At COP27 in Egypt, PM Rishi Sunak called for a “global mission for clean growth,” a message echoed by his disgraced predecessor Boris Johnson who is also attending the climate summit.
“This is not the moment to go weak on this. This is a moment to double down on green technology, on wind power, and clean solutions. That is the key point I want to get over,” Johnson called on world leaders not to weaken their commitment to net zero.
In his address to the COP27 summit, PM Rishi Sunak said it was morally and economically right to tackle climate change and reduce energy dependency. He said that the UK “will fulfill our ambitious commitment to reduce emissions by at least 68 per cent by 2030.”
07/11/2022. Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt. The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meets the UN Secretary General António Guterres on the first day of COP27. Picture by Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street
COP stands for “conference of the parties,” and the UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres has warned that nations must cooperate to reduce global emissions.
“We are in the fight of our lives,” Guterres said in his opening address.
“Greenhouse gas emissions keep growing, and global temperatures keep rising,” he added.
07/11/2022. Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt. The Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meets the President of France Emmanuel Macron on the first day of COP27. Picture by Simon Walker / No 10 Downing Street
On the margins of COP27 this morning, Sunak met the President of the European Commission, the new Prime Minister of Italy, and President Emmanuel Macron of France.
“There is an opportunity for us to work closely, not just with the French but with other countries as well. You’ll hear more details about that in the coming weeks, as those conversations happen amongst all our teams, but I’m actually leaving this with renewed confidence and optimism that working together with our European partners, we can make a difference,” said Sunak.
According to Downing Street, a deal between the UK and France to help reduce the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats is in its final stages.
