History Will Remember Who Showed Up: Pressure Mounts on Keir Starmer to Attend Cop30 Summit

Published: 26 September 2025, The English Chronicle Desk

Intense pressure is building on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to confirm his attendance at the Cop30 climate summit in Brazil this November, as global leaders, climate experts and senior Labour figures insist his presence is vital. The meeting in Belém, set at the gateway to the Amazon rainforest, is being billed as one of the most significant gatherings since the Paris Agreement, with countries expected to unveil their updated strategies for cutting greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade.

The calls for Starmer to attend have grown louder after reports suggested some of his aides were urging caution, fearing that his presence at the summit could hand ammunition to the Reform party, which has consistently opposed climate action and rejected the UK’s legally binding net zero commitments. However, climate leaders warn that absence at this moment could severely damage the United Kingdom’s reputation as a global leader on climate change and undermine momentum for stronger international action.

Simon Stiell, the United Nations climate chief, made clear what is at stake, saying: “Cop30 is where leaders are expected to come and roll up their sleeves, make deals to help their nation’s economy transition faster, creating more jobs, and guide the world on what next steps we take together.” His message was echoed by former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, who underlined that attendance is “a test of leadership” and not a diplomatic courtesy. “World leaders must be in Belém for Cop30,” he said. “The world is watching – and history will remember who showed up.”

Keir Starmer has previously demonstrated a willingness to prioritise international climate diplomacy. As leader of the opposition he spent longer at Cop28 in Dubai than then prime minister Rishi Sunak, and as prime minister he personally committed the UK to cutting emissions by 81% by 2035 when he attended Cop29 in Azerbaijan last year. Many of his colleagues argue that failing to attend now, when the summit is hosted in one of the most ecologically significant regions on the planet, would be a damaging reversal.

Mary Robinson, former Irish president and UN climate envoy, stressed the symbolic and practical importance of leaders being physically present: “Cop30 in Belém this year promises to be one of the most significant climate summits in recent years. It is vital that heads of state and government attend in person to signify their commitment to climate action. Leadership must come from the top.”

The UK enters the talks with a relatively strong record. Its emissions reduction targets have been rated among the more ambitious in the developed world, and its commitment to reaching net zero remains broadly popular at home. Polls show that nearly two-thirds of the British public support decisive action on climate change, despite a vocal minority of opposition.

Sir David King, the government’s former chief scientific adviser, argued that Starmer’s attendance would be pivotal: “The attendance of world leaders on the first day of Cop30 is vital to set the trend of the meeting. A very good example is the commitment of the UK to reduce emissions by 81% by 2035, made by Starmer at the last Cop. This needs to be reiterated by the prime minister in Brazil, to persuade other countries to make similar major commitments.”

But the politics surrounding Cop30 are not straightforward. Some of Starmer’s aides have privately warned that Reform, which has gained traction in opinion polls, will seize on the optics of his attendance as evidence of misplaced priorities. Reform leaders continue to cast doubt on climate science, framing net zero policies as economically damaging and politically elitist. This calculation appears to have unsettled parts of Downing Street, though no final decision has been made about Starmer’s travel plans.

Adding to the complexity is the question of whether King Charles will be allowed to attend. The monarch has long championed environmental causes but was prevented from attending Cop28 by Rishi Sunak, a decision that drew widespread criticism. Diplomatic protocol would make it difficult for the King to attend Cop30 in the absence of the prime minister, but his presence would carry enormous symbolic weight.

On the international stage, expectations are high. World leaders from the European Union, the G7 and G20, along with representatives from vulnerable nations most affected by climate change, are preparing to travel to Brazil. In contrast, US president Donald Trump has already confirmed he will boycott the event, dismissing climate change as a “con job” in a controversial speech at the UN earlier this week. His stance has further raised the stakes for other leaders, particularly those from countries that see themselves as defenders of multilateralism and international cooperation.

The prospect of an empty seat for the UK prime minister has already unsettled Labour MPs. Polly Billington, who won East Thanet in a contest closely fought with Reform, urged Starmer to demonstrate his leadership in Brazil: “As someone who has been to Cops several times, I know the difference that leaders make when they attend. It focuses the minds of the negotiators on getting the best possible deal – and that is required, when we see the fragility of the consensus on acting on climate change. It is more important than ever that world leaders who understand the disastrous economic impacts of the climate crisis, and the economic opportunities of tackling it, should be there, for the world to come together.”

Labour MP Alex Sobel added that Cop30 offered a chance to highlight Brazil’s shifting trajectory under President Lula da Silva. He noted how Lula’s leadership had driven Amazon deforestation to a nine-year low after a period of rapid environmental destruction under his predecessor: “World leaders should attend Cop30. Brazil had the highest deforestation rate under its last president, and the return of Lula shows that political leadership can make a difference. After two Cops in fossil fuel producing countries, we need to show support for the UN process, and what can be achieved with the right political leadership.”

Outside Labour, critics have also weighed in. Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, was scathing about the possibility of Starmer’s absence. “This would be a huge abdication of responsibility,” he said. “If you accept there is a climate emergency, you need to act as such. And the first thing you need to do is build an international consensus on the response. The very least the prime minister could and should do is turn up. Instead, Starmer’s missing in action at this time of crisis and frankly that speaks volumes.”

As the countdown to Cop30 continues, the decision about Starmer’s attendance looms large. Supporters argue it is an opportunity to cement the UK’s credibility as a climate leader and to influence the direction of global negotiations. Critics within his own team worry about domestic political consequences. For many outside the UK, however, the matter is simpler. They believe leadership on climate is judged not just by promises made at home but by whether those promises are carried into the international arena. As Ban Ki-moon warned, history will not forget who chose to stand on the sidelines.