Sir Keir Starmer has “no plans” to satisfy with the Taliban in the course of the COP29 local weather summit in Azerbaijan, Downing Road mentioned.
The militant group confirmed on Sunday that it is going to be sending delegates to the UN-led convention for the primary time since their takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, which passed off 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 nose to nose with its leaders, a Quantity 10 spokeswoman mentioned: “No plans to satisfy with them.”
She mentioned that attendance was “a matter for the organisers”, including: “Extra broadly the summit I believe is bringing collectively 96 completely different delegations from the world over and the target is clearly to strengthen international local weather motion and engagement on that challenge.
“It’s clearly very important that we method the talks and the occasion with that frequent function (on the) forefront of our thoughts.”
COP summits are the world’s most essential conferences on local weather change and this yr’s occasion, the twenty ninth COP (Convention of the Events), is happening in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku.
Whereas Sir Keir Starmer is heading there, the US and Chinese language presidents usually are 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.
Sky information
A key purpose of this yr’s talks is to get additional cash to poorer nations impacted by local weather change.
Afghanistan is likely one of the world’s most affected nations, with flash flooding killing over 300 people in March this yr.
Matuil Haq Khalis, who’s head of the nation’s atmosphere safety company, instructed The Related Press that Afghanistan wants the world’s help to cope with its excessive climate, together with erratic rainfall and extended droughts.
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He added that the Afghan delegation was grateful to the Azerbaijan authorities for inviting them to the local weather talks.
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They are going to solely have an observer standing, because the group’s authorities is just not formally recognised by the UN and the worldwide neighborhood attributable to its restrictions on the essential rights of residents, notably ladies.
The talks at this time start amid a warning from the UN that the world is on monitor for a “catastrophic” 3.1C of warming.
Nevertheless, 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 can be made on key points, together with emissions cuts and phasing out fossil fuels.
Nations may also 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.
