Rishi Sunak under pressure to boost green credentials as he arrives in Egypt for COP27
Rishi Sunak will call for a “global mission for new jobs and clean growth” as he joins world leaders for the first day of COP27 in Egypt.
The PM, who only announced he would be attending the climate change talks in a U-turn last week, will tell attendees today it is essential countries stick to commitments made in Glasgow last year if warming is to be limited to 1.5C.
After touching down on Sunday night, COP27 will be Mr Sunak’s first outing representing the UK on the world stage since becoming prime minister last month. He will join others including US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron.
In his opening address in Sharm El-Sheikh, the PM will argue the transition away from fossil fuels can drive growth and deliver jobs in new green industries of the future, while cutting off funding for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“The world came together in Glasgow with one last chance to create a plan that would limit global temperature rises to 1.5C. The question today is: can we summon the collective will to deliver on those promises?” Mr Sunak is expected to say.
“I believe we can. By honouring the pledges we made in Glasgow, we can turn our struggle against climate change into a global mission for new jobs and clean growth.
“And we can bequeath our children a greener planet and a more prosperous future. That’s a legacy we could be proud of.”
UK funding for ‘green technologies’
Downing Street said the PM will be looking to continue the success of last year’s COP26 summit in Glasgow with more than £200m in UK funding to protect forests and invest in “green technologies”.
This is expected to include a further £65.5m for the clean energy innovation facility which provides grants to researchers and scientists in developing countries, £90m for conservation in the Congo Basin rainforest and £65m to support indigenous and local forest communities.
But the prime minister has faced criticism back on home turf over the government’s decision to issue more licences for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea on its continued opposition to new onshore wind.
And it is also not known if Mr Sunak will make an announcement on renewable energy, such as allowing more solar farms.
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Labour’s shadow climate change secretary Ed Miliband has called on the PM to drop the plans and end the government’s opposition to onshore wind.
He told Sky News: “It makes no sense, and it makes a complete joke, frankly, of Rishi Sunak, the man who couldn’t even decide whether he was going to go COP27.
“It makes a complete joke of the idea that he’s somehow a leader on clean energy.”
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COP27 ‘can’t be a PR exercise’
The prime minister had originally not been due to travel to COP27, saying his priority was preparing for his government’s autumn budget later this month and sorting out the country’s public finances.
But Mr Sunak was forced into a U-turn after critics, including members from his own party, questioned his commitment to tackling climate change.
This year’s summit takes place against a backdrop of increasingly extreme weather events taking place around the world, coupled with both the energy and cost of living crisis exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.
The climate talks will continue until 18 November.
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What are climate tipping points?
What’s Labour’s position?
As COP27 begins, Sir Keir Starmer is expected to set out Labour’s plans to boost green industries and jobs across Britain by supporting the development of net-zero industrial clusters to boost local economies.
Labour says these net-zero industrial clusters will bring together heavy industries like cement, ceramics, steel, and chemicals, with the low-carbon technology of the future – carbon capture and storage and hydrogen – to provide a clean and prosperous future for the UK’s industrial heartlands.
The Labour leader will also accuse the government of “dragging its feet on climate at every turn”.
His climate change shadow minister Mr Miliband said: “Only Labour has a world-leading plan for 100% clean power by 2030 – to cut bills, deliver energy security, create jobs and industries here in Britain, and lead the world in tackling the climate crisis.”
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The UK has joined US forces in attacking a Houthi target in Yemen for the first time since Donald Trump was re-elected.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the strikes took place on Tuesday as part of the government’s response to Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The ministry said careful intelligence analysis identified a cluster of buildings used by the Houthis to manufacture the sort of drones used to attack ships, located 15 miles south of the capital Sanaa.
RAF Typhoon FGR4s conducted strikes on several buildings using Paveway IV precision-guided bombs.
The planes had air refuelling support from Voyager tankers.
The ministry said the strike was conducted after dark to reduce the likelihood of civilians being in the area.
All the aircraft returned safely.
John Healey. Pic: Reuters
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “This government will always act in the interests of our national and economic security.
“Royal Air Force Typhoons have successfully conducted strikes against a Houthi military target in Yemen and all UK aircraft and personnel have returned safely to base.
“We conducted these strikes, supported by the US, to degrade Houthi capabilities and prevent further attacks against UK and international shipping.”
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Houthis a ‘persistent threat’ to ‘freedom of navigation’
Mr Healey said Houthi activities in the Red Sea are a “persistent threat” to “freedom of navigation”.
“A 55% drop in shipping through the Red Sea has already cost billions, fuelling regional instability and risking economic security for families in the UK,” he said.
“The government is steadfast in our commitment to reinforcing global stability and protecting British working people. I am proud of the dedication and professionalism shown by the service men and women involved in this operation.”
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US intensifies strikes on Houthis
It was the first time UK forces have struck a target in Yemen since May last year, the ministry confirmed.
The US has intensified its strikes on the Iran-backed Houthis under Mr Trump’s presidency, after his re-election in November 2024.
The group began launching attacks on shipping routes in November 2023 saying they were in solidarity with Palestinians over Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
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Footage showing people being pulled from rubble has been released by Houthi rebels in Yemen
The strike came after a Houthi-controlled TV channel claimed a US strike killed 68 people at a detention centre for African migrants in Yemen on Monday.
UK
No criminal charges over death of ice hockey player Adam Johnson whose neck was cut by opponent’s skate
No criminal charges will be brought over the death of an ice hockey player who died during a match in Sheffield, prosecutors have announced.
Nottingham Panthers’ Adam Johnson died in October 2023 after his neck was cut by an opposition player’s skate during a match at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena.
The Sheffield Steelers player, Matthew Petgrave, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and later bailed – but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has now said it will not bring criminal charges against the Canadian.
Michael Quinn, deputy chief crown prosecutor, said: “This was a shocking and deeply upsetting incident. The CPS and South Yorkshire Police have worked closely together to determine whether any criminal charges should be brought against the other ice hockey player involved.
“Following a thorough police investigation and a comprehensive review of all the evidence by the CPS, we have concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offence and so there will not be a prosecution.
“Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Adam Johnson.”
Tributes were left outside the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham following the ice hockey player’s death. Pic PA
Before joining Nottingham Panthers, the Minnesota-born Johnson played in Pennsylvania for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Sweden for the Malmo Redhawks.
He also played in California for Ontario Reign and in Germany for Augsburger Panther.
A post-mortem examination confirmed the 29-year-old died as a result of the fatal neck injury.
The crowd of 8,000 spectators watched in horror as desperate attempts were made to save his life as he lay on the ice, shielded by fellow players.
The game was abandoned and spectators were asked to leave in the aftermath.
Pic PA
Kari Johnson, Johnson’s aunt, was watching the match via a livestream with his father and grandmother when he was fatally injured.
Speaking to Sky News at the time, Ms Johnson said: “It was a mess, it was a nightmare, it was like it wasn’t real. We were in shock, we couldn’t believe this was happening.”
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Kari Johnson said her nephew was ‘a kind soul’
Ms Johnson described her nephew as a “kind soul” and a “private kid” who “never would have wanted to be in the limelight like this”.
He simply wanted to be “good at hockey and have fun”, she said, adding he was “having the time of his life in the UK” and was planning to get engaged to his girlfriend.
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In January 2024, Sheffield’s senior coroner, Tanyka Rawden, suspended her investigation while the police inquiry took its course.
It later emerged that Ms Rawden had issued a Prevention of Future Deaths Report to Ice Hockey UK and the English Ice Hockey Association (EIHA) about the use of neck guards in the sport.
In the report, Ms Rawden said she was “sufficiently concerned that deaths may occur in the future if neck guards or protectors are not worn”, with the bodies given 56 days to say what action had been taken – or why action had not been taken.
Neck guards have been mandatory in the Elite League (EIHL), in which the Nottingham Panthers and Sheffield Steelers compete, since January 2024.
This followed the International Ice Hockey Federation’s decision in December to mandate the use of neck laceration protectors for its competitions.
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