Mr Johnson needs a “big-hitter” to get the COP26 event back on track after he sacked the former energy minister Claire O’Neill as its president. But the former prime minister said no to the high-profile role, which would involve extensive visits to national governments and institutions such as the EU to get them on board. The COP26 president would then assume the role of chairman during the summit itself in November.

It was an honour to be asked to do that job and I’m very grateful to have been asked

David Cameron

Mr Cameron said: “It was an honour to be asked to do that job and I’m very grateful to have been asked.

“But I think it’s best in these situations if you have a Government minister doing the job; you then have one line of command rather than, perhaps, two people doing the same thing.

“There are a lot of things I have already agreed to do this year, not least the work I do for Alzheimer’s Research UK, so I thought it was important that I carried on with that work.”

He continued: “But I wish the Government well, I wish this climate change conference well, because it’s absolutely vital.

“I’m sure that there will be a Government minister, or someone, who will be able to do the job and do it very well. The Government has my backing as they go forward.”

Another former Tory leader, Lord Hague, is also understood to have been sounded out by Downing Street but has also turned down the offer.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has nominated his predecessor Ed Miliband for the climate summit job.

Mr Corbyn’s officials spokesman said: “Ed Miliband is certainly someone who has a strong record and would be an entirely suitable person.

“The issue is not exactly who should take on the role, but that it’s somebody with credibility.

“The performance we have seen in the last day or two over this subject is just a reflection of the fact that Boris Johnson is not serious about the climate crisis.”

Ms O’Neill’s dismissal was justified by Number 10, which said it had been decided the job was a “ministerial role”.

She hit back at Mr Johnson earlier this week by questioning his green credentials and claiming he had privately admitted he “doesn’t really understand” climate change.

In a personal attack on the Prime Minister, Ms O’Neill said: “My advice to anybody to whom Boris is making promises — whether it is voters, world leaders, ministers, employees or indeed to family members — is to get it in writing, get a lawyer to look at it and make sure the money is in the bank.”

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Mr Corbyn and Mr Johnson clashed over the issue at Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons today.

Mr Corbyn quoted Ms O’Neill, saying “there has been a huge lack of leadership and engagement from this Government”.

Mr Johnson replied: “If you look at what this Government is achieving and already has achieved on climate change, it is quite phenomenal.”

The UN climate talks are the most important since the Paris Agreement to curb global warming was secured in 2015.

Countries are expected to deliver more ambitious domestic plans for cutting greenhouse gases by 2030, as current proposals are not enough to prevent dangerous temperature rises.

Pressure is also on countries to set out long-term plans for cutting emissions, with the science now clear that the world must reduce greenhouse gases to zero in a matter of decades to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

The run-up to the talks will require a major diplomatic effort from the UK to secure ambitious climate action from countries – at a time when Britain is also negotiating trade agreements with the EU and other nations.

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