Climate action will be central to ‘all’ foreign policy, David Lammy says

Sep 17, 2024 Story by: Editor

In his first significant speech as foreign secretary, David Lammy highlighted the critical role of addressing climate and nature crises within the context of global geopolitics, conflict, and security. “Action on the climate and nature crisis will be central to all the Foreign Office does,” Lammy emphasized.

He pointed out both the urgency of the threat and the potential opportunities that climate action could bring. The new Labour government aims to rejuvenate the UK’s energy strategy, reaffirming its status as a leader in global climate efforts—a role that was more prominent during the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow but diminished under the leadership of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

A key aspect of the government’s approach is its goal to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2030, primarily through renewable energy and nuclear power. This ambitious target, while not drastically different from the Conservative Party’s goal of 2035, accelerates the timeline by five years. The Labour government plans to leverage this target to urge other nations to expedite their own decarbonization efforts.

As part of this effort, the Foreign Office introduced the “Global Clean Power Alliance,” intended to foster international collaboration on clean energy systems. Although the alliance currently lacks fresh funding and members, it is seen as a diplomatic tool to strengthen ties with other countries on climate issues.

The UK government has already committed to spending £11.6 billion between 2021-22 and 2025-26 to help developing countries adapt to and mitigate climate change. Lammy reiterated that this goal remains unchanged, despite the financial challenges the government faces.

When questioned by Sky News’ science and technology editor, Tom Clarke, about how these ambitious targets would be achieved given fiscal constraints, Lammy acknowledged the concern, referencing the £22 billion fiscal “black hole” the government claims to have inherited. He stressed that it’s essential to prioritize this agenda for the UK’s economic growth, saying, “We should keep hope alive.”

International climate advocate Harjeet Singh, from the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, welcomed the UK’s renewed focus on climate, noting that it “sends a clear signal that climate and nature are back on [the UK’s] agenda.” However, he urged the government to follow through with tangible actions, funding, and technologies to help developing nations transition away from fossil fuels and address climate challenges. “True leadership goes beyond speeches and announcements,” Singh added, calling for more concrete steps. Source: News Sky