The UK hosted the previous summit, COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2021. (file)
London:
Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday defended his decision not to attend next month’s COP27 climate change summit, saying he had to focus on “suppressing” economic problems.
In an interview with Sky News a day after Downing Street announced he would skip the summit, the prime minister insisted he was “very personally committed” to environmental issues.
Sunak said, “I think it is right at the moment that I am also focusing on the domestic challenges that come with the economy, and I think those who are watching will expect me to do the same. “
The COP27 United Nations Climate Change Conference takes place in Egypt on 7-8 November, two weeks after Sunak became prime minister.
Opposition Labor Party leader Keir Starmer attacked the Tory leader’s decision to “remove” the incident, while Green Party leader Caroline Lucas said Sunak’s absence was a “shameful way to end the UK’s COP presidency”.
The UK hosted the last summit, COP26, in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2021, with British politician Alok Sharma serving as President.
Sunak said the UK should be “really proud of how we are doing” as “one of the countries that has decarbonised the fastest”.
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