fire from within his own ranks as well as Opposition parties for his decision to shun the COP27 climate change conference.
Alok Sharma, who is COP26 president, has warned the Prime Minister that he is putting the Tories’ green credentials at risk.
Mr Sharma will lead the UK delegation in Sharm el-Sheikh next week and says voters will not look favourably on the party if it is seen to be downgrading environmental issues.
He told The Sunday Times: “I’m pretty disappointed that the Prime Minister is not going.
“I understand that he’s got a huge in tray of domestic issues that he has to deal with. But I would say that going to COP27 would allow for engagement with other world leaders.
“And I think it does send a signal — if the Prime Minister was to go — about our renewed commitment on this issue.”
Mr Sharma’s comments add to other criticism of the Prime Minister who has said that the UK will be well represented and that his focus must be on the economy. COP27 straddles the run-up to the crucial Autumn Statement.
Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will be attending the COP27, taking place from 6-18 November, to press for the urgent and comprehensive delivery and implementation of the commitments agreed at COP26. SNP MP Deidre Brock said Mr Sunak had shown a “complete failure of leadership” on climate change.
Mr Sharma was demoted from the Cabinet last week but his criticism will be embarrassing for the Prime Minister as it comes from within the higher tiers of his party and from the man who will be speaking for the UK in his absence.
Mr Sharma said: “If you look at what happened in the Australian elections in the past few months, one of the reasons that the conservatives didn’t win through is because people didn’t feel they took this issue seriously enough.”
There is speculation that Boris Johnson is planning to attend the summit in Egypt to show his support for international efforts to tackle climate change. His intentions, reported by The Observer, have caused some concern in Downing Street which sees it as a deliberate attempt by Mr Johnson to continue being seen as a world leader while Mr Sunak remains in the shadows.
King Charles, who was advised not to attend, is now expected to host a pre-summit reception at Buckingham Palace at the end of this week, attended by 200 international experts. Both the Prime Minister and Mr Sharma are expected to attend.
Mr Sunak’s record on environmental issues is patchy. Cuts he imposed In March 2021 as Chancellor led to the abandonment of a £1.5 billion scheme to insulate homes. In October that year, on the eve of the COP26 summit in Glasgow, he announced a plan to halve taxes on domestic flight – a move that would encourage air travel and boost its emissions.
However, he always been enthusiastic about the business world’s role in energy transition. In November 2021, he announced a world-first scheme to force UK-based companies to publish net-zero transition plans, saying the UK “has a responsibility to lead the way” on financing climate action.
Charles is said to be disappointed not to go but knows he needs blessing of No10
Allies have said Sunak should let him go to show commitment to climate change
Charles hopes to find a way to show his support, potentially through a message
By JONATHAN ROSE FOR MAILONLINE
28 October 2022
Rishi Sunak is standing by predecessor Liz Truss’s decision to stop King Charles from attending the Cop 27 climate summit in Egypt next month, despite him 'champing at the bit' to go.
The new Prime Minister has been accused of a 'massive failure of leadership' after himself deciding not take part in the event, despite Truss having planned to travel to represent the UK there. Critics say it calls the new PM's climate stance into question.
Sunak is reportedly under pressure to let the King attend and allies have suggested he should let Charles go to demonstrate the UK's commitment to combating climate change in the Prime Minister's absence.
Charles is said to be disappointed not to go, but understands his attendance would need the blessing of the government and will not force the issue with No10, The Times reported.
A source told the newspaper: 'He will be champing at the bit but knows it would need government blessing. The PM has reversed the fracking decision so this could be another smart environmentally focused move.'
King Charles, who holds climate issues close to his heart, also hopes to find a way to show his support, potentially through a message or convening discussions via video-link or telephone, The Telegraph reported.
Rishi Sunak is standing by predecessor Liz Truss’s decision to stop the King from attending the Cop 27 climate summit in Egypt next month despite him 'champing at the bit' to go
The new Prime Minister has been accused of a 'massive failure of leadership' after deciding not take part in the event despite Truss having planned to travel to represent the UK there
The news comes as Downing Street yesterday admitted for the first time that the King was advised not to attend the summit under Truss's administration.
Aides said he is mindful of his new constitutional role as monarch and understands that a short trip to Egypt would not be appropriate for his first state visit abroad.
They made clear the environment remains a top priority for himself and his family.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said Government advice was sought, as is 'standard practice', and it was agreed it was not the 'right occasion' for Charles to visit in person.
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She added that she is 'not aware' that the advice has changed.
'As is standard practice, Government advice was sought and provided under a previous PM, and it was unanimously agreed that it would not be the right occasion for the King to visit in person,' she said.
'I'm not aware that that advice has changed but obviously any confirmation of the King's travel would be for the Palace.'
Asked if there are any plans for the conversation between the Palace and the Government to reopen, she said again that she is not aware the advice has changed.
The summit's Egyptian organisers have claimed about 90 heads of state had so far confirmed their attendance, with President Biden and President Macron expected to go.
The Red Sea gathering will come 12 months after the UK hosted the Cop-26 summit in Glasgow, which was attended by a string of Cabinet ministers - including Mr Sunak himself as Chancellor.
Confirming Mr Sunak won't be attending this year's follow-up summit, a No10 spokeswoman said: 'The PM is not expected to attend Cop27 and this is due to other pressing domestic commitments including preparations for the Autumn budget.
'The UK will be fully represented by other senior ministers as well as the Cop President Alok Sharma.'
Downing Street insisted the PM remained 'absolutely committed' to supporting the climate conference and denied his decision to skip the summit signalled a downgrading of climate issues as a Government priority.
The No10 spokeswoman added: 'We remain committed to net zero and to leading international and domestic action to tackle climate change.
'The UK is forging ahead of many other countries on net zero.
'We will obviously continue to work closely with Egypt as the hosts of Cop-27 and to make sure that all countries are making progress on the historic commitments they made at the Glasgow climate pact.'
Sunak is reportedly under pressure to let the King attend and allies have suggested he should let Charles go to demonstrate the UK's commitment to combating climate change
Last year's Cop-26 summit in Glasgow was attended by a string of Cabinet ministers - including Mr Sunak himself as Chancellor
Therese Coffey clueless about who would attend COP 27
Despite the PM's focus on the upcoming Autumn budget on November 17, Mr Sunak has been telling world leaders in phone calls this week he is looking forward to seeing them in person at the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, scheduled for November 15 and 16.
Labour's shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband branded Mr Sunak's non-attendance at Cop-27 'a massive failure of leadership'.
'We were the Cop-26 hosts and now the UK Prime Minister isn't even bothering to turn up to Cop-27,' he added.
'What Rishi Sunak obviously fails to understand is that tackling the climate crisis isn't just about our reputation and standing abroad, but the opportunities for lower bills, jobs, and energy security it can deliver at home.'
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: 'Rishi Sunak does not speak for the British people by refusing to take climate change seriously.
'He has failed to rule out a new ban on onshore wind, failed to help households make their homes warmer and is now failing to attend the Cop summit.
'It flies in the face of the UK's proud tradition of leading the world in our response to the climate change.'
Green MP Caroline Lucas posted on Twitter: 'Shame on him.'
Labour's shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband branded Mr Sunak's non-attendance 'a massive failure of leadership'.
Darren Jones, the Labour chair of the House of Commons' Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, also criticised Mr Sunak over his downgrading of Government climate roles.
He tweeted: 'In week one, Rishi Sunak has demoted both Cabinet-level roles leading on climate change.
'COP26 President and climate change minister now deemed to be a junior ministerial issue.
'Not a surprise from the former Chancellor who couldn’t bring himself to say "benefits of net zero".'
Environment Secretary Therese Coffey defended Sunak’s decision not to attend by saying the 'big political' summits take place every five years.
She insisted the climate issue is 'very much a priority' for the new Government despite climate minister Graham Stuart and Cop26 President Alok Sharma being stripped of their Cabinet seats.
'The big push happened last year in Glasgow,' she told Sky News.
'I am not aware of, say, President Biden or President Macron or any of those other people will be there. It is quite standard practice that every five years is the big political gathering.'
She said 'several senior Government ministers' will be attending the summit in Egypt next month.
Therese Coffey’s environment credentials are under the microscope as she takes up the role of Environment Secretary
By Heather Carrick
The new Rishi Sunak Conservative government has sought to draw a line under the previous Liz Truss administration.
One of the areas Sunak has looked to distance himself from is Truss’ envionmental policies. The Prime Minister has re-introduced the ban on fracking, while also saying that his government is committed to the net-zero promise, despite not planning to attend COP27 and Therese Coffey admitting that targets for air and water quality are being delayed.
Coffey has moved to the role of Environment Secretary in Sunak’s Cabinet. So will she be able to double down on the government’s commitment? We take a look at her previous comments and voting records on the matter.
Therese Coffey’s environment credentials are under the microscope as she takes up the role of Environment Secretary. (Credit: Getty Images)How has Therese Coffey voted on environmental issues?
As an MP since 2010, Coffey has taken part in many votes on enviromental votes. This is how she has voted on major issues, according to TheyWorkForYou.com
Coffey has consistantly voted for higher taxes on plane tickets, while also voting for the high-speed train projects.
However, her record is more dubious on other environmental issues. This includes voting generally against measures to tackle climates change and against financial insentives for low-carbonenergy solutions.
Coffey has also voted for selling England’s forests and badger culling. Her record on fracking is a bit more mixed - in the past she has voted in a mixture of ways for and against fracking issues, including backing Truss’ so-called ‘confidence vote’ on the Labour motion to consider banning the practice.
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What has Therese Coffey said about environmental issues in the past?
While her voting record is a bit grey in terms of enrivomental issues, the appointment of Coffey was met with some hope. This is because of her previous experience in the DEFRA department and her comments on green energy.
While speaking about investment into green schemes as a Work and Pensions Secretary, she said: “Pensions can be the superpower in delivering prosperity for people and the planet in our race to net zero.”
She also had warm comments for DEFRA’s 2020 nature strategy. The strategy focused on restoring wildlife-rich places in England, with Coffey saying at the time: “This is a really exciting moment for our natural environment after years of work. Our nature strategy in harmony with and a great catalyst for our climate change strategy will help us both achieve net zero and save our planet.”
Upon being appointed Enrivonment Secretary, Coffey did the rounds on morning television, telling reporter her plans for the UK to reach its net-zero aim by 2030. But do they go far enough?
She said: “I’ve always tried to keep the good habits that I got into when I was environment minister before, so the use of kind of cups as it were, to be about permanent cups that we can recycle properly or reuse I think is a better way of doing it.
“We just all have to keep thinking about the amount of packaging we endure or food waste and other elements like that.
“So I’ll be getting back very much being a champion for those habits, which is about improving what we can do every day in order to help tackle the environmental challenges we face.”
With the UN warning that the global temperature rise aim of 1.5 degrees being out of reach, there is much to be left desired on change in evironmental policy than a switch to ‘permanent cups’.
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