London
CNN
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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak He is no longer expected to attend COP27 المناخ Climate Summit in Egypt next week due to “other urgent commitments,” a Downing Street spokesperson said on Thursday.

The statement said the UK would remain represented by other senior ministers, as well as COP26 President Alok Sharma, at the Sharm El-Sheikh Climate Summit.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The government is fully committed to supporting COP27 and leading international action to tackle climate change and protect nature.”

He added, “The prime minister is not expected to attend the summit in Egypt due to other urgent internal commitments, including preparations for the fall statement.”

The statement added that Sharma and senior ministers who will attend will work to ensure that countries continue to make progress on commitments made at COP26 in Glasgow.

The news comes weeks after British media reports at the beginning of October said that notable environmental activist King Charles III would miss the COP27 conference after then-Prime Minister Liz Truss advised him to drop his plans to attend.

CNN understands that King’s attendance at COP27 has not been confirmed and, after consultations with the government, there was common agreement that this would not be the appropriate occasion for Charles’ first overseas visit abroad as Sovereign.

King Charles attended the Climate Change Conference as Prince of Wales in 2021.