Rishi Sunak recounts the reception of Cop27 at Buckingham Palace: climate change will ravage our planet

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Rishi Sunak told a Cop27 reception hosted by King Charles at Buckingham Palace that the world would see "more human suffering" if we continue to allow the "climate change from ravaging our planet".

The Prime Minister is attending the UN climate conference in Egypt next week after a U-turn, but Charles will miss the gathering of world leaders, business and environmental figures.

The King has long campaigned on environmental issues, and last fall he said at the Cop26 talks in Glasgow that the world had had enough to speak and that commitments had to be put into practice.

But the monarchy's 'soft power' diplomacy will be absent from the international gathering in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

During Pre Minister of Liz Truss, a "unanimous agreement" was reached that the king should not attend Cop27 after advice sought by his office with the government.

At a reception at the Buckingham In the palace ballroom on Friday, Mr Sunak said: "As recent events have shown, delivering on Glasgow's promise is more important than ever.

"More important because , as we saw so clearly with the war in Ukraine, it is vital to invest in renewable and secure sources of energy and in sustainable food production.

“Most importantly, because at every moment we allow climate change to ravage our planet, we will see more human suffering like the devastating floods in Pakistan.

"And more importantly because, if we don't act today, we will risk leaving an ever more desperate legacy for our children."

Among the guests of the Palace of the World Finance, Technology, Transport and Agribusiness, several government figures including Environment Secretary Therese Coffey, Business Secretary Grant Shapps, International Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch and President of Cop26 Alok Sharma.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was also present, alongside Bank of England gove rnor Andrew Bailey, while foreign leaders included Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados, and the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, Prince Khalid bin Bandar Al Saud.

Mr. Sharma, who will hand over the UK presidency to Egypt at the summit, reportedly said he would 'welcome' Charles' presence at COP27, while fellow guest John Kerry, the US spe...