Rishi Sunak, King Charles and David Cameron are in hot water over Cop28 hypocrisy

Rishi Sunak, King Charles and David Cameron Cop28 hypocrisy
© Karwai Tang /Chris Jackson / Getty Images
Rishi Sunak, King Charles and David Cameron Cop28 hypocrisy
More under this ad

Rishi Sunak, David Cameron and King Charles are all facing heavy criticism as details emerge about their travel arrangements to the latest Cop28 conference.

Numerous world leaders are getting ready to attend the Cop28. The Cop28 is a conference to discuss climate change and what needs to be done to reverse the effects. This year, the conference is in Dubai from November 30 to December 12.

Discover our latest podcast

It has been announced that Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, foreign secretary, David Cameron and King Charles will be attending the conference. However, the way they are travelling to Dubai has caused some major backlash as all three have been labelled hypocrites.

More under this ad
More under this ad

Sunak, Cameron and King Charles are taking private jets

It has been announced that the three representatives for Britain will be flying to Dubai in private jets separately, as per the Independent.

Naturally, this sparked major criticism as Sunak, Cameron and King Charles are attending a conference on climate change. Still, instead of taking the same plane together, they are all travelling separately to the same place.

More under this ad
More under this ad

According to the Independent, opposition parties have criticised the three representatives as they are ‘setting an awful example' and being a ‘waste of taxpayers’ cash’ by using three private jets.

The Liberal Democrats’ climate spokesperson Wera Hobhouse added:

The UK should be playing a leading role at Cop28 … instead, this government is slashing net zero targets at home while taking polluting private flights abroad.
More under this ad
More under this ad

Ed Matthew of the E3G campaign group added that ministers should no longer be allowed to travel by private jets and should be 'leading by example'.

Doug Parr, Greenpeace UK’s chief scientist, added:

It’s important for our leaders to show respect for the amount of carbon dioxide they emit. Is it really beyond the capability of them and their offices to ensure that they fly by chartered or even just coordinate their own efforts?
More under this ad
More under this ad

Downing Street have defended their actions

Downing Street has tried to justify the government's decision as the junior ministers and officials attending the Cop28 conference will be flying commercial, as per the Independent.

Moreover, Rishi Sunak’s spokesperson also defended their decision to each take a private jet as they’ve claimed they aren’t ‘anti-flying’ and that they ‘continue to be a world leader in tackling climate change’.

More under this ad
More under this ad

The spokesperson said:

We are not anti-flying. We do not seek to restrict the public from doing so and it’s important the UK has strong attendance at Cop28, given we continue to be a world leader in tackling climate change.

Adding:

This government’s approach to tackling climate change, as we have set out repeatedly, is not about banning or reducing people from flying. It is through investing in new technologies of the future, as evidenced by the flight just yesterday using sustainable aviation fuel.
More under this ad
More under this ad

Read more:

Rishi Sunak facing backlash over extravagant habit of using private jets, here's what's happening

David Cameron lived in £17M London townhouse after resigning as PM, will his family move back?

Rishi Sunak: The Prime Minister makes another ‘out of touch’ remark

Sources used:

Independent: ‘Sunak, Cameron and King Charles each take own private jets to travel to Cop28’

More under this ad