Boris Johnson prepares for centre stage to slam ‘corrosive cynicism’

Boris Johnson will make his first major public speech since stepping down as Prime Minister (Image: GETTY)Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to appear at COP27 just two months after leaving Downing Street. Mr Johnson will tell his audience that ‘naysayers’ will not threaten net-zero ambitions that were pledged by countries across the world at the international session in Glasgow last year. Mr Johnson will tell a Climate Forward event organised by The New York Times: “Because the spike in oil and gas prices – and the consequent global inflation, the hikes in the cost of fertiliser and food – have had an impact here and everywhere, they have led some naysayers to a corrosive cynicism about net zero. We must end the defeatism that has crept in since last year, we must end Putin’s energy blackmail, we must keep up our campaign to end global dependence on hydrocarbons, and if we retain the spirit of creative and promethean optimism that we saw at Paris and Glasgow, then we can keep 1.5 alive.” Mr Johnson will be attended the conference in Egypt at the same time as his former Chancellor turned Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who u-turned on his decision not to attend COP27 last week.FOLLOW BELOW FOR UPDATES… 10 mins ago07:54 Aliss HighamGood morning from London. I’m Aliss Higham, I’ll be bringing you all the latest developments on COP27 today. Please feel free to get in touch with me as I work if you have a story or tips to share! Your thoughts are always welcome.Email: aliss.higham@reachplc.com