Rt Hon. Rishi Sunak MP 10 Downing Street London SW1A 2AA 3rd November 2023 Dear Prime Minister, In fewer than 50 days, world leaders will gather in Dubai for the United Nations climate summit COP28. We’re pleased that, since our last correspondence with you, you have confirmed your attendance at this crucial meeting in-person and trust you will play your part in ensuring that COP28 is a globally important moment for action on climate change. UK leadership has never been more critical. Whilst the Government’s commitment to bold climate action has come under scrutiny in recent months, we believe that the UK can continue to provide a vitally important contribution towards international progress on reducing emissions and protecting nature. Therefore, we ask you to: ●
Appoint a Secretary of State-level UK Climate Envoy ahead of COP28. Earlier this year the government scrapped the role of Special Representative on Climate Change within the Foreign Office. Historically, this role has been critical to demonstrating the government’s political focus on climate, accessing key global players, and working to further the UK’s international climate goals. In its June 2023 progress report to Parliament, the Climate Change Committee recommended that the government restore this role ahead of the United Nations General Assembly. Unfortunately, this advice was ignored. By appointing a Climate Envoy, the UK would realign itself with Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Italy, the United States and many other countries who have their own climate envoys. It is crucial that you appoint a Climate Envoy ahead of COP28 to ensure the UK’s climate priorities are fully and consistently represented throughout the summit and beyond.
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End the fossil fuel era by urging the phase out of coal, oil and gas and tripling global renewable energy. At COP27, more than 80 countries, including the UK, supported the proposal to phase out fossil fuels. However, you will know that an agreement was not reached in this area. In the run up to COP28, the UK should join our allies including Denmark, France, Germany and others who are repeating these calls. Whilst our reliance on fossil fuels will not end overnight, a recent IEA forecast suggested for the first time that demand for oil, gas and coal will all peak before 2030, declaring that the world is at “the beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era. The IEA has also calculated that reaching net zero rests on the world’s ability to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030. We urge you to build on the UK’s leadership at COP26 and as Co-Chair of the Powering Past Coal Alliance in securing consensus on phasing down coal power, by building momentum for phasing out all coal, oil and gas, and accelerating the transition to renewables, including by encouraging increased efforts to triple renewable energy capacity globally by 2030.