Which European leaders are attending COP27? The influential politicians heading to Egypt

Leaders gather for a photo at the COP27 UN Climate Summit. - Copyright AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty

Published on 01/11/2022 - 17:13•Updated 07/11/2022 - 18:37

There’s a lot of talk about which world leaders and famous faces will step into the spotlight at Sharm el-Sheikh.

A big event is all about the guest list. While the ‘who’s in, who’s out’ speculation around COP27 can feel like a distraction from its all-important mission, there’s good reason why we’re so invested in our leaders going.

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak misread the national mood when announcing he would be skipping the UN climate conference to focus on domestic issues last week. The new PM has now announced he will be going.

“There is no long-term prosperity without action on climate change,” he tweeted this morning (2 November).

Simply put, the summit is not just a chance to ramp up commitments on climate change - the biggest issue of our times. It’s also diplomacy on a grand scale, giving leaders the opportunity to address the geopolitical challenges that are holding back climate action and progress in various other areas.

More than 100 heads of state have confirmed their attendance at Sharm el-Sheikh next week, according to the latest statement from Egyptian authorities. But leaders and representatives of more than 190 countries - all parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - are expected in total.

Some are later to RSVP than others, or at least to go public with their intentions and travel plans. Here’s what European leaders have said so far.

Which European leaders are going to COP27?

The G20 countries are responsible for around 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, so it’s crucial that they’re accountable at COP summits.

Among the European contingent, French President Emmanuel Macron is a definite attendee of COP27.

World leaders typically appear at the start and end of the conference, leaving detailed talks with the UN and other countries to their negotiators.

Macron will be playing an important role at the World Leaders Summit from 7 to 8 November, however. Alongside President of Senegal Macky Sall, and Dutch PM Mark Rutte, the French President will be convening an event on accelerating adaptation in Africa - a key narrative at this COP.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is going to COP too. As is new Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s news agency ANSA reported last week.

Türkiye, another G20 country, but one that has long wrestled with its responsibility under the Paris Agreement, is likely to be represented by President Erdoğan. He dropped out of COP26 shortly before it started due to a dispute over security in Glasgow.

As for the UK’s Rishi Sunak, it appears that fierce criticism from campaigners, opposition parties and some of his own MPs has forced him into rethinking his earlier decision not to attend.

“The first test of leadership is to turn up,” said Green MP Caroline Lucas.

“Glad to see Sunak's screeching U-turn on COP27,” she tweeted in reaction to today’s news. “But what an embarrassing misstep on the world stage. Let this be a lesson to him - climate leadership matters."

Former British PM Boris Johnson's planned attendance undoubtedly piled some pressure on Sunak too.

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon will definitely be going, building on Scotland’s leadership on critical issues such as loss and damage. Denmark, which became the first independent country to make the pivotal financial pledge, will be led by prime minister Mette Frederiksen, who has just been re-elected.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will also be at the venue, launching an initiative with Nigeria on territorial resilience to drought at COP27. And European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is sure to take a leading role.

Which world leaders will be at COP27?

US President Biden has confirmed his attendance at COP27, showing that domestic matters - in his case, the US midterms - don’t have to get in the way of showing climate leadership.

Chinese President Jinping is not expected to attend, following a no-show at COP26 last year. While China is now the largest emitter of CO2, the UK’s cumulative emissions are 5.5 times higher than China’s and 20 times higher than India’s, so it doesn’t bear the same historic responsibility for curbing climate change.

Indian Prime Minister Modi is likely to attend COP27.

So early into his victory over Bolsonaro, Brazil’s Lula is reportedly heading to Egypt next week (14 November). A congresswoman-elect told Reuters that the Amazon defender would also "definitely send broad representation" ahead of his inauguration on new year’s day.

Australia’s PM, Anthony Albanese - also an improvement on his predecessor Morrison in climate matters - is sitting COP27 out. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen will lead Australia’s delegation.

Who else will be at the UN climate conference?

It’s not just state leaders that will be putting in an appearance at COP27. The world has many more leaders on climate - as well as those who command a headline.

Britain’s King Charles III is not going to the summit, Downing Street confirmed last week. Some commentators had expected a softening of the government’s position since former PM Truss asked the monarch not to attend the talks. But it’s been agreed that it’s not the “right occasion” for the king to appear in a political arena, despite his green credentials.

There’s still likely to be royals on the ground, however. Princess Beatrice put in an appearance at COP26, where she teamed up with singer and environmental advocate Ellie Goulding.

One very notable absence will be Greta Thunberg. “I’m not going to COP27 for many reasons, but the space for civil society this year is extremely limited,” the Swedish youth activist said on Sunday.

“The COPs are mainly used as an opportunity for leaders and people in power to get attention, using many different kinds of greenwashing.”

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