THE KING, Prime Minister and David Cameron will all take separate private jets to lecture the world about climate change at this weekend’s Cop28 in Dubai.
The Sun can reveal four different UK representatives will take four different planes to the desert gathering, with only Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho flying commercial.
No10 insist Rishi Sunak‘s plane will use 30% sustainable aviation fuel and that carbon offsetting will also minimise the overall impact of the use of the aircraft.
But the Liberal Democrats have slammed the decision to take separate flights, saying it sends the “wrong signals” about the UK’s climate commitments.
A Government spokesperson said: “This Government’s approach to tackling climate change is not about banning or reducing flying for people, it is about investing in new green technologies of the future, such as sustainable aviation fuel.
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“When attending international summits, UK Government Ministers fly commercially where appropriate or feasible, and where it is not, we carbon offset to minimise the overall impact.”
Lib Dem climate spokeswoman Wera Hobhouse said: “Sunak and Cameron travelling to this vital summit in separate private jets is not just a waste of taxpayers’ cash, it sends all the wrong signals about the UK’s climate commitments.
“The UK should be playing a leading role at Cop28 and driving our planet forward to a cleaner future. Instead, this Government is slashing net zero targets at home while taking polluting private flights abroad.”
Cop28 begins on Thursday and runs until December 12 at Expo City Dubai.
The King is set to deliver an address at the opening ceremony on Friday, addressing heads of state, government leaders and delegates, Buckingham Palace said.
On Thursday evening, the King will also join His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, to formally launch the Cop28 Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum.
Seeking to burnish his green credentials ahead of the climate talks, the PM announced today there would be a new national park for England and greater protection for urban wildlife havens and trees.
He said that he wanted to ensure that “love for the natural world continues into the next generations” and that nature was “at the centre of our action to tackle climate change”.
