Sir Keir Starmer has “no plans” to satisfy with the Taliban through the COP29 local weather summit in Azerbaijan, Downing Avenue stated.
The militant group confirmed on Sunday that it will likely be sending delegates to the UN-led convention for the primary time since their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, which occurred because the US, UK, and their allies retreated from the nation.
Requested what the prime minister considered that, and whether or not he would come head to head with its leaders, a Quantity 10 spokeswoman stated: “No plans to meet with them.”
She stated that attendance was “a matter for the organisers”, including: “More broadly the summit I think is bringing together 96 different delegations from across the world and the objective is obviously to strengthen global climate action and engagement on that issue.
“It’s clearly important that we method the talks and the occasion with that frequent objective (on the) forefront of our thoughts.”
COP summits are the world’s most vital conferences on local weather change and this yr’s occasion, the twenty ninth COP (Convention of the Events), is going down in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku.
Whereas Sir Keir Starmer is heading there, the US and Chinese language presidents are usually not attending the talks.
A number of G7 leaders, together with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, in addition to the EU president Ursula von der Leyen, have additionally confirmed they won’t be attending.
Picture:
Sky information
A key purpose of this yr’s talks is to get more money to poorer nations impacted by local weather change.
Afghanistan is without doubt one of the world’s most affected nations, with flash flooding killing over 300 individuals in March this yr.
Matuil Haq Khalis, who’s head of the nation’s surroundings safety company, informed The Related Press that Afghanistan wants the world’s assist to cope with its excessive climate, together with erratic rainfall and extended droughts.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
1:26
Is Trump’s victory dangerous information for local weather?
He added that the Afghan delegation was grateful to the Azerbaijan authorities for inviting them to the local weather talks.
Learn Extra:The almighty row over local weather money that is about to boil over2024 on monitor to be first yr to exceed 1.5C thresholdDeadliest climate occasions have been fuelled by local weather change
They may solely have an observer standing, because the group’s authorities is just not formally recognised by the UN and the worldwide group because of its restrictions on the fundamental rights of residents, notably ladies.
The talks as we speak start amid a warning from the UN that the world is on monitor for a “catastrophic” 3.1C of warming.
Nonetheless, with many leaders selecting to not attend the opening summit, and oil and gas-rich Azerbaijan internet hosting, it’s unclear how a lot progress shall be made on key points, together with emissions cuts and phasing out fossil fuels.
International locations will even be grappling with Donald Trump’s return to the White Home, in what analysts say is a development of local weather scepticism in elections this yr.
The president-elect is anticipated to spice up fossil fuels, roll again inexperienced incentives domestically and take America out – once more – of the worldwide Paris Settlement on tackling local weather change, which commits nations to pursue efforts to curb warming to 1.5C.
