New British PM says will attend COP27 in Egypt this month

CAIRO – 2 November 2022: New British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Wednesday that he would attend the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference 2022 (COP27) in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh city this month.

“There is no long-term prosperity without action on climate change. There is no energy security without investing in renewables. That is why I will attend COP27 next week: to deliver on Glasgow's legacy of building a secure and sustainable future,” Sunak said on Twitter.

Sunak’s remarks put an end to speculations on whether he will partake in the global summit, which is set to receive dozens of world leaders and heads of states from 6-18 November.

Late last month, a Downing Street spokesman stressed that the new UK premier will not attend COP27 over “depressing domestic challenges”.

In October, Egypt has urged the UK to not backslide on climate action, addressing Sunak, who only took post late in October.

Egypt also expressed hope that King Charles, who the Buckingham Palace had said he would not attend COP27 based on then-UK premier Liz Truss, can attend the summit.

King Charles is set to hold a reception ahead of COP27 on Friday at the palace with the attendance of more than 200 international business leaders, decision makers, and NGOs, according to media reports.

Egypt is preparing to host the climate summit starting Sunday with a focus to urge developed countries to fulfill their climate commitments and turn climate pledges into action in all fields of climate action.