British PM Rishi Sunak reverses decision on COP27, says will attend climate summit in Egypt

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on Wednesday that he will attend the COP27 climate summit in Egypt next week reversing his previous decision to skip the meeting to focus on domestic issues and the economic crisis in the UKSunak took to Twitter to reveal his plans after criticism from climate activists and within the government from Indianorigin COP27 President Alok Sharma who said it was important for the prime minister to be present in Sharm El Sheikh to show the UKs commitment on the issue of climate actionThe pressure mounted further as his exboss former prime minister Boris Johnson confirmed that he would be attending the summit scheduled between November 6 and 18There is no longterm prosperity without action on climate change tweeted SunakThere is no energy security without investing in renewables That is why I will attend COP27 next week to deliver on Glasgows legacy of building a secure and sustainable future he said with reference to the COP26 summit chaired by the UK in Scotland last NovemberSharma tweeted that he was delighted the prime minister would now be goingThe Opposition Labour Party described the reversed decision to attend as Sunak being dragged kicking and screaming into doing the right thing embarrassingAlso Read lsquoRishi Sunaks loyalty patriotism is to the UK as it should bersquoLabour leader Keir Starmer accused the prime minister of acting in the name of political management rather than the national interestCaving in to criticism is not leadership Real leadership is seizing your seat at the table For UK jobs For clean energy For our environment he tweetedLiberal Democrat climate change spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said This whole debacle has shown the environment is simply not a priority for Rishi Sunak Hes only going after being embarrassed by Boris Johnsons attendanceThe Green Party called it a screeching Uturn and an embarrassing misstep on the world stage to initially announce plans not to attendEarlier this week Downing Street said Sunaks attendance at the summit was iquestunder reviewiquest as progress was being made with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt on the preparation of a crucial economic statement scheduled for November 17Many world leaders including US President Joe Biden and Frances Emmanuel Macron are due to go to the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UNFCCCIndias Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav will lead an 18member delegation at COP 27 with Prime Minister Narendra Modis attendance yet to be confirmedKing Charles III a passionate climate campaigner who will not be attending is to host a COP27 presummit reception for world leaders at Buckingham Palace on FridayIt is planned as a review of progress made since the UK hosted the COP26 summit in Glasgow last November with Sunak and Sharma among those attending alongside international business leaders and decisionmakersThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever