Senior figures in climate diplomacy including the architect of the Paris climate accord, have urged Britain to keep its climate action commitments amid increasing attacks to create a culture war against the net zero target.
Laurence Tubiana, a French diplomat who negotiated the 2015 Paris Agreement, is now chief executive at the European Climate Foundation. He stated: We aren’t happy and we are crossing fingers [that the UK will reaffirm its net zero commitment]. It is vital that the UK continues to follow this direction.
She and other international observers are growing concerned that the rows over net Zero within the UK government will threaten the progress made at the Cop26 UN Climate talks last year.
The UK will continue to lead ongoing negotiations until Egypt takes control at Cop27 in November. Cop27’s success will depend on the British leadership. This is because countries must use the next 8 months to review their national emissions-cutting plans. These plans are known as nationally determined contribution (NDCs).
British diplomats could be hindered by domestic row over net zero, and if key cabinet ministers like Liz Truss don’t support their efforts.
Fatih Birol was the executive director of International Energy Agency. He praised the UK for its truly remarkable achievements in Glasgow and said it was irresponsible of some to claim that there was net zero behind the rise in energy prices. I hope that the UK will continue to show leadership as shown at Glasgow and go further in fulfilling the pledges it made during Glasgow. The UK is capable of ensuring that these are implemented.
Birol stated that current high energy costs have nothing to do with net zero. This is not a crisis in clean energy or renewable energy. These claims are irresponsible. They are being used to attack public support of the net zero transition.
Jennifer Morgan, the outgoing chief of Greenpeace International, stated to the Guardian, shortly before she was appointed as the German governments climate ambassador. She said that any indication that ministers are being persuaded by the attacks on net zero would be very damaging. It would reduce the UK’s standing in the international arena and make it less attractive as a partner in tackling the biggest problem in the world, she stated. It would be a failure of leadership and the whole world would condemn it. [the UK government] harshly.
Rachel Kyte, a former World Bank climate official and now dean at Tufts University’s Fletcher School, was also a climate advisor to the UN secretary general. There is something deeply troubling about the way that would-be political leaders try to seize on high energy prices to gain power and then misdiagnose the causes as shifting toward renewable energy. They then suggest as a remedy a dangerous about-face by abandoning their net zero goals. It is perversely and disingenuous to sell the British public out, and it is the opposite of the long-term view required of leaders today in combating global climate change, she stated.
Paul Bledsoe, a former Clinton White House climate consultant, stated that although Bidens stimulus was the main focus of political attention at the Progressive Policy Institute, UK’s moves on net zero were also considered concerning. Boris Johnson’s commitment towards net zero is seen in Washington to be a linchpin for greater ambitions by nations around the globe, including at Cop27. Therefore, his recent troubles as well as backbencher worrisome comments on climate are concerning. Johnson should not allow the Tory right fringe of his climate legacy to be undermined.
