Bond reacts to Lord Goldsmith’s resignation letter on Sunak’s failure to show up at the Paris summit

Today, Friday 30 June, Lord Goldsmith has resigned as Minister of State for Overseas Territories, Commonwealth, Energy, Climate and Environment. In his resignation letter, he focused on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s failure to show up at the Paris summit last week and the UK’s lack of leadership on climate finance and issues.

In reaction to the letter, Stephanie Draper, Chief Executive of Bond said:

Lord Goldsmith is right to point out the absence of the Prime Minister at the Paris summit on a New Financial Pact last week as he resigns. The UK is stepping back as a global partner and is no longer playing a leadership role to drive global efforts to build a more equitable, sustainable world. The UK is central to any efforts to transform the global financial architecture, so it cannot afford to take a backseat.

The government’s failure to meet its pledge to spend an additional £11.6bn to deliver international climate finance to support climate vulnerable countries demonstrates its apathy when it comes to doing its fair share to build climate resilience around the world. This isn’t long-term thinking and will also have an impact on people here in the UK.

ENDS. 

Notes for editors 

• Bond released a media briefing on the Paris Summit last week on what the organisation would like to see from governments, including the UK,  to drive forward global finance reform and to deliver on climate finance promises.

• For more information or to arrange interviews please contact [email protected] or 07392972411. 

• Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 400 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.