Thank you for contacting me about the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt.
The Prime Minister recently attended COP27 in Egypt. This Conference provided a critical opportunity for states to reconvene and urge action across the historic commitments that they made at the Glasgow climate pact in 2021 with a focus on protecting people from the immediate impacts of climate change and ensuring that no one is left behind.
COP President Alok Sharma and Foreign Secretary James Cleverley both attended the conference too, highlighting that climate change is a top priority for this Government.
HM King Charles III is a key figure in the international environmental movement. He has spent over 50 years speaking and campaigning on environmental and climate issues. Furthermore, he has backed charities, championed campaign groups, and held personal conversations with world leaders about the climate crisis. I admire and respect the efforts HM The King has made to raise awareness and promote action on the climate crisis.
Nonetheless, it is standard protocol for the monarch to seek guidance before accepting an invitation to an event like COP27. As the Prime Minister has only been in office for a short period of time, it was agreed that King Charles would not attend due to logistical reasons.
More broadly, this Government's commitments to tackling climate change are undiminished, as set out in the net zero strategy, and the UK will continue to pursue a leading global role.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.