David Lammy, the UK Foreign Secretary, delivered a powerful speech at Kew Gardens in London on September 17, 2024. He declared that the climate and nature emergency is the most profound and universal source of global disorder. Lammy acknowledged that recent global conflicts have dominated his term in office.
I chose the climate and nature crisis as the subject of my first major speech as Foreign Secretary.
Here is a summary. pic.twitter.com/TqdYzIh6Pt
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) September 18, 2024
However, he stressed that the climate crisis remains the central geopolitical challenge of our age.
From promoting peace and security to tackling climate change, the UK and Colombia have forged an important partnership to tackle critical global challenges.
Welcoming @LuisGmurillo to @FCDOGovUK, we discussed how to continue to create a safer and greener planet ahead of COP16. pic.twitter.com/NlZLDKSL5B
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) September 16, 2024
From Ella Kissi-Debrah, a young Londoner who died due to unlawful levels of air pollution, to Caribbean communities devastated by tropical storms, the most vulnerable are often the hardest hit,” Lammy said. “Our goal is progressive—a liveable planet for all, now and in the future.
But we need a realist approach, utilizing all available levers, from the diplomatic to the financial.
Watch today's speech by Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy on the climate and nature emergency at @KewGardens ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Q3qj5H216R
— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) September 17, 2024
The Foreign Secretary emphasized that climate action is fundamentally aligned with national security interests. He called for a hard-headed approach to using all available levers, from diplomacy to finance, to arrest rising temperatures.
Climate as a security priority
Lammy lamented the tendency for climate and nature policies to be siloed, often regarded as the preserve of experts and campaigners rather than being integrated into foreign policy and national security. He committed to making climate and nature crisis a central focus of the Foreign Office. Something went badly wrong in our national debate on climate change and net zero,” Lammy said, highlighting the need for a reset in Britain’s approach to climate policy.
He pointed to recent initiatives aimed at lifting the ban on onshore wind, ending new oil and gas licenses, and investing in clean power projects as evidence of a renewed focus. Lammy announced the appointment of new UK Special Representatives for Climate Change and Nature to support international efforts and emphasized the importance of building genuine partnerships between the Global North and South. The Foreign Secretary outlined three diplomatic priorities: building a Global Clean Power Alliance, strengthening climate diplomacy, and expanding marine protection.
“This crisis threatens everything from the food we eat to the air we breathe,” Lammy concluded. “It’s time to take bold, integrated action for the security, prosperity, and future of our planet.”
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