Therese Coffey

2022 - 10 - 29

Post cover — Image courtesy of "The Independent"

Therese Coffey defends PM's decision to skip Cop27 as it is not 'big ... (The Independent)

The Environment Secretary said it was “standard practice” for world leaders to attend the “big political” gatherings every five years.

[Terms of use,](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/user-policies-a6184151.html) [Cookie policy](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/cookie-policy-a6184186.html) and [Privacy notice.](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html) [Privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en) and [Terms of service](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en) apply. [The United Nations warned on Thursday ](https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/united-nations-emissions-gap-1-5c-b2211654.html)that the planet was headed for “catastrophe” as there is “no credible” pathway in place to rein in global temperature rise to 1.5C. [Saphora Smith](/author/saphora-smith) Comments [Environment Secretary Therese Coffey](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rishi-sunak-new-cabinet-braverman-brexit-b2212454.html) has defended [Rishi Sunak’s decision ](https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/rishi-sunak-cop-27-uk-egypt-b2212194.html)not to attend the [Cop27 climate summit ](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/cop27)in Egypt saying it was not one of the “big political” summits. [the United Nations ](https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/united-nations-emissions-gap-1-5c-b2211654.html)has required countries to submit climate targets every five years including ahead of the Glasgow summit last year where world leaders gathered to pledge how they would contribute to action on climate change. [told Sky News](https://www.awin1.com/awclick.php?mid=12422&id=201309&p=https://news.sky.com/video/coffey-defends-pms-cop27-decision-12732024), adding that she and other government ministers would be attending the summit in Egypt next month.

Rishi Sunak defends COP27 snub saying he will be 'focusing on ... (Sky News)

Earlier Environment Secretary Therese Coffey told Sky News Mr Sunak's absence was because the "big" political summits on climate change only take place ...

Ms Coffey admitted she had not seen the data, which was released last week. She added: "The United Kingdom hosted that last year where we had attendance from many members of the Royal Family. I think that's what people watching would reasonably expect me to be doing as well." "As is standard practice, government advice was sought and provided under a previous PM, and it was unanimously agreed that it would not be the right occasion for the King to visit in person," they said. "No. Last year the UK hosted the COP26 summit in Glasgow and former prime minister Boris Johnson stressed the need to act and said it was a "one minute to midnight moment".

Up to King Charles whether he wishes to attend Cop27, says ... (The Guardian)

Environment secretary defends Rishi Sunak's decision not to go to climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh.

On Thursday, Graham Stuart was reappointed as climate minister, but stripped of a place in the cabinet. On Thursday, the US special envoy on climate change, John Kerry, said it would be “terrific” for Charles to attend alongside government representatives. The Green MP Caroline Lucas said “shame on” Sunak, adding: “The first test of leadership is to turn up. The government’s autumn budget, one of Sunak’s top priorities, has been postponed to land during the Cop27 summit on 17 November. Sunak’s decision not to go to Sharm el-Sheikh was heavily criticised by political opponents and green groups on Thursday as a “massive failure” of leadership. The Queen also recorded an opening address urging world leaders to action.

'Football trumps the environment': Nick Ferrari puts Thérèse Coffey ... (LBC)

LBC's Nick Ferrari has put the Environment Secretary on the spot over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's decision not to attend Cop27.

COP 27: Therese Coffey defends Rishi Sunak pulling out of ... (The Scotsman)

The Environment Secretary defended Rishi Sunak pulling out of the Cop27 climate summit by arguing he will show “global leadership” rather than attending ...

Green MP Caroline Lucas said “shame on” Mr Sunak, adding: “The first test of leadership is to turn up. Not an event to shun,” he said. The Environment Secretary defended Rishi Sunak pulling out of the Cop27 climate summit by arguing he will show “global leadership” rather than attending “just a gathering of people in Egypt”.

No 10 responds to King Charles Cop27 'ban' as Sunak says it is ... (The Guardian)

Downing Street says it was 'unanimously agreed' with Palace that monarch would not attend; PM says he is focusing on economy but remains 'personally ...

She added: “I’m not aware of it costing anything additional to the work that we do in communicating for the prime minister.” Political deadlock triggered a forthcoming assembly election that is expected to broadly replicate the result of an election last May and produce the same deadlock. Sunak was later asked whether he was happy that nurses were not getting a real-term increase in pay. Despite the sense of futility, posters will adorn lampposts, canvassers will knock on doors, party leaders will debate on TV and voters will troop to polling stations. “The people spoke in May. The Northern Ireland secretary, Chris Heaton-Harris, said he is “extremely disappointed” that a last-ditch effort to restore the multiparty executive at Stormont failed. He also again declined to deny suggestions officials warned him against reinstating Braverman, insisting he does not regret the move. The prime minister will have my full support from the backbenches, and I thank him for his kindness in our conversation. When 77-year old Catherine Poole was asked by Sunak if the staff had looked after “really nicely”, she looked him straight in the eye and replied: “They always do. The prime minister is focused on dealing with those issues, and the public, I think, would also expect him to be in the country ... The government has delayed publication of clean water and biodiversity targets, putting it in breach of its Environment Act, ministers have admitted. Earlier this month, sources told the Guardian the king would not attend the international gathering in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, after reports that the former prime minister, Liz Truss, had intervened.

Therese Coffey in COP27 gaffes as Tory tries to defend Rishi ... (Mirror.co.uk)

First the Environment Secretary said she wasn't 'aware' Joe Biden is attending, after the Washington Post reported he will. Then she said the Autumn ...

The list was last updated two weeks ago and is likely out of date. "Global warming is the biggest crisis facing our planet and net zero creates many 1000s of jobs which is good for the economy. Not an event to shun”. “We postponed the medium term fiscal plan to a time in November that is right in the middle of the COP summit and I know the Prime Minister is keen to work with the Chancellor on focusing on that.” but don’t expect media to report that." She insisted the "big political" iterations of the summits only take place every five years, and “the big push happened last year in Glasgow”. "The UK continues to show global leadership as opposed to just a gathering of people in Egypt," she told LBC radio. Dr Coffey told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Normally the big political moments when you get heads of government and heads of state tend to happen every five years.” “Failing to meet the legal deadline to introduce targets to ensure we have clean air land and water amounts to a monumental dereliction of duty.” Dr Coffey made another gaffe when she claimed Rishi Sunak will be too busy - because Britain’s postponed financial statement will be “right in the middle of the COP summit”. A consultation opened in March but today Dr Coffey told MPs: "In light of the volume of material and the significant public response we will not be able to publish targets by 31 October, as required by the Environment Act. The Environment Secretary claimed the gathering in Egypt was “low key” and the “big political” summits only happen every five years, like Glasgow 2021.