Ed Miliband is preparing for a repeat performance that has raised eyebrows across the UK.
The Energy Secretary is set to fly a 12,000-mile round trip twice in two weeks to attend the COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, a journey that critics say clashes with his Net Zero messaging.
Just ten days ago, Miliband travelled with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Prince William from Rio de Janeiro to Belem for the climate talks.
After returning to the UK last Sunday, he is scheduled to head back to Brazil this coming Saturday, making the identical long-haul journey once again.
Luxury Dining and Eco Credentials Under Scrutiny
During his first stay in Brazil, Miliband was spotted dining at a rooftop restaurant overlooking Rio, above the £1,250-a-night Tivoli hotel where he and several colleagues were staying.
Social media users and critics have questioned the optics of high-end dinners and luxury stays while campaigning on climate issues.
Joining him were fellow eco campaigners, including former Extinction Rebellion lawyer Tobias Garnett and Rachel Kyte, the UK’s special climate representative.
The lavish setting, combined with the long-haul flights, sparked debate over the environmental impact of such trips.
The Cost to Taxpayers and the Carbon Footprint
By the time Miliband completes his second trip, his flights are expected to cost taxpayers around £22,000 and generate roughly six tons of CO2 — roughly equivalent to the annual carbon footprint of a typical UK household.
A source at the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero defended the travel, saying: “It’s a lot easier for everyone to meet in person – trying to organise a summit of this scale on Teams or Zoom just wouldn’t work, it would be chaos.”
Critics Say Focus Should Be at Home
The Tory opposition has not held back. Shadow Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho called the double trip “beyond parody,” arguing that ordinary Brits are suffering from rising energy bills while Miliband jets around the world promoting climate change initiatives.
Critics point to the seeming contradiction of advocating Net Zero while accruing a hefty carbon footprint from repeated long-haul flights.
Rachel Kyte’s Globe-Trotting Record Raises Eyebrows
Rachel Kyte, the UK’s climate envoy, has also been under scrutiny for her extensive travel.
In her first nine months in office, she flew the equivalent of three times around the world, mostly in business class, costing taxpayers £38,769 and creating a significant personal carbon footprint.
Kyte has acknowledged her discomfort with the environmental impact of her job but continues to travel extensively for climate negotiations.
While in Belem last week, she was seen dining at a local riverside restaurant, enjoying a three-course meal that, while modest in cost, represents a notable amount relative to local wages.
A Large UK Delegation Heads to COP30
The official UK delegation for COP30 is sizable, with at least 19 people expected to attend alongside Miliband.
Climate Minister Katie White will join later in the week, adding more flights and emissions.
While officials have promised that the UK’s carbon footprint will be offset, exact figures have not been provided.
Miliband Champions Net Zero While Facing Criticism
Despite the controversy, Miliband has remained vocal about his climate agenda.
In media interviews and promotional videos from the UK pavilion at COP30, he urged global collaboration to tackle climate change, described Britain’s clean energy push, and called for optimism despite criticism.
Critics, however, argue that the optics of long-haul flights and luxury stays undermine the message, with some estimating the climate policies could cost Britain as much as £50 billion a year.
Prime Minister Starmer Shows UK Leadership
Starmer himself attended the summit, making the 12,000-mile trip to “show UK leadership” at the World Leaders Summit, despite the absence of some major international figures.
A spokesperson emphasised that the delegation’s emissions would be offset, and that attending in person was necessary for effective negotiations.
The Debate Over Travel and Climate Policy Continues
As Miliband prepares for his second trip to Brazil, the conversation around climate leadership, taxpayer money, and environmental responsibility remains heated.
For many, the challenge lies in balancing the optics of green policies with the practicalities of global diplomacy — a tightrope the UK government will continue to walk as COP30 progresses.