Downing Street has insisted climate change is a top priority, after the new prime minister removed his climate minister from cabinet and said he is “too busy” to attend COP27.
Graham Stuart was reappointed as climate minister in the recent reshuffle, but told he would lose his seat at the cabinet table. Rishi Sunak this week also removed from his cabinet Alok Sharma, who holds the COP presidency after last year’s event in Glasgow.
Number 10 said the decision not to attend COP27 in Egypt next month was “a recognition of other pressing domestic commitments, including preparations for the autumn Budget”.
COP27 takes place on 6-8 November. The autumn statement is expected on 17 November.
The announcement came on the day the United Nations warned that the world was on track for a disastrous 2.8°C of global warming after a “wasted year” since COP26.
