Science

David Cameron 'turned down Boris Johnson's plea to head climate change summit'


David Cameron reveals he turned down Boris Johnson’s ‘kind offer’ to be head of international climate change summit in Glasgow

  • Boris Johnson asked predecessor David Cameron to head climate conference
  • The ex-PM says he turned down the ‘kind offer’ to take charge of the summit
  • Former minister Claire O’Neill slammed Mr Johnson after he sacked he last week 

Ex-PM David Cameron today revealed he turned down a ‘kind offer’ from Boris Johnson to head an international climate change summit in Glasgow

Mr Johnson had hoped his predecessor and long-standing rival would be a ‘big hitting’ president of the crucial UN conference – known as COP26.

However, Mr Cameron refused on the grounds that a minister would be better-placed and he had too many other commitments. Former foreign secretary Lord Hague has also apparently rejected an approach. 

The overtures emerged amid fears the gathering risks descending into a shambles after ex-minister Claire O’Neill was sacked by the PM’s adviser Dominic Cummings last week.

David Cameron is believed to have refused the COP26 job on the grounds that a minister would be better-placed

David Cameron is believed to have refused the COP26 job on the grounds that a minister would be better-placed

Mr Johnson officially launched the countdown to COP26 at an event with David Attenborough in London yesterday

Mr Johnson officially launched the countdown to COP26 at an event with David Attenborough in London yesterday

She condemned Mr Johnson’s handing of the situation yesterday, claiming he had privately admitted he ‘doesn’t understand’ the climate change issue.

Mr Cameron told reporters today: ‘It was an honour to be asked to chair this important conference and it was kind of the Prime Minister to consider me, but my view is that these things are best done by a government minister so there is one person in charge, one chain of command, rather than two. 

‘I also have exciting commitments this year, not least to Alzheimer’s Research UK.

‘But I wish the government well with hosting this conference.’

Mr Johnson refused to answer questions about who would take on the job during a COP26 launch alongside David Attenborough yesterday.

The Government said a minister will take charge of the post.

The UN climate talks, to be held in Glasgow in November, are the most important since the Paris Agreement to curb global warming was secured in 2015.

Countries are expected to deliver more ambitious domestic plans for cutting greenhouse gases by 2030, as current proposals are not enough to prevent dangerous temperature rises.

Claire O'Neill

Lord Hague

Lord Hague (right) was also approached for the COP26 job after ex-minister Claire O’Neill (left) was sacked last week

Pressure is also on countries to set out long-term plans for cutting emissions, with the science now clear that the world must reduce greenhouse gases to zero in a matter of decades to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

The run-up to the talks will require a major diplomatic effort from the UK to secure ambitious climate action from countries – at a time when Britain is also negotiating trade agreements with the EU and other nations.

Lord Barker of Battle, who served as an energy and climate change minister under Mr Cameron, said he understood the reports to be correct.

‘My understanding is that he felt it was just a little too soon for him personally to come back into a frontline political role,’ he told BBC Two’s Newsnight.

 



READ SOURCE

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.