In a statement on Twitter, the prime minister said: “There is no long-term prosperity without action on climate change. “There is no energy security without investment in renewable energy. That is why I will be attending COP27 next week: to deliver Glasgow’s legacy of building a secure and sustainable future.” Pressure was mounting on the Prime Minister to confirm his attendance after Boris Johnson told Sky News yesterday he would go. US President Joe Biden also plans to attend the United Nations summit, which will be held from November 6 to 18. Mr Sunak initially said he was not going to the conference in Sharm El Sheikh because of “other pressing domestic commitments”. But the prime minister has faced a barrage of criticism, with Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer accusing him of showing a “failure of leadership” and Greenpeace UK saying he is not taking climate change “seriously enough”. Within days, Downing Street reversed course, saying the prime minister’s attendance was “under consideration” depending on progress on preparations for the economic statement, scheduled for November 17. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 1:10 Austin also asks Boris Johnson if he has “Embarrassing mistake on the world stage” Opposition parties have branded the change of plan a “U-turn” and claimed the prime minister is only going because he is “embarrassed” to do so. Deputy Labor leader Angela Rayner tweeted: “Draging kicking and screaming to do the right thing. Disgraceful.” Ed Miliband, the shadow climate secretary, said: “The Prime Minister is embarrassed to go to COP27 by the deluge of disbelief that he will fail to turn up. “It will avoid the embarrassment of not giving leadership.” Liberal Democrat climate change spokeswoman Wera Hobhouse claimed the environment was “simply not a priority” for Mr Sunak’s new government and would “only go after being embarrassed by Boris Johnson’s presence”. And Caroline Lucas, the Green Party’s sole MP, said: “I’m glad to see Sunak’s screeching U-turn at COP27, but what a shameful misstep on the world stage. “Let this be a lesson to him – climate leadership matters. “It now urgently needs to raise the UK’s ambition on emissions reduction targets and pay what we owe to global climate funds.” A No 10 source told Sky News that Mr Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt had made “good progress” on the autumn statement after working on it over the weekend and this week. It is not clear how many days the prime minister is expected to be away. Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 4:43 Rishi Sunak defends his decision to skip COP27, saying he needs to focus on the economy Some Conservative MPs also urged Mr Sunak to attend the summit and welcomed his change of plan. Alok Sharma, the president of COP26, said he was “delighted” by the news, after previously saying he was “disappointed” the prime minister had decided not to go. Chris Skidmore, who chairs the government’s Net Zero review, tweeted: “Extremely good news @RishiSunak will continue to champion UK climate leadership & @COP26 legacy with @AlokSharma_RDG. “I look forward to also attending @COP27P to highlight how #NetZeroReview is an opportunity to better deliver greater prosperity and economic growth.” The UK chaired the previous climate summit, COP26, in Glasgow last year. World leaders made a series of climate pledges, culminating in an agreement to strengthen 2030 emissions reduction targets by the end of next year. Ending and reversing deforestation, reducing methane emissions and the journey to net zero were agreed at the crucial two-week Glasgow climate summit last year.
