Source · Select Committees · International Development Committee
Recommendation 95
95
Tackling climate change and biodiversity loss as the Government’s “number one international priority” will inevitably...
Conclusion
Tackling climate change and biodiversity loss as the Government’s “number one international priority” will inevitably involve international development. We are concerned that the Integrated Review does not include explicit initiatives building the capacity of FCDO’s network to maximise the synergies between departments dealing with development, climate, energy and the environment.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
Government response: Partially agree As set out by the Prime Minister in the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, tackling climate change and biodiversity loss, and remaining a world leader in international development, are key priorities for the UK. The creation of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office supports this, integrating diplomacy and development to achieve greater impact and address the links between climate change and extreme poverty. Following the Spending Review, the FCDO’s business planning process will provide oversight of financial allocations on climate and biodiversity. Central teams meet regularly with regional FCDO climate teams to ensure that programme and strategy delivery are aligning across different geographies and central steers are provided to ensure a coherent approach is taken. There is already strong ministerial oversight for this policy area. The Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith is Minister of State with responsibility for climate and environment (including adaptation and resilience). The Rt Hon Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade, was also appointed UK International Champion on Adaptation and Resilience for the COP26 Presidency in November 2020. In the run up to COP26 she engaged with counterparts from across the world and made several country visits, to hear from those at the frontline of climate change impacts. At COP26 she took part in a range of events and led the UK Government’s programme for Adaptation, Loss and Damage Day on 8 November. There are a number of initiatives that are building the capability of the FCDO’s network. For example, this year we held a virtual conference of several hundred civil servants working across the world from the climate, energy, and environment networks to enhance capability in these areas. Throughout 2021 there were weekly teach-in sessions on key COP26 topics for staff in the overseas network and in the UK, to ensure that all staff were equipped to engage with their host governments. These were complemented by sessions reflecting key events in the climate calendar, such as the release of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report: AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis in August and the release of the UK’s net-zero strategy.