The president of the UK's upcoming climate change conference is under fire for reportedly travelling to more than 30 countries in seven months.
The Daily Mail said seven of the places visited by Alok Sharma were also on the Covid red list - but he used an exemption available to ministers to not have to quarantine on his return.
The government said face-to-face meetings were "crucial" ahead of COP26.
But Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford called it "inexplicable".
He said all government ministers "have to demonstrate that we too mean business" in tackling climate change if they want the public to follow suit - and travelling so often "doesn't advance the cause".
Liberal Democrat transport spokeswoman Sarah Olney also criticised the government's quarantine exemption policy, saying it showed there was "one rule for them and another for everybody else".
The Daily Mail also claimed Mr Sharma held a meeting with Prince Charles days after returning from Bangladesh - a red list country - before going on a visit to a primary school.
The newspaper said the meeting with the prince was held indoors and without masks.
Mr Sharma is currently in Brazil - also a red list country - and has tweeted that he is having "constructive meetings".
Mr Sharma left his post as business secretary in January to take over the presidency of COP26 - the United Nations Climate Chance Conference due to take place in Glasgow in November.
Since then, he has met with dignitaries across the globe to discuss climate commitments ahead of the conference - despite the ongoing pandemic.
Asked by the BBC's Nick Robinson in June how he defended his air travel when he is leading on environmental policy, he said it was "really important" to meet other governments to discuss plans and the visits had been "targeted".
But Mr Drakeford said ministers "couldn't exempt themselves" from the changes we all needed to make to tackle climate change.
'Hypocrisy'
He told BBC News: "I accept that there are some crucial meetings where being in the same room with other people does bring a new dimension to your ability to make progress. [But] was that necessary 30 times in the lead up to COP26? That, I think, is a completely different matter.
"We need to maximise the way in which we avoid travel and we avoid adding to the emissions that creates and we need to lead by example, and I am afraid that is not what we are seeing."
The Green Party's Baroness Jones also said she "despaired at the inability of Tory ministers to grasp their hypocrisy of talking about our climate emergency then behaving as normal."
But a government spokesman said: "Helping the world tackle the climate emergency is an international priority for the government.
"Virtual meetings play a large part, however face-to-face meetings are key to success in the climate negotiations the UK is leading as hosts of COP26 and are crucial to understanding first-hand the opportunities and challenges other countries are facing in the fight against climate change."
It is also understood the government plans to offset the emissions associated with travel by Mr Sharma and other UK officials in the run up to COP26.
Exemption for ministers
Mr Sharma is also facing further criticism for not quarantining on his return from the trips, including from red list countries, such as Bangladesh and Turkey.
UK citizens are advised not to travel to red list countries "except in the most extreme of circumstances" - but if they do, they are required by law to quarantine in a government-approved hotel for 10 days at a cost of £2,285 for one adult.
Breaking this law can result in a fine of up to £10,000.
However, "Crown servants" - or government ministers - are exempt from this rule if they travel to carry out "essential government work".
Lib Dem Ms Olney said the policy showed the government had "fallen completely out of touch with the concept of decency".
She added: "While Alok Sharma flies to red list countries with abandon, hard-working families can hardly see loved-ones or plan holidays as the government changes travel rules on the hoof.
"People are sick of the government giving themselves get-out-of-jail free passes while the rest of us stick to the rules."
The government said Covid tests were taken frequently by Mr Sharma and all members of the delegation, and measures were put in place to ensure social distancing at all events.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiL2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jby51ay9uZXdzL3VrLXBvbGl0aWNzLTU4MTEyNjIx0gEzaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmJjLmNvLnVrL25ld3MvdWstcG9saXRpY3MtNTgxMTI2MjEuYW1w?oc=5
2021-08-06 10:11:17Z
52781778273556
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar