Lammy’s speech: urgent climate action at the heart of UK foreign policy
In his address, Lammy outlined the severe and global implications of rising temperatures, highlighting the displacement of communities, the increased risk of conflict over resources, and the worsening migration crisis as people are forced to leave their homes due to environmental degradation.
He compared the urgency of climate change to other major global threats like terrorism, framing extreme weather events as “failures of politics, regulation, and international cooperation.”
Lammy made it clear that the climate and nature crisis would be central to all Foreign Office activities, vowing to establish a ‘Global Clean Power Alliance’ to accelerate the global clean energy transition.
He also discussed the government’s plans to end new oil and gas licenses, expand renewable energy projects, and crowd-invest in clean power through initiatives like Great British Energy.
Clear and urgent messaging
“David Lammy’s speech highlighted the true implications of rising temperatures, including the devastation caused by extreme weather events.
“Framing climate change as a central geopolitical issue is crucial to getting those who still see the crisis as a distant problem to understand its immediacy,” said Thomas.
Thomas also welcomed Lammy’s ambition to make the UK a leader in tackling the climate crisis, through initiatives such as creating a Global Clean Power Alliance and lifting the de facto ban on onshore wind in England.
He emphasised the importance of consistent and robust policies to back up these ambitions, stressing the need for the UK to lead by example.
A national and global challenge
Thomas warned against misinformation around renewable technologies and called for greater support for both installers and consumers as the UK transitions to net zero.
“Fearmongering and misinformation must be tackled if the UK wants to lead in this area,” he added.
“For too long, negative views on the move away from fossil fuels have been allowed to spread, particularly in the media.”
He also highlighted the crucial role that the domestic building services sector must play in achieving the country’s net zero goals, calling for enhanced education and support to ensure everyone is equipped to adopt low-carbon technologies.
Positive opportunity
While acknowledging the stark message of Lammy’s speech, Thomas also encouraged others to see this as an opportunity to improve the economy, security, and the future of the natural world.
“Adopting a low-carbon lifestyle is a matter of national security, not just environmental stewardship,” said Thomas.
“If we truly take the climate crisis seriously, the repercussions can only be positive.”
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