Foreign Secretary David Lammy puts the climate and nature emergency at the centre of UK foreign policy in a major speech at Kew Gardens today.
Catherine Pettengell, Executive Director of CAN-UK said:
“What we have heard today from the Foreign Secretary is important recognition that in Global North countries including the UK, rhetoric has not been matched by action, and there is an urgent need to rebuild trust and unlock finance for countries and communities on the frontline of the climate and nature emergencies.”
The Foreign Secretary crucially highlighted the link between climate justice and racial justice in an important call to action for the UK and other G7 nations to do more to address systemic injustices. He referred to the escalating climate and nature emergency and its impacts as failures of politics, a failures of regulation, and a failures of international cooperation,” and committed to resetting the UK’s approach to climate and nature, putting it at the heart of government and diplomatic efforts, while highlighting the limitations and constraints of the current public finances.
Catherine Pettengell said:
“We welcome today’s announcement that climate and nature envoys will be appointed – this is an important signal of the intention of the UK to reset its international relationships and credibility on these most crucial geopolitical issues. The existential threat we all face from the climate and nature emergencies can only be tackled with global cooperation, and we urgently need new high-level efforts to deliver action and rebuild trust.
International climate finance at a scale that meets the needs of developing countries is key to building that trust and being able to implement the climate and nature action needed. We welcome the Foreign Secretary’s prioritisation of agreeing a new climate finance goal at COP29 that is ambitious and focused on developing countries – but we have not yet seen that translate into a concrete proposal from the UK. With time running out to secure an ambitious agreement at COP29 in November, UK civil society organisations are writing to the Prime Minister this week to highlight the need for urgent high-level political and diplomatic prioritisation now and next week at UNGA to get an outcome that really delivers for developing countries at COP29.
Today’s speech signals an important turning point in the UK’s approach to international cooperation on climate and nature action, and a new focus on justice and delivering systematic change. This is hugely welcome, but there is much still to be done to ensure this is quickly translated into concrete action that delivers for those on the frontline.”
