The prime minister has been criticised for travelling to the G7 summit in Cornwall by plane, instead of taking the train.

Boris Johnson arrived in Cornwall for the gathering of some of the world’s most developed economies, with climate change set to be high on the agenda.

A picture of the PM stepping off on a jet was posted on his Twitter account, alongside the caption: “I’ve arrived in Cornwall for this year’s @G7 where I’ll be asking my fellow leaders to rise to the challenge of beating the pandemic and building back better, fairer and greener.

“It will be a busy and important Summit, and I can’t wait to get started.”

I’ve arrived in Cornwall for this year’s @G7 where I’ll be asking my fellow leaders to rise to the challenge of beating the pandemic and building back better, fairer and greener.

It will be a busy and important Summit, and I can’t wait to get started.#G7UK pic.twitter.com/H4VSQ2SCD6

Labour’s shadow environment secretary Luke Pollard labelled the move “plane stupid”.

“There’s no train line from Cornwall to Washington or Tokyo but there is to London. The prime minister should have taken the train, not got a plane,” he said.

Asked about his decision to fly into the summit, Mr Johnson said: “If you attack my arrival by plane, I respectfully point out that the UK is actually in the lead in developing sustainable aviation fuel.

“One of the points in the 10-point plan of our green industrial revolution is to get to jet zero as well as net zero.”

Other world leaders arrived in Cornwall on Wednesday, with Joe Biden landing at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk on Air Force One.

Rather than using making the train journey from Paddington to London, Mr Johnson took the 250 miles (400km) trip From Stansted airport to Newquay in Cornwall.

Taking a plane creates almost five times more greenhouse gas emissions than the equivalent train journey, according to the government’s own emission figures.

Listen and follow ClimateCast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Spreaker

One of the key policy priorities of this year’s summit is to “create a greener, more prosperous future”.

The summit’s website adds: “We will protect the future of our planet by moving to net zero and providing financial support for developing countries to do the same.”

In November, Glasgow will host COP26, where parties are expected to commit to enhanced ambitions.

Related posts:

House of Lords Speaker to step down early to campaign on HIV/Aids and LGBT rights COVID roadmaps and the Budget tax debate ‘Unhelpful and redundant’: Boris Johnson told to ‘scrap use of BAME label’ Michael Gove receives COVID app alert following Portugal visit Sajid Javid’s COVID approach has party support – but scientists are getting worried Row builds over potential amber travel watchlist – and Spanish holidays could be among the first affected No more isolation for fully vaccinated arrivals from France, as India moved off red list Raab says evacuations from Kabul airport could resume ‘in the near future’ following discussions with Qatar Ministers face difficult decision on whether to overrule JCVI’s finding on vaccinating children NHS waiting lists ‘could double to 12 million by 2025 due to pandemic backlog’, watchdog warns MPs give up second jobs worth £250k a year in wake of Westminster sleaze row Starmer says MPs do not need pay rise this year amid cost of living crisis