Sunak says he’s not going to attend the Cop27 climate summit.

Urmstongran

He’s got a lot on his plate right now. He’s definitely doing things differently to Boris. “Focusing on domestic issues”.

My thought too, urms. He has more immediately pressing concerns to deal with.

That's right.

Why bother about the habitability of the planet, when you have a tax cut to work out.

Yes, I can’t think of anything more urgent than the worse thing that is happening to our planet

Important as the environment is, Sunak may rightly feel that he neither should leave the UK right now, nor use public money for an expensivie flight.

Yes, future generations are doomed if we do not solve the environmental issuses, but they will be just as doomed if Putin starts using nuclear weapons.

Admittedly, I doubt that he will but as his propaganda dept. is as of yesterday blaming Britain for blowing up Nord Stream 1 and 2 AND for having military personel in Ukraine, I don't think anyone can blame Sunak for staying where he is.

I have earlier pointed out that the King cannot just up and go to another country, even if he would like to.

Could we please try to discuss enviromental and political issues without being rude to each other?

On most other Gransnet threads people manage to treat each other politely, so it should be possible on the few threads were rudeness is common.

Until China, a major producer of pollutants, is willing to play ball, it’s never going to achieve much in my opinion. We in the West depend so much on Chinese production and have cut our own, and it seems to me that we are just outsourcing this to another (not very friendly!) country while praising ourselves to the skies for the ‘progress’ we are making. The USA, another major player, is not too happy about the ‘accords’ agreed at these meetings and there is evidently huge discord in that country about the extent and cause of global warming anyway! Consumerism is the greatest evil of all in so many ways and until we try to cure ourselves of that addiction, what exactly changes?

I think this could be the heart of the problem, and it has been expressed on this thread already.

The idea that we just have to get this little local thing sorted, then we can think about the environment. The idea that we're all doing our best and what's the point of going to meetings if those nasty Chinese won't do anything anyway. I believe that there are many people who still don't understand the extent and urgency of the issue, and still don't appreciate that we need to fix it and we need to fix it now.

And that "we" is humanity, all of us, not just one national grouping, and that complaining about others not doing their bit is valid. But that staying home and not taking part in things isn't going to solve that issue.

Until China, a major producer of pollutants, is willing to play ball, it’s never going to achieve much in my opinion.

And how are we going to fix things if we can't even turn up at the discussion?

Any ideas?

DaisyAnne

Casdon

My understanding of Charles’ meeting after the summit is to get the Government representatives and Sunak there with him so he can tell them his views and hopefully tear a strip off them for not taking it as seriously as he does. I just hope they take it in.

Why would he "tear them off a strip"? What outcome do you think Charles wants to achieve by having the reception? Are you really suggesting that doing as you suggest would accomplish that?

Yes, I am suggesting that. He’s clearly very invested in the impact of climate change and isn’t going to take government apathy lying down.

I’ve read that Boris is going instead.

Nothing wrong with our climate, governments have been scaremongering for decades. It’s a money making machine.

growstuff

I don't know about tearing anybody off a strip. However, I would imagine Charles had a draft speech lined up for COP and he was told by Truss he couldn't deliver it. I would imagine he was put out. He's known as stubborn and used to getting his own way, so I'm not surprised he would put his finger up metaphorically to his government. I would imagine that globally he's better known than Sunak, Truss and certainly Coffey and I think people will listen to what he says.

He may or may not be stubborn but if he is so badly advised he cannot work out what will get outcomes he is aiming for he will not last long.

I simply don't see him as that childish.

If I posted the word that jumped into my head I'd have had that post deleted.

That's for chrissy08.

I really need to "quote" posts more often.

Climate change is an emergency - the secretary general of the UN has said we need to act to avoid global catastrophe. We need to be part of saving the planet. There is a petition asking Rishi Sunak to attend COP27 which I have signed - perhaps you could consider signing too.

you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/rishi-sunak-must-attend-cop27-we-face-a-climate-emergency

Calandargirl.... I totally agree. If he went some armchair politician on here would put up a post saying he should stay and deal with domestic issues...and everyone would be agreeing...hahaha

Will there be massive changes for each participating country to report given its only a year since the last COP conference? The dismantling of the windfarm in Germany may be to do with the age of the equipment, turbines are supposed to last only 25 years before needing replaced. Not saying I agree with the coal mine but seems strange for turbines to be removed.

4allweknow

Will there be massive changes for each participating country to report given its only a year since the last COP conference? The dismantling of the windfarm in Germany may be to do with the age of the equipment, turbines are supposed to last only 25 years before needing replaced. Not saying I agree with the coal mine but seems strange for turbines to be removed.

The reason that the annual meetings are important is that they were setting long term goals and coming back after 5 years and saying they had made no progress. By having meetings more often they are trying to avoid that situation. Shorter term goals in order to meet the longer term ones.

Theoddbird

Calandargirl.... I totally agree. If he went some armchair politician on here would put up a post saying he should stay and deal with domestic issues...and everyone would be agreeing...hahaha

I wouldn't.

hahaha

Understand he's got so much to deal with domestically but it's sending the message that the environment is not important. Read today that Boris might go which would be a very bad look for the new government. If Rishi can't spare the time himself he should at least send someone of reasonable 'importance' to represent this country and encourage others to take it seriously. Maybe his second big mistake after Suella?

chrissy08

Nothing wrong with our climate, governments have been scaremongering for decades. It’s a money making machine.

Which scientific information do you base your extremely minority opinion on chrissy?

A 2022 study found that the public substantially underestimates the degree of scientific consensus that humans are causing climate change.[98] Studies from 2019–2021[99][100][101] found scientific consensus to range from 98.7–100%. (Source: Wikipedia)

I agree Amalegra
We have outsourced our major production to China and other countries such as Bangladesh and praise ourselves for progress tinkering around the edges such as recycling for example!

The main problem is over consumption and we need to take this seriously, but we still need to send representatives, including the PM to COP27, to show that we take climate emergency seriously, negotiating in an effort to bring about change.

Those who deny climate change IMO are amongst the very ones who shout loudest about deporting refugees.

If action isn’t urgently taken about Climate Change the number of people fleeing their countries which will be no longer viable to live in, will make the present numbers arriving in small boats seem insignificant.

With so many global issues happening I just think 'dim' (does it matter). We won't be here to feel the effects and they'll be other 'pressing' problems for our children and grandchildren to deal with. Life goes on.

Yes that’s a plan. Just bury our heads in the sand.

Farzanah

Yes that’s a plan. Just bury our heads in the sand.

One flaw- the sand will be boiling hot!

😱😱😱