Ogmore MP and Shadow Scotland Minister Chris Elmore had called on the UK Government to give next year’s COP26 summit in Glasgow the attention and weight it deserves to help set the global agenda for tackling the climate emergency.
The 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties will take place in November next year. The UK has committed to working with all countries and to joining forces with civil society, companies, and those on the frontline of climate change to inspire climate action ahead of COP26.
The announcement to the cut in the overseas aid budget has led to some concern, however, that that commitment is not as robust as it needs to be to bring about real change and will lead to undermining the goals of COP26.
Shadow Scotland Minister Chris Elmore MP said:
“The eyes of the world will be on Glasgow ahead of COP26 next year, with an ever-growing sense of urgency around climate – and a re-engaged US Administration.
“The UK Government has, so far, neglected to treat this issue with the urgency and significance that it deserves. This has to change, and it must change immediately so that this summit has a chance of bringing about the real and lasting change that we so desperately need.
“Cutting overseas aid has had a devastating effect for those countries on the frontline of the climate emergency. In many cases, tackling climate change that affects all of us requires investment and good public communications – we are in a position to help bring this about; too many countries simply are not. We have a moral responsibility to help other countries achieve our global climate goals.”