The Mayor of West Yorkshire has come under fire after jetting 5,700 miles to the COP30 climate conference Brazil.
Tracy Brabin took to X on Monday to share a snap of herself in Rio de Janeiro, where she will be participating in the C40 World Mayors Summit this week.
She’s set to join leaders from around the world, including London‘s Sadiq Khan, to push for bolder action on climate to create jobs, cut energy bills, and drive economic growth.
The former Coronation Street and Emmerdale star told her followers: ‘With devolution, we no longer have to wait for national leaders to rescue us from the cost of living and climate crisis. We’re taking bold action ourselves to deliver real change.
‘I’m at @c40citites to push for more work on climate to create jobs, cut bills, and drive growth.’
But Brabin’s comment section was flooded with messages from viewers who ridiculed her for ‘saving the climate by flying 5000 miles’.
One fuming X user wrote: ‘If any of you truly believed in the cause the conference would have been conducted by zoom. Enjoy your jolly.’
Another said: ‘Stopping climate change, one long haul flight at a time.’
A third added: ‘How does flying halfway around the world ‘rescue us from the climate crisis’? Hypocrisy of the highest order.’
Tracy Brabin took to X on Monday to share a snap of herself in Rio de Janeiro, where she will be participating in the C40 World Mayors Summit this week
Brabin, pictured in September, was quickly ridiculed over her post
‘If you actually thought climate is a crisis, a regional mayor of no global significance would not travel halfway across the world for something that could’ve been done online.
‘So, can only presume you’re not that worried or you do but freebie trip was too much to turn down!’ one wrote.
A fifth asked: ‘How much CO2 are your flights emitting?’
Brabin said: ‘West Yorkshire is proving that net zero does not have to mean extra costs for hardworking families – it can mean better-paid jobs, lower bills and more vibrant communities for all.
‘By investing in skills, working with business and backing innovation in our booming green sector, we’re powering new industries and pushing ahead to meet our target of a net zero West Yorkshire by 2038.
‘I’m joining London Mayor Sadiq Khan in Rio this week to show that with devolution, we no longer have to sit around and wait for national leaders to rescue us from the cost of living and the climate crisis – we can take bold action ourselves to deliver real change.’
Daily Mail has approached Brabin’s office for comment.
The C40 World Mayors Summit 2025, co-hosted by the Mayor of London and C40 Cities Co-Chair Sadiq Khan and the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes, brings together mayors from nearly 100 C40 cities, alongside business leaders, philanthropists, investors, academics, and civil society.
Taking place from November 3 to November 5, just days before COP30 in Belém, the Summit marks a critical moment for city-led climate action.
It comes just three weeks after Brabin jetted off to India with Sir Kier Starmer alongside around 125 business chiefs, cultural leaders and university bosses in what Downing Street described as the UK’s largest ever trade mission to the country.
Brabin said she would be raising West Yorkshire’s financial and professional services, creative industries and sporting institutions.
‘I’m proud to be here banging the drum for West Yorkshire – showing off our amazing talent in the creative industries and financial services, and building the strong and enduring partnerships that will bring jobs and investment to the UK for generations to come,’ she said.
‘With a government that’s backing mayors to take our regions to the world, devolution is empowering the whole country to contribute to its economic success.’
