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| Rishi Sunak is now going to COP27 climate summit | Rishi Sunak is now going to COP27 climate summit |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The prime minister has reversed an earlier decision not to go to the COP27 climate summit in Egypt. | The prime minister has reversed an earlier decision not to go to the COP27 climate summit in Egypt. |
| No 10 had said Rishi Sunak was too busy preparing for the 17 November budget to attend the event which opens on Sunday. | No 10 had said Rishi Sunak was too busy preparing for the 17 November budget to attend the event which opens on Sunday. |
| But this had been widely criticised by climate campaigners, opposition parties and climate adviser Alok Sharma. | But this had been widely criticised by climate campaigners, opposition parties and climate adviser Alok Sharma. |
| Mr Sunak tweeted that there would be "no long-term prosperity without action on climate change" or energy security without investing in renewables. | Mr Sunak tweeted that there would be "no long-term prosperity without action on climate change" or energy security without investing in renewables. |
| "That is why I will attend @COP27P next week: to deliver on Glasgow's legacy of building a secure and sustainable future." | "That is why I will attend @COP27P next week: to deliver on Glasgow's legacy of building a secure and sustainable future." |
| On Tuesday, former prime minister Boris Johnson said he would attend COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh. | On Tuesday, former prime minister Boris Johnson said he would attend COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh. |
| Follow live: Prime Minister's Questions | |
| Boris Johnson confirms he is attending COP27 | Boris Johnson confirms he is attending COP27 |
| The big issues facing Egypt's COP27 climate summit | The big issues facing Egypt's COP27 climate summit |
| Is the UK on track to meet its climate targets? | Is the UK on track to meet its climate targets? |
| The UK hosted last year's COP (Conference Of The Parties) in Glasgow and it was chaired by Mr Sharma. | The UK hosted last year's COP (Conference Of The Parties) in Glasgow and it was chaired by Mr Sharma. |
| Green MP Caroline Lucas welcomed what she called a "screeching U-turn" after "an embarrassing mis-step on the world stage". | Green MP Caroline Lucas welcomed what she called a "screeching U-turn" after "an embarrassing mis-step on the world stage". |
| "Let this be a lesson to him - climate leadership matters," she added. | "Let this be a lesson to him - climate leadership matters," she added. |
| Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the prime minister of acting "in the name of political management" rather than the national interest. | Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused the prime minister of acting "in the name of political management" rather than the national interest. |
| "Caving 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 tweeted. | "Caving 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 tweeted. |
| Liberal Democrat climate change spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said: "This whole debacle has shown the environment is simply not a priority for Rishi Sunak. He's only going after being embarrassed by Boris Johnson's attendance." | Liberal Democrat climate change spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said: "This whole debacle has shown the environment is simply not a priority for Rishi Sunak. He's only going after being embarrassed by Boris Johnson's attendance." |
| Alok Sharma chaired the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow | Alok Sharma chaired the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow |
| Mr Sharma, who had said he was "disappointed" Mr Sunak would not be attending, tweeted that he was "delighted" the prime minister would now be going. | Mr Sharma, who had said he was "disappointed" Mr Sunak would not be attending, tweeted that he was "delighted" the prime minister would now be going. |
| Many world leaders including US President Joe Biden and France's Emmanuel Macron are due to attend the UN event. | Many world leaders including US President Joe Biden and France's Emmanuel Macron are due to attend the UN event. |
| Mr Sunak's predecessor Liz Truss had been set to go and Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will also be there. | Mr Sunak's predecessor Liz Truss had been set to go and Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will also be there. |
| Let's be clear, Rishi Sunak attending the UN climate conference in Egypt isn't likely to significantly change its outcome. | Let's be clear, Rishi Sunak attending the UN climate conference in Egypt isn't likely to significantly change its outcome. |
| The actual negotiations are done by the army of diplomats and civil servants who are already flying into the Egyptian holiday resort where the talks will take place. | The actual negotiations are done by the army of diplomats and civil servants who are already flying into the Egyptian holiday resort where the talks will take place. |
| But the signal that the UK prime minister acknowledges the importance of the conference - albeit belatedly - will be welcome. | But the signal that the UK prime minister acknowledges the importance of the conference - albeit belatedly - will be welcome. |
| Leaders have an important role to play, UN chief Antonio Guterres told me when we spoke last week. | Leaders have an important role to play, UN chief Antonio Guterres told me when we spoke last week. |
| He says they help "galvanise" the talks, creating the momentum for more ambitious agreements to be reached. | He says they help "galvanise" the talks, creating the momentum for more ambitious agreements to be reached. |
| Mr Sunak also has a prominent ceremonial role. The UK hosted the last UN climate summit in Glasgow. and he will formally hand over responsibility for the process to the Egyptian government. | Mr Sunak also has a prominent ceremonial role. The UK hosted the last UN climate summit in Glasgow. and he will formally hand over responsibility for the process to the Egyptian government. |
| King Charles - a long-time champion of environmental causes - will not be going, despite speaking at COP26 in Glasgow. | King Charles - a long-time champion of environmental causes - will not be going, despite speaking at COP26 in Glasgow. |
| Downing Street said Liz Truss's government had agreed with Buckingham Palace that it was not the "right occasion" for the King to attend - and this advice had not changed. | Downing Street said Liz Truss's government had agreed with Buckingham Palace that it was not the "right occasion" for the King to attend - and this advice had not changed. |
| The annual climate summits are designed to help governments agree measures to limit rises in global temperatures. | The annual climate summits are designed to help governments agree measures to limit rises in global temperatures. |
| This year's conference takes place from 6 to 18 November, finishing the day after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is due to set out the government's tax and spending plans. | This year's conference takes place from 6 to 18 November, finishing the day after Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is due to set out the government's tax and spending plans. |
| On Tuesday, Mr Sunak's official spokesman said "significant progress" was being made on the autumn statement. | On Tuesday, Mr Sunak's official spokesman said "significant progress" was being made on the autumn statement. |