Environmental diplomacy

Foreign Affairs Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 3 Mar 2020 Closed: 25 Jun 2021 Parliament page
This inquiry will examine how the FCO conducts environmental diplomacy, what the UK’s strategy is bringing all government departments together, and the FCO’s management of the tension between environmental goals and other diplomatic objectives. In particular, the Committee will focus on preparations for COP26, speaking to other recent host countries … Read more
10 Recommendations
4 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
2 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 12 events
25 Jun
2021
Report published
18 May
2021
Oral evidence
18 May
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
19 Apr
2021
Report published
14 Apr
2021
Correspondence
16 Mar
2021
Oral evidence
16 Mar
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual
19 Jan
2021
Oral evidence
19 Jan
2021
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Virtual meeting
13 Jan
2021
Correspondence
10 Mar
2020
Oral evidence
10 Mar
2020
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
18 May 2021
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Dr John Murton · COP26 Unit, Cabinet Office Peter Hill · Cabinet Office Ros Eales · COP26 Unit, Cabinet Office Rt Hon Alok Sharma
16 Mar 2021
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Dr Katharine Rietig · Newcastle University Laurence Tubiana · European Climate Foundation Professor Robert Falkner · London School of Economics
19 Jan 2021
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Dr Richard Powell · Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge Heather Conley · Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Professor Klaus Dodds · Royal Holloway University of London
10 Mar 2020
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Katie White · WWF Pete Betts · Chatham House Shane Tomlinson · E3G - Third Generation Environmentalism
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Seventh Report: A climate for ambition: Diplomatic preparations … HC 202 19 Apr 2021 14 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
14 results
1 Conclusion
Seventh Report: A climate for ambi…
COP26 will be a key moment for global climate action.
COP26 will be a key moment for global climate action. We have been encouraged by the number of countries that have expressed the importance of the climate agenda in international fora; COP26 must now translate these words into actions. The … Read more
Government Response
1.1 COP26 will be the moment we secure our path to global net zero emissions by 2050 and define the next decade of tackling climate change. 1.2 This November at … Read more
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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2 Recommendation
Seventh Report: A climate for ambi…
We welcome the Government’s announcement of four headline ‘objectives’ for its COP26 Presidency.
We welcome the Government’s announcement of four headline ‘objectives’ for its COP26 Presidency. However, beyond this announcement there has been little detail on what the UK Government wants to achieve. Setting ambitious expectations will be crucial to securing the success … Read more
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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3 Recommendation
Seventh Report: A climate for ambi…
We welcome the Government’s commitment to make climate change its number one international priority this...
We welcome the Government’s commitment to make climate change its number one international priority this year, but the responsibility of the UK does not end when COP26 concludes. The UK must continue its efforts as the torchbearer for the next … Read more
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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4 Conclusion
Seventh Report: A climate for ambi…
Environmental diplomacy can enhance the UK’s global leadership in line with the UK’s vision for...
Environmental diplomacy can enhance the UK’s global leadership in line with the UK’s vision for ‘Global Britain’ set out in the Integrated Review. Covid-19 has delayed international progress on climate action but has provided more time for the UK to … Read more
Government Response
4.1 As set out in the Integrated Review, tackling climate change and biodiversity loss is this Government’s number one international priority. COP26 is a critical step and the Foreign Secretary … Read more
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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5 Recommendation
Seventh Report: A climate for ambi…
The Government should ensure its objectives for COP26 are brought into all of the FCDO’s...
The Government should ensure its objectives for COP26 are brought into all of the FCDO’s foreign policy activity, including trade deals, decisions on overseas aid and bilateral and multilateral conversations with other UNFCCC parties. The Government’s international development strategy should … Read more
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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6 Recommendation
Seventh Report: A climate for ambi…
All countries share a common interest in preserving the planet—the global impacts of the climate...
All countries share a common interest in preserving the planet—the global impacts of the climate crisis mean that COP26 will provide an opportunity for the UK to exercise soft power and rebuild relationships with key countries where differences remain on … Read more
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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7 Recommendation
Seventh Report: A climate for ambi…
The US Climate Summit and COP15 (the biodiversity COP) will be two key moments where...
The US Climate Summit and COP15 (the biodiversity COP) will be two key moments where the UK will need to take stock of progress and push for increased ambition. As the COP26 President, the UK should play a leading role … Read more
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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8 Recommendation
Seventh Report: A climate for ambi…
The UK has a strong record for building coalitions for climate action, such as the...
The UK has a strong record for building coalitions for climate action, such as the High Ambition Coalition at UN climate negotiations, and it could build upon this A climate for ambition: Diplomatic preparations for COP26 21 during its COP … Read more
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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9 Recommendation
Seventh Report: A climate for ambi…
In order to map the whole picture, it is important that the Government organise inclusive...
In order to map the whole picture, it is important that the Government organise inclusive pre-meetings and do not simply hold pre-meetings on a regional basis. The Government should publish the agenda of these meetings to ensure inclusivity and to … Read more
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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10 Recommendation
Seventh Report: A climate for ambi…
It is essential that domestic policy decisions support rather than undermine diplomatic efforts.
It is essential that domestic policy decisions support rather than undermine diplomatic efforts. We recommend that the UK leads by example and sets ambitious domestic climate policies. We welcome the introduction of the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio and recommend that … Read more
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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11 Conclusion
Seventh Report: A climate for ambi…
COP26 must aim to secure a form of realistic pricing of carbon output that prevents...
COP26 must aim to secure a form of realistic pricing of carbon output that prevents carbon offshoring and fully prices in the cost of the production of goods and transport. Building on the G7 and G20 to ensure the burden … Read more
Government Response
11.1 As the world transitions to net zero, it is important we ensure that ambitious climate policy interventions do not lead to carbon leakage. Carbon pricing is not a mandated … Read more
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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12 Recommendation
Seventh Report: A climate for ambi…
For COP26 to be successful, the Government will need to ensure that negotiations are inclusive...
For COP26 to be successful, the Government will need to ensure that negotiations are inclusive and take into account the viewpoints of the Least Developed Countries and the countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. It will not … Read more
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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13 Recommendation
Seventh Report: A climate for ambi…
The UK Government must recognise that it may not be possible for 30,000 delegates to...
The UK Government must recognise that it may not be possible for 30,000 delegates to attend a conference in November. There is a distinct possibility that large parts of the summit will have to be moved online or downscaled because … Read more
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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14 Conclusion
Seventh Report: A climate for ambi…
Given the commitment of the global environmental community to a green agenda, a downscaled COP26...
Given the commitment of the global environmental community to a green agenda, a downscaled COP26 could become the first expression of a new approach to international climate diplomacy, rejecting airmiles for airwaves and living the message of carbon neutrality. (Paragraph … Read more
Government Response
14.1 Our intent remains to hold the main conference in person, respecting the wishes of parties, many of whom feel strongly that the negotiations are best conducted in person to … Read more
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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Correspondence 2 letters
14 Apr 2021 Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary on COP26 preparations, dated 06/04/2021 and 23/03/2021
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13 Jan 2021 Correspondence with the Prime Minister relating to the appointment of the Right Honourable Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP as the International Champion for Adaptation and Resilience for the COP26 Presidency, dated 24/11/2020 and 21/12/2020
Parliament page