
BORIS JOHNSON has been urged to get off of his sun lounger and show some leadership to ensure that next month’s United Nations climate talks do not become a “greenwash summit.”
The Prime Minister, who is on holiday at the Spanish home of a prominent Tory peer, faces heavy criticism over a lack of clear targets ahead of the crucial Cop26 conference in Glasgow.
Shadow business secretary Ed Miliband is due to set out the “undeniable and frightening maths” of emissions reductions today, showing the world remains very far from where it needs to be ahead of the UN summit.
The former Labour leader will raise concerns about the lack of urgency shown by the Tory government, accusing ministers of undermining their own case as they call for action.
Mr Miliband attended the 2009 climate summit in Copenhagen and will draw on that experience as he lays out Labour’s own key markers for Cop26 to succeed at an event hosted by the Green Alliance.
He will warn that the government’s failure to deliver at Cop26 would mean further crisis for Britain’s economy in the decades ahead.
He is expected to say: “This summit must succeed. It still can. But we need a step change in action from our government and governments across the world.
“Above all, finally, at the 11th hour, the Prime Minister must treat this summit with the seriousness which it deserves.”
At Cop26, countries will be under pressure to increase action to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, reached in 2015, to keep global temperature rises well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and preferably limit them to 1.5°C.
Campaigners also hit out at Mr Johnson’s lack of action, with a Greenpeace protest earlier this week shutting down Downing Street in his absence.
Writing on social media, Greenpeace UK said yesterday: “While Boris Johnson is in Marbella resting up before Cop26, where he’ll undoubtedly brag about his climate leadership, a study has found that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. We need action, not vague targets.”
The calls coincided with Cop26 president Alok Sharma urging major economies to come forward with new climate action plans for 2030 to keep the 1.5°C goal within reach.
The government was approached for comment.
