Former climate change minister Barker will join prime minister David Cameron in New York
Greg Barker was the UK’s climate change minister until a reshuffle in July
(Source: DECC)
By Megan Darby
Greg Barker will join prime minister David Cameron in the UK delegation to New York next week, he revealed on Thursday.
Cameron has appointed the former minister as his envoy on climate change, days ahead of the summit called by UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.
Barker plans to fly out early to take part in the People’s Climate March on Sunday.
With key UN Summit just days away, delighted to be formally appointed today to the new post of Prime Minister’s Envoy on Climate Change
— Greg Barker (@GregBarkerMP) September 18, 2014
The main event is on Tuesday, when world leaders are to pledge climate actions.
The UN says more than 125 heads of state have confirmed their attendance.
These include US president Barack Obama but not China’s Xi Jinping or India’s Narendra Modi.
China is sending vice premier Zhang Gaoli and India is expected to be represented by environment minister Prakash Javadekar.
Around the summit, business and civil society groups are hosting a wide range of events, with several reports being launched.
UK international development minister Justine Greening and energy minister Amber Rudd are named to attend sessions on forests and carbon markets respectively.