Rishi spent 14 hours in the air to deliver a 3-minute address to the COP28 in Dubai

In his speech he pledged an extra £3.2bn of UK money for climate change policies

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2023

Er… Is the UK really a “major emitter”, Prime Minister?

On Friday (01 Dec 2023) the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made a flying visit to the COP28 conference being held in the United Arab Emirates. He was in and out within the day, which it seems would barely have made it worthwhile taking the 14-hour return flight.

In fact it appears he will have spent longer in an aircraft than he spent on the ground in Dubai. Quite what Greta Thunberg would say about this ratio of his carbon footprint to his footprints on the ground is something one can only guess at.

The Prime Minister’s address

The Prime Minister spoke to the Conference for approximately three minutes. We leave it to readers to judge whether this was worthwhile.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org Summary

The PM’s address to the COP28 Climate Change Conference – in full

Dubai, Fri 01 Dec 2023

“As we conclude the first Global Stocktake, we must be brutally honest. Although we’ve made great progress together the world is just not moving fast enough.

“Climate science shows we’re off track. And climate politics is close to breaking point because the gap between pledges and delivery is undermining credibility.

“While we make new commitments here, major emitters must dramatically accelerate delivery of what they’ve already promised. We all need to do more. And we must address the disconnect between lofty rhetoric on stages like this and the reality of people’s lives around the world. The way to do that is by delivering a truly just transition.

“Let me be clear, the UK is totally committed to Net Zero, the Paris Agreement, and to keeping 1.5 alive. That’s why we’ve decarbonised faster than any other major economy. Our 2030 target means the deepest cuts of any major emitter, and we’re determined to deliver.

“But instead of putting more pressure on working people, we’re choosing a pragmatic new approach. We’re ramping up renewables and embracing the opportunities of technology and green industry because we’ve shown you can cut emissions while growing the economy and creating jobs.

“Those facing the worst impacts of climate change are desperate for the world to do more. So we’re also working to deliver a just transition globally. And that means more support for those in need.

“The UK is already one of the largest global climate donors – and we’re tripling our adaptation finance. I’ve announced a further £1.6 billion for the Green Climate Fund – the UK’s biggest single international climate commitment. And today, I’m going further with an additional £1.6 billion of support for clean energy and innovation and to deliver on the historic Glasgow forests deal, because we can’t get to Net Zero without nature.

“This also includes up to £60 million for Loss and Damage… £40 million of which is for the new fund. To succeed, the fund must be open to all sources of support.

“And because the UK is the world-leading green finance centre we’re also helping unlock trillions in private finance to meet this need – and keep 1.5 degrees within reach.

“I believe we can deliver here in Dubai – but we’ve got to work together. The debate is too divided developed versus developing, ambition on mitigation versus finance for transition and adaptation. The truth is simple – we need both.

“In place of division, we need ambitious, collective action – like we promised in Paris and Glasgow. That’s how we’ll get back on track - by bringing everyone with us because a truly just transition leaves no one behind.”

Er… Is the UK really a “major emitter”, Prime Minister?

Readers will note that as usual there wasn’t a single word in the PM's speech about the biggest polluter on the planet – China – nor about the EU’s biggest economy Germany, which pumps out double the amount of CO2 as the UK does, and which has been re-activating its coal-fired power stations.

Nor was there a word about India, which has just landed a spacecraft on the moon and which is the third biggest emitter of CO2 emissions in the world.

Nor did the PM stress that the UK, despite being the sixth largest economy in the world, is responsible for only 0.93% of CO2 emissions in the world.

Instead he chose to say:

“Our 2030 target means the deepest cuts of any major emitter, and we’re determined to deliver.”

Given that the UK is demonstrably NOT a major emitter and hasn’t been for many years, this seemed an odd statement to have made in front of the world.

Observations

The extra £3.2bn pledged by the Prime Minister on Friday is merely a fraction of what the Government has already spent on a wide variety of ‘climate change’ policies, which runs into the hundreds of billions of pounds.

Indeed, so small was this announcement that we wonder why the PM bothered to mention it. Instead he could have given the COP28 audience the total of how much money the UK Government has already put into climate change policies across the board over recent years.

Finally, what was King Charles III doing, making the opening address in Dubai?

Once again we must say that climate change is a deeply political subject, whether you believe in the orthodoxy or not.

Vast sums are at stake, the consequences for international disputes are obvious, and we respectfully suggest this is no place to find the Monarch of the United Kingdom giving an opening speech to around 120 countries.

We have a detailed report on this, which readers will be able to read in the coming days.

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[ Sources: EU Commission | UK Government | Our World in Data (Oxford Univ) ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Mon 04 Dec 2023

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Reader Comments 16

1. Ashley Great Britain , Monday, December 04, 2023, 07:12:

We're giving another 3200 million pounds to a bottomless pit while our country and infrastructure crumbles.
The climate net zero world madness is just like cancer research, They don't really want to find the cure and shut up shop.
This kind of stuff will go on for decade after decade while the most polluting will nod and agree.

2. Old Albion , Monday, December 04, 2023, 07:16:

1% of total global emissions. Or put another way, 0.00045% Of total global CO2 in the atmosphere.
It would have been slightly less if Sunak hadn't spent 14 hrs flying to and from Dubai.

3. Sparky , Monday, December 04, 2023, 07:38:

As so much of our products and clothing is manufactured in China, India and the Far East because of cheap labour we can’t isolate our emissions from those of the rest of the world. The Govt has approved the new coal mine in Cumbria, most of the coal produced will be exported, good for our economy, but I assume will only be calculated as emissions in the country in which it is used.
.
As for King Charles III, he is continuing the crucial quiet diplomacy of The Queen, and he was one of the first world figures to highlight climate change. The King will be a great asset and valuable constant for the UK. Since 2016 we have had 5 PM’s, and other countries can see that Rishi won’t be PM much longer after the turmoil and mishandling of the last 7 years.
.
Jet travel by RS, DC and King Charles should have been better thought out.

4. John Hardman , Monday, December 04, 2023, 09:18:

Net Zero emigration is the only Net Zero I believe in

5. IAN SCHOFIELD , Monday, December 04, 2023, 09:37:

“because we’ve shown you can cut emissions while growing the economy and creating jobs.”
And right there is the problem. No you can’t, energy sourced elsewhere has blown an inflation sized hole in the UK’s economy.

6. Catherine , Monday, December 04, 2023, 09:57:

Sunak shouldn't have bothered. Our politically active King was busy giving speeches for the country.
PS re Sparky (@3) - he has a very interesting omission, proving his dire ignorance about all things EU. And I don't propose to enlighten him. But how he can claim to be a europhile on that level of ignorance, well it's pathetic.

7. NH , Monday, December 04, 2023, 11:33:

3. Sparky , "new coal mine in Cumbria"
You seem to be continuing with your hatred for the UK, you have criticised everything about the UK but nothing about any other country.
The coal mine in Cumbria will produce metallurgical coal which will be exported to EU countries for primary steel making. Are you suggesting the EU should stop producing and using steel or are you suggesting they should import this coal from some where like Australia ?
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3. Sparky , "so much of our products and clothing is manufactured in China"
International shipping imports are estimated to contribute approximately 5% to our carbon emissions. Lighter items such as clothing are only a small proportion of this. It makes far more sense to concentrate on the major items of transport and energy production and usage. Pushing up the price of basic items such as clothing will not gain public support for green policies.
.
3. Sparky , "King Charles" " Rishi Sunak"
Most people will dismiss green issues because the people lecturing them have extremely high carbon footprints and they know it will make no difference because of the facts shown above. Unless politicians can convince countries like China, India, USA etc to change their ways it' just an act of self harm.

8. KB , Monday, December 04, 2023, 13:47:

There is a very puzzling question to me.
We are told over and over that solar power is the cheapest source of electricity, and it is getting cheaper by the month.
That being the case, why are India and China building more coal power plants?
Why do countries expect compensation for using renewable energy, when it is the cheapest energy ?
Or are we being lied to about the price ?

9. Have You Wondered , Monday, December 04, 2023, 14:07:

.
Coal.
.
Cynic that I am, Whitehaven is about 7 miles from Sellafield and one wonders if this might be more about burying nuclear waste?
.
"Nuclear Safety campaigners feel that it is of great concern that the Conservative government made no attempt to be transparent about appointing the CEO of West Cumbria Mining to the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management in the very same month that they gave the green light to the same CEO's Coal Mine project. This is at the very least a direct conflict of interest."
Search: the ecologist. org 2020 aug 04 coal and nuclear cumbria
.
What initially struck struck me as a sniff test was the proximity to Sellafield, which prompted, why open a new pit when the last of the old pits was just closed recently? What better excuse to dig a deep hole that would pay for itself, to then bury nuclear waste from the reprocessing at Sellafield and all the proposed decommissioned nuclear sites?
.

10. terence patrick hewett , Monday, December 04, 2023, 14:35:

COP out.

16 comments, page 1 of 2

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