The UK attitude ahead of COP21

This week, an article published in the Financial Times that exposed new information about the UK Government's attitude to climate change.

As a country, we have recently seen the cuts to renewable energy subsidies which has led to heavy criticism of the UK Government and their commitment to tackling climate change. Now, new research by the think-tank Overseas Development Institute has outlined more information about UK spending that will no doubt put into question their long-term environmental goals.

The research found that between 2009-2013, £5.23bn was spent on advancing energy production in developing countries; £2.2bn of this was spent on fossil fuel projects with only £1bn aimed at renewable energy schemes.

Ahead of COP 21, with nations submitting Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to limit their emissions, the UK should be promoting and supporting the use of sustainable energy. This week, the UNFCC announced that the INDCs would limit global temperature rise to 2.7°C and although this is far better than the 3.1°C rise that many estimated late last year, it is still significantly higher than the IPCC's suggested 'safe zone' of 2°C. This means that all nations will have to go even further to limit the severe environmental impacts that will occur with a global temperature increase above 2°C.

As a wealthy nation that has previously been at the forefront of renewable energy development, the UK's cuts to subsidies and investment in fossil fuels overseas is thoroughly discouraging. Just last month, Chief Scientist at the UN, Jacqueline McGlade, criticised the UK's cuts to subsidies, stating that it was disappointing to see "subsidies being withdrawn and the fossil fuel industry being enhanced". The UK should be one of the leaders in supporting renewable initiatives and leading the way in negotiations to reduce the projected 2.7°C down to 2°C.

It isn't all doom and gloom, however. With COP21 looming, I have seen wide coverage of Climate Change in the press. Hopefully by spreading greater awareness and making the public clear of the targets that needs to be achieved, nations will be pressured into doing more to curb their emissions. The UN Climate Change Chief, Christiana Figueres, is hopeful that COP21 will be "a moment of remarkable transformation".

Christiana Figueres on the release of the INDC report released on the 30th October
Source: UNFCC

Christiana will be writing a blog throughout the Paris Summit and if you are interested, you can follow it on the Guardian website. Like many around the world, I will certainly be keeping a keen eye out for her next post!