Boris Johnson has confirmed he will attend the Cop27 climate summit in Egypt - heaping pressure on new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to attend.
The former PM told Sky News he was "invited by the Egyptians" to the climate conference that kicks off on Sunday in Sharm El-Sheikh.
He said he was "very happy to go" claiming he has a "particular interest" in the subject after the UK hosted the Cop26 summit in Glasgow last year.
Reports of Mr Johnson's intention to attend the gathering first emerged over the weekend, prompting concern in Government, according to The Observer.
Asked whether his successor in No10 should attend, Mr Johnson said the Prime Minister has "pointed out he's got a massive amount to do".
His remarks came after Mr Sunak faced accusations of a "failure of leadership" over the controversial decision to skip the climate summit.
No10 had blamed "pressing domestic commitments including preparations" for the Autumn Statement later this month.
The Prime Minister's own climate adviser Alok Sharma had said he was "disappointed" that Mr Sunak was not planning to attend.
The Labour leader Keir Starmer added last week: "Britain showing up to work with world leaders is an opportunity to grasp. Not an event to shun".
But amid a major backlash Downing Street said on Monday that the decision is now "under review".
They added: "Any attendance to COP would depend on progress on preparation for that fiscal event, and that work is ongoing".
Earlier it also emerged that the former Prime Minister Mr Johnson would be delivering a second private speech since leaving office in September.
Last month he raked in around £135,000 at a conference in Colorda Springs for a half-hour speech and 45-minute "fireside chat".
On Tuesday Mr Johnson was advertised as the "keynote speaker" at the International Symposium on Blockchain Advancements on 2 December.
