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Khan Faces Air-Miles Row at Rio C40 Summit After Calling Trump a 'Climate Wrecker'

C40 is expected to fund his Rio travel, prompting renewed scrutiny after GLA data showed a £83,921 Africa mission with business‑class legs.

Overview

  • He has flown roughly 12,000 miles round trip to Rio de Janeiro to attend the C40 mayors’ summit, a large gathering of city leaders focused on the climate emergency where he serves as co‑chair.
  • In his keynote address, Sadiq Khan described US President Donald Trump as among the climate 'wreckers' and highlighted London policies including Ulez and plans for more solar panels on schools.
  • Greater London Authority figures show July’s Africa trade mission to Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa cost £83,921, including £68,330 on flights and business class on two overnight legs.
  • Conservative critics questioned his credibility on emissions, citing a media tally of nearly 28,000 miles of travel over the past year and an analysis estimating high carbon output from the Africa trip.
  • The cost of his Rio visit for him and aides is expected to be covered by C40, which receives funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies, as a Labour Assembly chair warned London is not yet on track for its 2030 net‑zero goal.