The war in Ukraine is a reason to act faster to tackle climate change, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told the UN climate summit COP27.
“Climate and energy security go hand in hand,” he said in his first international appearance since taking office.
Leaders of 120 countries are meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to discuss the next steps to combat climate change.
Key themes are compensation and support for the most affected countries.
“Putin’s ugly war in Ukraine and rising energy prices around the world are not a reason to slow down on climate change. They are a reason to act faster,” Mr Sunak said.
“We can bequeath our children a greener planet and a more prosperous future […] There is indeed room for hope,” he added.
In a series of speeches, the leaders urged rich nations to remain committed to preventing further climate change, despite the war in Ukraine and the global financial crisis.
Nations on the front lines of climate change have had severe impacts on people and the environment from higher temperatures, droughts and floods.
“We are on the climate highway to hell with our foot on the accelerator,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said at the summit.
His stark warning was echoed by former US Vice President and environmentalist Al Gore, who said that nations must stop “reducing the culture of death” of fossil fuels.
In an impassioned speech, French President Emmanuel Macron urged world leaders to deliver environmental justice.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is also in Egypt and said countries should not go “weak and floundering” on climate action.
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz said switching to renewable energy was “a security policy imperative”, while Italy’s new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her country was “strongly committed” to its climate goals. .
US President Joe Biden is due to arrive at the summit on Friday, while his special climate envoy John Kerry is already there.
Although Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg is staying away from the summit, many other youth activists are in Sharm el-Sheikh after she accused the UN of “greenwashing”.
