Following days of increasing pressure on the prime minister – and after
Boris Johnson confirmed his attendance – Mr Sunak reversed his decision on
Wednesday morning.
“There is no long-term prosperity without action on climate change,” the
prime minister tweeted.
“That is why I will be attending the @COP27P next week: to deliver on
Glasgow’s legacy of building a safe and sustainable future.”
His earlier claim that he was too busy working on home issues during his
first weeks in office to attend the United Nations conference in Egypt next
week caused a reaction among Conservatives.
Adding to Mr Sunak’s pressure, former Prime Minister Johnson said on
Tuesday night that he would be attending the event, telling Sky News that
he was “invited by the Egyptians therefore I’m quite glad to go.”
Caroline Lucas, a Green MP, tweeted that she was “pleased to witness
Sunak’s furious U-turn on #COP27,” but that it was a “embarrassing misstep
on the world stage.”
“Let this be a lesson to him: climate leadership is important.” Now he must
swiftly enhance the UK’s ambition on emission reduction objectives and pay
what we owe to global climate money,” she added.
Boris Johnson confirmed his attendance – Mr Sunak reversed his decision on
Wednesday morning.
“There is no long-term prosperity without action on climate change,” the
prime minister tweeted.
“That is why I will be attending the @COP27P next week: to deliver on
Glasgow’s legacy of building a safe and sustainable future.”
His earlier claim that he was too busy working on home issues during his
first weeks in office to attend the United Nations conference in Egypt next
week caused a reaction among Conservatives.
Adding to Mr Sunak’s pressure, former Prime Minister Johnson said on
Tuesday night that he would be attending the event, telling Sky News that
he was “invited by the Egyptians therefore I’m quite glad to go.”
Caroline Lucas, a Green MP, tweeted that she was “pleased to witness
Sunak’s furious U-turn on #COP27,” but that it was a “embarrassing misstep
on the world stage.”
“Let this be a lesson to him: climate leadership is important.” Now he must
swiftly enhance the UK’s ambition on emission reduction objectives and pay
what we owe to global climate money,” she added.
