Today, both Prime Minister Keir Starmer and HRH The Prince of Wales addressed the Belém Climate Summit, demonstrating the UK’s commitment to international climate action ahead of COP30.
CAN-UK welcomes the clear signal sent by this highest-level representation at this meeting of world leaders in Belém, Brazil. COP30 is a crucial moment to demonstrate the power of multilateralism, the progress to date, but also to garner greater action and ambition to meet the moment. A lot of progress is needed over the next two weeks of negotiations, and we hope today’s statements set the path for ambitious outcomes.
The Prime Minister said that the UK is doubling down on the fight against climate change – as an investment in improving the lives of working people here and now, to create thousands of jobs and bring down bills, stating: the UK is all in.
HRH Prince William said that the time for partnership, protection, and progress is now, and delivered a call to action to build a future where nature is valued and where every child inherits a world of prosperity, not peril.
CAN-UK and our members are here in Belém throughout COP30 and urges the UK to put these words into action in these negotiations and beyond.
Catherine Pettengell, Executive Director of Climate Action Network UK (CAN-UK) said:
“A strong message was sent today from the highest levels of government of the UK’s commitment to international cooperation and to improving the lives of people in the UK and around the world by tackling the climate emergency. We look forward to seeing the ambition of today’s words translated into action at COP30 and in the Budget later this month. It was disappointing the Prime Minister did not come here to announce the UK’s new commitment for international climate finance – with the current commitment ending shortly, the UK must come forward urgently with its fair share to be credible.”
Rachael Orr, CEO at Climate Outreach said:
“We need this COP to chart a clear path to cleaner air, cheaper, more secure energy and warmer homes. People back these policies, and want to see ambitious leadership from Governments to help chart the course. The British public are on side when it comes to investing in renewables, protecting nature, and hearing the benefits of tackling climate change.
“COP30 presents an opportunity for our leaders to represent the strong support for climate action at home – reminding us of the progress the UK is already making, and how we can build on this progress in the coming years.”
Beccy Speight, the RSPB’s Chief Executive said:
“Prince William emphasised the need to tackle climate and nature together, not separately. COP30 is a key moment to unite efforts and secure real action to stop and reverse deforestation. The UK must lead on this both at COP and at home.”
Beth John, Climate Justice Advisor at Oxfam GB said:
“The Prime Minister is right to acknowledge the immense potential of climate action to deliver tangible benefits for workers and communities in the UK, and the opportunity for the UK to take a leading role in global climate leadership.
“However, warm words alone won’t suffice. If the UK truly intends to be “all in” on fighting the climate crisis, it must place fairness and better lives at the heart of its climate agenda. That means championing a genuinely just transition – one that protects workers, supports communities and tackles global inequality. This must include ramping up support for nations on the frontlines of climate impacts.
“To choose a better path toward a fairer, greener future, it is time to move on from promises and deliver on fair climate action, at home and around the world.”
Sam Perriman, Public Policy Lead at Tearfund said:
“We need to see wealthy nations, including the UK, to step up and turn the $300bn promised into the $1.3tn needed to mitigate and adapt to climate breakdown. Ten years on, Belém is the moment we must recommit to the hopeful vision and ambition of the promises made in Paris.’
“Tearfund’s partners around the world see firsthand how communities living in poverty are struggling to adapt to an unpredictable climate. Wealthy nations have a responsibility to help these communities adapt to a crisis they didn’t cause. It’s time to foot the bill.”
Jennifer Larbie, Christian Aid’s Head of Campaigns and UK Advocacy said:
“The world faces a climate emergency, and it requires leaders like Prime Minister Keir Starmer to act now and encourage others to do the same. It is therefore right that he attended in person.
“Christian Aid has welcomed the UK governments’ plans to move faster on green energy transition at home, but that was announced at last year’s COP. The UK government needs to do much more to meet its responsibilities and deliver justice to those on the frontline of the climate emergency.
“The Prime Minister looks set to walk away from COP in Brazil without a credible, properly funded package on climate finance that helps vulnerable people adapt or tackle climate caused loss and damage.
“That is neither a reset or the UK becoming a respected player on the global stage. The Prime Minister needs to put forward a respectable climate finance commitment without further delay, which can be funded by fairly taxing polluters.”
Gavin Crowden, Director of Advocacy at WWF said:
“We’re glad the PM finally decided to attend COP30 and reaffirmed that the UK’s commitment to global climate action is strong. Decarbonising the UK power sector makes economic sense but, as the PM acknowledged, the climate and nature crisis is global and the UK must play its role in global solutions. Failing to invest in the Tropical Forest Forever Facility at this stage falls short of being ‘all in’, and we urge the PM to reconsider.”
Ellie Kinney, Senior Climate Advocacy Officer, The Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS) said:
“Calling climate change the greatest threat to our security while draining the aid budget to fund tanks and fighter jets is like locking the doors and throwing away the key while the house is still on fire.
“The UK must choose: a liveable planet or a larger weapons arsenal. At COP30, the government must lead by example: count military emissions, cut them in line with 1.5°C, and urgently shift spending from rockets to resilience.”
Izzie McIntosh, Campaigns and Policy Manager at Global Justice Now said:
“The UK has made some commendable commitments to reducing emissions and accelerating green jobs at home, but that’s no excuse for showing up to COP30 empty handed. Claiming to stand with countries like Jamaica, which has lost an estimated 30% of its GDP to Hurricane Melissa, while making no additional finance promises asks climate vulnerable countries to suspend all disbelief. If Starmer is really all in for the fight against climate change, he must be bold and take power away from polluting corporations and billionaires, making them pay for the damage they’ve knowingly done to our world.”
Debbie Hillier, Mercy Corps Global Climate Policy Lead said:
“UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s speech stressed optimism and opportunities; it was less rich on specifics. What will the UK bring to COP30, what will they champion? It is heartening to hear that the UK is ‘all in for climate’ but what does that look like in practice? It would mean committing to both the UK’s own climate obligations and to seriously ramping up support for climate action in developing countries. It would mean supporting developing countries’ call for a tripling of the (currently woefully inadequate) support for adaptation. The UK has previously been a real champion for adaptation finance – the Glasgow commitment sunsets this year and so there is a clear role for the UK to build on this momentum, and to secure their important legacy, by championing a commitment to triple adaptation finance at COP30.”
Mark Barrell, Director of Advocacy and Influencing at CBM UK said:
“Whilst there was welcome recognition of the serious impacts of climate change—often falling hardest on those who have contributed least—alongside calls for inclusion, there was a notable absence of a disability perspective. 1 billion people with disabilities live in countries at risk from climate disasters and recent events in the Caribbean, the Philippines and the Pacific Islands have demonstrated the devastating impact on those most often left behind.
“The UK government must not miss this opportunity at COP30 to make sure people with disabilities and other marginalised communities are included in climate action. Disability inclusion should not be an afterthought as we transition towards renewable energy and green jobs. By including people with disabilities at the table – 1 in 6 people worldwide – we can build a just world where future generations can thrive.”
ENDS
Notes for editors:
- Climate Action Network UK (CAN-UK) brings together international development and environment organisations in the UK working on the poverty-nature-climate agenda to advocate for climate justice and sustainable development for all.
- CAN-UK is the UK node of Climate Action Network (CAN), a global network of more than 1,900 civil society organisations in over 130 countries driving collective and sustainable action to fight the climate crisis and to achieve social and racial justice. climatenetwork.org.
- Read CAN-UK’s COP30 briefing paper, which outlines our key asks for COP30.
- On the 13th October, CAN-UK and more than 45 charities, campaigns and trade unions called for the UK to champion an ambitious outcome on just transition at COP30. You can read the open letter here.
- CAN-UK Executive Director Catherine Pettengell will be attending COP30 in Belém, Brazil and is available for interview. Email Catherine Pettengell on cpettengell@can-uk.org
