After moving into 10 Downing Street a couple of weeks go, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is making his first outing on the world stage.
After first announcing that he would skip the UNFCCC COP27 climate summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, Rishi decided to attend the conference, which is bringing together political leaders and representatives from 190 countries (no Modi, no Xi though) to discuss climate-related topics including climate change adaptation, climate finance, decarbonisation, agriculture and biodiversity.
'Climate security goes hand in hand with energy security,' Rishi told the COP27 summit, in his first address at an international event.
It was time, he said, for the world to act faster on climate change because it is the 'right thing to do' as he committed 11.6 billion pounds (which is a big deal since the United Kingdom is experiencing a winter of austerity) as his country's commitment to the climate fund.
Rishi paid tribute to his former ministerial colleague and COP26 President, Indian-origin Alok Sharma, 'for his inspiring work' to deliver on the Glasgow climate pact of last year and condemned 'Putin's abhorrent war in Ukraine.'
IMAGE: Look at the curious expressions as Rishi arrives for a meeting at COP27. Photograph: Steve Reigate/Pool/Getty Images
IMAGE: Rishi addresses the COP27 summit. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/Pool via Reuters
IMAGE: French President Emmanuel Macron, 44, seems genuinely overjoyed to meet Rishi, 42, at the COP27 summit. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/Pool via Reuters
IMAGE: Rishi, who is 5'7" and reportedly conscious about his height, with his Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic, all of 6'3". Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/Pool via Reuters
IMAGE: Rishi meets the General. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is the host for the summit. Photograph: The Egyptian Presidency/Handout via Reuters
IMAGE: Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, right, writes down his contact details for Rishi :)))). Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/Pool via Reuters
IMAGE: Rishi with United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, arguably the most influential ruler in the Persian Gulf. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/Pool via Reuters
IMAGE: Rishi and Israel's President Isaac Herzog at the COP27 summit. Photograph: Mohammed Salem/Reuters
IMAGE: Rishi meets another young leader, Giorgia Meloni, prime minister of Italy, who is 45. Photograph: Steve Reigate - Pool/Getty Images
Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com
Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
