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.
