Dutch PM will not attend climate summit due to aftermath of Amsterdam riots

Prime Minister Dick Schoof will not be attending the climate summit in Azerbaijan next week, he announced on X. "Due to the major social impact of the events of last Thursday night in Amsterdam, I will remain in the Netherlands," said the Prime Minister.

At COP29 he will be replaced by the Climate Envoy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Jaime de Bourbon de Parme. Also present on behalf of the cabinet will be Sophie Hermans, Minister of Climate and Green Growth.

Schoof says that the Council of Ministers will discuss the events in Amsterdam on Monday and that tackling anti-Semitism is on the agenda on Tuesday. "In addition, I will be talking to various Jewish organizations and social organizations on Tuesday about tackling anti-Semitism and the unrest and concerns that exist there."

The Prime Minister also says he would "like to be available" for a debate that the House of Representatives wants to hold on the violence against Israelis, a debate that will probably take place in the short term.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also announced earlier this week that he will not attend the COP, due to the collapse of his government. French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Joe Biden, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and IMF President Kristalina Georgieva will also not attend.

On behalf of the EU, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is also absent as she is busy preparing her committee, which includes hearings in the European Parliament. Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra is expected at the climate summit.