Labour enters office at a crucial moment for climate. To avoid catastrophic warming, emissions must peak next year and global economic transformation is required by 2050. To succeed, this transformation must be just and resilient. While challenges are immense, so are opportunities. The UK’s new leadership can be critical in accelerating this urgent transition.
Bold action around a climate finance goal, ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution updates, delivery on energy transition, and adaptation and resilience is essential to achieve the Paris Agreement goals. Elections across the globe are increasing uncertainty. Crises in Ukraine and the Middle East require political attention, reducing leadership capabilities and worsening North-South trust. In this geopolitical context, Labour’s landslide win provides a critical tailwind – giving the UK a strong mandate to spearhead global efforts to deliver climate action.
Despite diminished climate leadership under recent Conservative rule, the UK retains key diplomatic strengths; an effective and well-organised climate attaché network, strong relationships with several key high-emitting countries, and outsized influence within international financial institutions. It must use these strategically during this crucial period.
Early, strong political signals are needed
International climate leadership requires the UK to “practice what it preaches” and deliver a rapid and just transition domestically. The new government has moved quickly to set up GB Energy, lift the onshore wind ban, and help boost new solar projects. Maintaining this pace and ambition will help ensure the UK can be trusted as a climate leader.
David Lammy’s early Europe trip, as well as strong positive messaging from leaders at July’s European Political Community Summit, demonstrate a strong mutual desire to reset UK-EU relations. Both sides must now design and implement a deep, cross-cutting bilateral partnership, with climate as a priority across security, economic and development cooperation at the technical and political level.
Bilateral relations with Global North allies can support ambition. Germany is one partner with which climate cooperation should be broadened across ministries, including at Leader level, given its leadership in multilateral fora, influence in the EU and progressive climate policy. Following the reaffirmation of commitment to UK-US climate collaboration in July, steps should be taken to ensure transatlantic cooperation can endure, independent of the Presidential Election outcome.
Strong leadership on public finance, the MDB reform agenda, and a generous pledge to the International Development Association (IDA) can help rebuild trust with the Global South. Another step is to reinvigorate the Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs). They are currently facing roadblocks, but the UK can drive forward reforms to support progress. To increase political momentum, the Foreign Secretary should prioritise an early South Africa visit. This will also be strategically important to supporting the G20 climate agenda, given South Africa’s Presidency next year.
Other priority visits include Brazil – a strategically important ally with influence in 2024/5 as Presidency of the G20, BRICS and COP30. Kenya is co-leading a global expert review on debt, climate and nature, and a visit can show UK support and promote recommendations. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Summit in Samoa in October is a good opportunity to engage with vulnerable countries on debt as well as adaptation and resilience (A&R). Samoa is particularly relevant this year, as chair of the Alliance of Small Island States. Vanuatu, a pioneer on A&R, is also worth engaging on this agenda.
September’s UN General Assembly marks this government’s first major multilateral climate moment. In his Leader’s statement, the Prime Minister should signal strong support for climate action and announce that the UK will update its NDC to contain a 78% 2035 target (in line with CCC advice). An ambitious climate finance commitment would send a strong early signal ahead of COP29 and support the UK’s multilateral diplomacy.
Institutional reforms to support ambition
A UK Climate Envoy should be appointed promptly to oversee climate mainstreaming across government. The Envoy should also oversee the development of a holistic climate public diplomacy strategy, including non-state actors such as UK businesses, research institutions and NGOs abroad. Mainstreaming climate policy would also enable the FCDO to connect geopolitics and climate security risks better.
A new approach to partnerships must be reinforced with financial and technical support to accelerate climate mitigation, de-risk supply chains and ensure resilience and social stability. The UK could convert British International Investments into a climate and development bank aligned with UK objectives and create a UK Climate Cooperation and Partnerships Agency to support countries’ climate transitions.
Finally, the success of the Paris Agreement will depend on functioning global institutions to support decarbonisation. We explore the potential for a Clean Power Alliance (CPA) in a further blog. A commitment to join the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance would be a necessary precondition for leading a credible CPA.
