‘One rule for them’: Alok Sharma slams over flights to 30 countries | Alok Sharma

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Alok Sharma, the government minister in charge of vital UN climate talks, has been accused of undermining environmental efforts and failing to provide an example after reports that he has traveled to 30 countries in the past seven months.

The Cop26 chief, which is hosted in Glasgow in October and November, has visited countries including Brazil, Indonesia and Kenya since February. Despite traveling to six countries on the government’s “red list” of travel, he was not asked to isolate, according to the Daily Mail.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said his travel was “undermining the efforts” of others to reduce their emissions.

“I’m afraid I think it really undermines the effort that we know everyone has to make. We’re all used to having meetings with people in different parts of the world without having to travel around the world to do so.

“And when we’re trying to get people to make the changes they need to make, we need to make the transition, in our daily lives, in our homes, the way we think about the contribution we can make, the people at the top need to show that they’re doing it too, not thinking that This burden is borne by others.”

David Lammy, the shadow justice minister, said Sharma’s behavior showed that “this is a rule for them and another rule for us” and “feels like he’s not setting an example.”

Well, the optics are pretty clear — it’s one rule for them and another rule for us, whether it’s Dominic Cummings, whether it’s Matt Hancock, or Alok Sharma,” the Labor MP told the broadcaster.

“Of course some international travel is required, but that amount of international travel when you’re climate change minister makes me feel weird, and I feel like I’m not setting an example.”

Greens counterpart Jenny Jones, who has already accused the former business minister of being “excessive” and “hypocritical”, added on Friday that Sharma’s trips to France and Belgium “can hardly be faster than rail if you take into account the ability to work efficiently on the train.” .

Most of Sharma’s trips were during the winter and spring months when international travel from the UK was often prohibited.

He visited India, Costa Rica, Qatar and the UAE in March, while in April he traveled to South Korea and Japan before heading to Bangladesh in June.

Not all of the 30 known flights were round trip flights to the UK, but travel to and from all destinations would total 200,000 miles, or eight times around the Earth.

The postponed Cop26 conference will mark the first time since the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference that countries will set ambitious new targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Spokesperson Number 10 said: “As Cop Chair, Alok Sharma is leading climate negotiations with countries including key emitters to reduce emissions and secure ambitious actions ahead of the Cop26 Summit.

“The majority of this work is done remotely, but some travel to major countries for face-to-face talks is essential. He has secured ambitious work as a result of his discussions.”

“Ministers making essential trips like these are exempt from quarantine, as stipulated in the rules,” the spokesperson added.

Asked if Sharma would quarantine upon his return from Brazil, where he is currently located, the spokesperson said: “He will continue to comply with the rules as stipulated.”

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