Rio Earth Summit postponed after clash with Queen's diamond jubilee

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Guardian

Brazil has postponed the biggest environmental summit in 20 years to avoid a clash with the Queen's diamond jubilee.

The Rio+20 summit was scheduled for 4-6 June but has been moved to 20-22 June to avoid jeopardising the attendance of 54 Commonwealth leaders, including David Cameron. But Cameron, who said last month that he would not attend, is still not planning to attend, Downing Street said on Monday, despite his pledge to lead the "greenest government ever".

Instead, the environment secretary, Caroline Spelman, will be leading the negotiations, a Downing Street spokesman said.

Though Brazil has not officially confirmed the date change, president Dilma Rousseff indicated at the G20 meeting in Cannes on Friday that the summit would be postponed. The Guardian understands European governments are already working to the new dates.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/nov/07/rio-earth-summit-postponed-queen-jubilee