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

Apparently it’s not the first time a British PM hasn’t attended a COP meeting.
Who knew?

I still think the King should be “allowed” to go.

And goodness me doesn’t that emphasise his purely ritual/figurehead role

Maybe he's slightly concerned about Egypt's political landscape.

It has nothing to do with being too busy and everything to do with the ideology he is pursuing, otherwise the King would be trotting to Egypt, as he is more than willing to go.

Oh there’s definitely climate change, no doubt about that. It’s how to deal with it that’s the problem.

Alie2Oxon I hope your daughter made a good recovery. Was she in the UK when she collapsed? How worrying it must have been for you.

I hope when Coffey goes she’s not going to blether on about recycling coffee cups.

We have left the EU, not the planet and the UK should be represented by the PM at COP27.

varian

Tell that to Julia Hartley Brewer who appeared on QT this week. She will tell you there is no such thing as climate change - just "weather"

I think I'd rather listen to Attenborough - in this instance.

It's not too late. Some of it is inevitable and tipping points have been passed, but Ed Miliband on the radio this lunchtime hit the nail on the head.

It's not either/or. Every 0.1 degree temperature rise we avoid saves lives. We can't give up.

No point these COP meetings. It’s all too late. David Attenborough confirms nothing can be reversed now. I shudder for my grandchildren’s generation.

Tell that to Julia Hartley Brewer who appeared on QT this week. She will tell you there is no such thing as climate change - just "weather"

Keep our fingers crossed that no air will come from the rest of the globe.....?

I will follow that, volver, Look at this.....

showyourstripes.info/b/globe

....and I'm remembering that my daughter S was taken to hospital on the hottest day of this year, having collapsed unconscious at her hotel.....she could have died.

40.2 degrees. The highest ever.

maddyone

I’m not convinced of the usefulness of these COP conferences. Many countries make big promises and then fail to provide any data or evidence that they’ve actually fulfilled, or even tried to fulfill, their promises. Add to that the number of private planes the delegates use, not to mention big limousines (think America here) and the whole thing becomes a place to meet and greet and appear powerful. Not impressed.

Two things I'd like to say about that maddyone.

The argument that they should stay at home and not contribute to emissions is a red herring. I did a quick calculation last night on here at about 7:30 that shows that COP amounts to about 0.00015% of the annual CO2 emissions of the whole world. We are trying to find a solution and not having a key conference because it would reduce emissions by 0.00015% would be counterproductive.

Also I really think there is a significant misconception about what happens at COP. There are more than 30,000 delegates - 35,000 this year, I think. The promises are part of it, to be sure, but not actually this year because the theme is about how we are progressing in meeting those targets. Whether people like it or not, this conference is about essential international co-operation, and the leaders of the so-called influential nations need to be there to nurture that co-operation. Coffey's not the one for the job, sorry.

I'll ask the question again. If we don't do this, what do we do? Go home and build a big 4m high wall right round the coastline, then keep our fingers crossed?

DaisyAnne

volver

biglouis

I believe Rishi is right. I am a great believer in putting your own house in order first.

And while he's putting our house in order the rose bushes are frazzled in the heat and the water is lapping at the front door.

I don't think it needs to take him that long volver. However, if he doesn't put our "house" in order - and he may not be able to - what are we going to be able to do about the climate?

COP27 requires a day of his life next month.

It's my opinion that if our PM can't organise his diary to have one day meeting the heads of government from all the countries of the world, the chances of him organising our economy are slim to vanishing.

What do you think we need to do about the climate DaisyAnne? Because if it was me:

1) Show up at COP and demonstrate leadership.
2) Schmooze the other Heads of Government and try to get them onside.
3) Reassure the HoG of smaller countries that the UK understands the challenges that they are facing and will support them in overcoming those challenges.
4) Commit to taking part in any financial agreements that are made - without committing actual funds.
5) Listen to the experts that are there and try to learn something.
6) Come home that night to his own bed.

I wish the media would make more of the fact that the financial problems are partly due to the mini budget and was self inflicted.

volver

biglouis

I believe Rishi is right. I am a great believer in putting your own house in order first.

And while he's putting our house in order the rose bushes are frazzled in the heat and the water is lapping at the front door.

I don't think it needs to take him that long volver. However, if he doesn't put our "house" in order - and he may not be able to - what are we going to be able to do about the climate?

Calendargirl

If he said he was going, some on GN would be saying he should stay and get on with sorting out the issues back here.

He can’t win.

Got it in one Calendagirl. He can't win. He is doing the right thing and trying to get the country sorted out first. The ones that should attend will not anyway.

I’m not convinced of the usefulness of these COP conferences. Many countries make big promises and then fail to provide any data or evidence that they’ve actually fulfilled, or even tried to fulfill, their promises. Add to that the number of private planes the delegates use, not to mention big limousines (think America here) and the whole thing becomes a place to meet and greet and appear powerful. Not impressed.

It depends if you see your role as primarily a domestic one or not I guess.

Or different priorities at different times? It could be the extreme of his party as you suggest. It was for KS.

DaisyAnne

Casdon

I disagree, it’s a rare opportunity for world leaders to get together, and it’s as much about the informal networking as about the formal agenda. By opting out Sunak is setting the UK apart from other nations and denying himself the chance to meet other key world figures. He would do far better to trust other minsters to carry out the key business at home for two days, after all he’s appointed them because they are capable- Jeremy Hunt is not going to blow up the economy in two days, is he?

I disagree, ...

That's okay *Casdon" people are allowed different opinions.

I imagine he will get to the point where he can trust other ministers to sort things out under their remit - once it is under control.

I remember people making similar remarks about Keir Starmer when he took over. They were mainly people opposed to his politics. People were annoyed that he wasn't doing what they said they thought he should be doing. As we now can see, he was sorting everything out in the Labour Party and then moving forward.

Now we have what appears to be mainly those opposed to Rishi Sunak's politics saying he is not doing what they think he should be. The more things change, etc.

It depends if you see your role as primarily a domestic one or not I guess. I think as PM his place on the world stage needs to be established immediately or he’ll be seen as just another fly by night British Tory PM. In reality Jeremy Hunt is a safer pair of hands than Sunak is, so he won’t need to worry about the economy, the experience is there to ensure it doesn’t derail (and of course they can communicate virtually anyway). I wonder if it’s the Braverman issue that’s holding him back - or if he just doesn’t yet see the bigger picture.

Casdon

I disagree, it’s a rare opportunity for world leaders to get together, and it’s as much about the informal networking as about the formal agenda. By opting out Sunak is setting the UK apart from other nations and denying himself the chance to meet other key world figures. He would do far better to trust other minsters to carry out the key business at home for two days, after all he’s appointed them because they are capable- Jeremy Hunt is not going to blow up the economy in two days, is he?

I disagree, ...

That's okay *Casdon" people are allowed different opinions.

I imagine he will get to the point where he can trust other ministers to sort things out under their remit - once it is under control.

I remember people making similar remarks about Keir Starmer when he took over. They were mainly people opposed to his politics. People were annoyed that he wasn't doing what they said they thought he should be doing. As we now can see, he was sorting everything out in the Labour Party and then moving forward.

Now we have what appears to be mainly those opposed to Rishi Sunak's politics saying he is not doing what they think he should be. The more things change, etc.

No disparagement here; I just wish he wasn't a Conservative!

That's good.

I have been thinking though if Rishi had gone... it might give more of a message to India, seeing as there seems to be some delight at having a PM of Indian origin here, and India - with China - were the countries who diluted the urgent message that COP26 was trying to deliver!

www.thenational.scot/news/23086323.nicola-sturgeon-confirms-intention-attend-cop27-rishi-sunak-pulls/

?

DaisyAnne

I don't think his decision is wrong. I am glad that he is not chasing the photo opportunities and want our Prime Minister to concentrate on the dreadful state the country is in. I also think that many of these discussions are carried on by others, with ministers/Prime Ministers/Presidents just being briefed and making the final agreement.

However, that doesn't mean we should not show any less interest in green measures, and he could do a lot about that in the budget (or whatever they are calling this one). I do think there has been too much talk and too little action by all governments.

I gather a minister is going. I hope to hear he spends plenty of time being well briefed by her when she comes back.

So why was he having a photo shoot in a hospital today?