(Reuters) – Time to RSVP!
Several prominent leaders have yet to say if they will attend the U.N. COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in person next month, which Britain’s Queen Elizabeth commented on in a moment caught on an open microphone.
Here are some of the delegates who have confirmed they will attend in person and those who have not:
IN
-U.S. President Joe Biden, along with climate envoy John Kerry and domestic climate adviser and former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. The White House says 10 other cabinet officials will also be present.
-Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Prince William along with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge.
-Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett
-Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed on Friday he will go. While many global nations have pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, Australia has refused to strengthen its targets.
-Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez
-Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven
-Swiss President Guy Parmelin
-South Korean President Moon Jae-in is expected to attend, but the presidency has not made an official announcement yet.
-Democratic Republic of Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi, current chair of the African Union.
-Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari
-Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo
OUT OR STILL TO CONFIRM
-China’s Xi Jiping will reportedly not be there in person, given that he has not left China since the COVID-19 pandemic began. He is likely to make an appearance by video.
-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Vice President Hamilton Mourao (who has sometimes been the point man for environment) are not going.
-The Kremlin has not yet announced if Russian President Vladimir Putin will attend.
-Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is not going and Mexico may not send anyone because of pandemic restrictions and costs.
-South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is not going because of local elections on Nov. 1.
-Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez received Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine and is still negotiating with the UK as to whether he can attend.
-New Japanes Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said he is still considering how he will participate, including the possibility of taking part online.
(Editing by Leela de Kretser and Frances Kerry)
