Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment
Jennifer Rankin in Brussels

Von der Leyen’s Cop29 absence sends ‘fatal signal’, say watchers

Ursula von der Leyen sits next to Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber in Dubai
The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, with Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the president of Cop 28, in Dubai in December 2023. Photograph: Sean Gallup/Getty

Ursula von der Leyen’s decision to miss the Cop29 climate summit is “a fatal signal” and raises questions about Europe’s commitment to the climate crisis, observers have said.

The European Commission confirmed on Tuesday that its president would not attend the UN climate talks in Baku, which start on Monday. “The commission is in a transition phase and the president will therefore focus on her institutional duties,” a spokesperson said.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.