Britons have a “moral obligation” to protect the environment, Rishi Sunak said as he arrived for COP28, a major world leaders’ climate summit in the Middle East.
The Prime Minister said that it was “conservative” to care for the natural world as he sought to dismiss criticism of his decision to water down net zero targets in September.
Speaking to reporters on the flight to Dubai where the UAE is hosting the COP28 summit, Sunak said: “It’s a very strong Conservative instinct to protect what we have for future generations.
“That is a very natural Conservative instinct that is in all things. My approach to the public finances is the same thing.
WATCH HERE: Rishi Sunak says Britain has ‘moral obligation’ to protect environment
“I talk a lot about the moral obligation not to leave our children with debts we’re not willing to deal with. I think the same thing about the environment.
“It’s our moral responsibility to leave our kids’ environment in a better state than we found it, not just for my kids, that’s for everyone.”
Sunak said there was a “contract between the living and the unborn” – perhaps for any of his future grandchildren – to look after the environment.
He said: “Every kid cares about it. I can’t visit a single school where someone doesn’t ask you about this, both as a constituency MP or as a parent, or as PM.
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PA
