The UK and climate change
Climate change is the greatest challenge facing the world today. The scientific and economic evidence is clear: climate change is happening and it is down to human activities. It is not just an environmental problem but something that threatens international peace and security, prosperity and development. The UK Government is committed to tackling the causes of climate change, mitigating its risks and preparing for and dealing with its consequences.
- At national level, the UK has passed the Climate Change Act, which has made the UK the first country in the world to have a legally binding long-term framework to cut greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. It has set ambitious targets of at least an 80% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050 and at least a 26% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020 and introduced 5-year carbon budgets.
Find here details about Climate Change Act 2008.
- At European level, the UK welcomes the historic agreement on climate change at the December European Council in 2008. The EU now has a package of legally binding commitments that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors to 2020 and beyond. This reaffirms the EU’s position as leaders on climate change and sets the EU on the path to becoming the world’s first low carbon economy.
Find here details on EU Energy and Climate Change Agreement.
- Action in the UK and the EU is essential, but it is not enough. That is why we are working for an ambitious deal at international level to tackle climate change, to include deeper, binding commitments for developed countries and fair, effective contributions from developing countries. The UK is therefore seeking to agree, at the UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009, a comprehensive, global and long-term framework for addressing climate change that puts us on the right pathway for stabilising emissions in the atmosphere at a level that avoids dangerous climate change consistent with global emission pathways in line with the 2°C target. See further information on UNFCCC meeting.
We can act on climate change – but we need to act now.
- Further information can be found at the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband speaks about the impacts of climate change
Foreign Secretary David Miliband discusses the Impact of Climate Change on Vulnerable Countries.
'The premise of this campaign is very, very simple: its that climate change is obviously a scientific question where we need to be guided by the science and understand the science; it is obviously a question of technology as well because it requires different kinds of technology to help us power our economies and our societies; its obviously a cultural question because it challenges some of the assumptions of the throw-away society and how we husband and grow new resources. But climate change is also a profoundly political issue.'
What the UK does to help to reduce the world's emissions of the greenhouse gases?
The UK’s policies and measures for reducing emissions are set out, primarily, in its 2006 Climate Change Programme and its 2007 Energy White Paper. The UK's Climate and Energy Bill is now being debated in the Parliament but the Climate Change Bill will make the UK the first country in the world to have a legally-binding long-term framework to cut carbon emissions and adapt to climate change.
What is the FCO doing to promote a low carbon, high growth economy?
We play a key role in the UK’s international effort to tackle climate change – we are working for:
- the EU to implement an ambitious package of targets for emissions and use of key low carbon technologies
- the EU to lead a global plan for universal deployment of carbon capture and storage
- significant investment in low carbon technologies
- a carbon price to be established in the EU and other major economies such as the G8+5
- the EU working with China to increase two-way flow of low carbon investment
But we need to help create the right political conditions to do this:
- leaders need to see a stable climate is essential for their national security and prosperity
- leaders need to publicly support an ambitious framework
- developing countries need to determine what they want from a framework
- key countries and blocs need to be engaged in negotiations based on mutual trust and scientific and economic evidence.
What does the British Embassy Prague do in the Czech Republic?
British Embassy in Prague is taking an active part in tackling the Climate change issue in the Czech Republic. The Embassy ran "Climate change: Opportunity Through Action" campaign in the Czech Republic during April 2007 and again in the Czech regions in April 2008.
In 2007 we ran a series of events in Prague focused mainly on business. Keynote speakers were the former UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and the former Scientific Chief Adviser to the British Government Sir David King. Attending were business, scientists and academics, NGOs and members of public.
In 2008, the campaign moved to the regions. Explaining why, former British Embassy Climate Change and Energy Attaché Stuart Summers said,
"Action on climate change and the transition to a low carbon economy are top priorities for the UK Government. We believe this is an issue for everyone: not just at the national or international level but also for local governments, businesses and communities. These conferences contribute to the growing regional debate about the challenge we all face from climate change. Reducing our carbon emissions can provide opportunities for businesses and individuals."
Each conference had discussions on the main aspects of the climate change issue - the scientific background, the impact and real life examples of on what local authorities and business are doing to tackle climate change.
