Rishi Sunak Criticized For Missing COP27 Climate Summit

The absence of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak from the COP27 climate summit next month has been criticized as a failure of leadership".

The government's action, according to opposition parties and environmental organizations, demonstrated that it is not treating the climate crisis seriously enough.

The PM had  "other pressing domestic commitments including preparations for the autumn Budget". Liz Truss, Mr. Sunak's predecessor, was scheduled to attend the conference.

Therese Coffey, the UK's environment secretary, confirmed to the media agency that she and outgoing COP president Alok Sharma would attend.

Ms. Coffey defended Mr. Sunak's choice by stating that this year's conference would focus more on implementation and that "big political moments" tended to happen at the conference every five years, such as the summit in Glasgow last year. She emphasized that "protecting the planet is absolutely a priority for the government".she Continued

"The UK continues to show global leadership as opposed to just a gathering of people in Egypt." the minister told LBC.

Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of Labour, tweeted: "Britain showing up to work with world leaders is an opportunity to grasp. Not an event to shun."

Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, criticised the move as "flies in the face of the UK's proud tradition of leading the world in our response to the climate change".

Caroline Lucas, a member of parliament for the Green Party, said the decision " a mockery of any government claims on continued climate leadership".

Greenpeace UK's head of politics, Rebecca Newsom, claimed that Mr. Sunak's action indicates he does not take climate change "seriously enough."