British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will urge world leaders to move "further and faster" in transitioning away from damaging fossil fuels in a speech Monday to the COP27 climate change summit in Egypt, his office said.

Pledging to make the UK a "clean energy superpower", Sunak will warn that tackling global warming is "fundamental" to future prosperity and security, it said in a statement on Saturday.

Sunak — who had originally not intended to attend the summit — will argue that the "shock" to the oil and gas markets caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine underlines the need to move to cheaper, cleaner and safer sources of energy.

The new British prime minister had argued that "pressing domestic commitments" would keep him away from COP27 after inheriting an economic crisis from predecessor Liz Truss.

But that fuelled doubts about Sunak's interest in the planetary emergency, and critics said the inexperienced leader was passing up an opportunity to rub shoulders with the likes of US President Joe Biden and European peers.

Sunak will urge leaders assembled at the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh not to "backslide" on commitments made at last year's COP26 summit in Glasgow intended to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C (2.7F) above pre-industrial levels.

In a statement ahead of his departure on Sunday, Sunak said: "When the world came together in Glasgow last year, nations agreed an historic roadmap for preventing catastrophic global warming. It is more important than ever that we deliver on those pledges.

"Fighting climate change is not just a moral good — it is fundamental to our future prosperity and security."

The UK hosted world leaders in Scotland last year, with nearly 200 countries coming together on a global deal to combat climate change and work towards net-zero emissions.

Sunak vows UK will be global leader on climate action
London (AFP) Nov 4, 2022 –

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday promised Britain would build on the achievements of its presidency of the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow, as Egypt prepared to host the next meeting to tackle global warming.

The UK hosted world leaders in Scotland last year, with nearly 200 countries coming together on a global deal to combat climate change and work towards net-zero emissions.

Sunak said at a reception at Buckingham Palace that he believed "the agreements we reached in Glasgow are a source of hope for the world" and insisted London's "global leadership will continue".

"It is the hope of many that the legacy of this summit, written in history books yet to be printed, will describe you as the leaders who did not pass up the opportunity, and that you answered the call of those future generations," Sunak told guests.

King Charles III invited more than 200 world leaders, business figures and environmentalists to the palace reception. Those attending included British fashion designer Stella McCartney and US climate envoy John Kerry.

Sunak spoke after changing his mind and deciding to attend the COP27 summit, having faced a storm of criticism for saying he could not go due to his busy schedule at home.

The summit starts in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday.

Charles on the other hand has followed government advice not to go.

Sunak praised the monarch's devotion to environmental causes, saying Charles "has been working to help find practical solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss for more than 50 years".