Letter from The Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP,
Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, to
Richard Ottaway MP, Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee
I am writing with regard to the Foreign Affairs Committee's
ongoing inquiry into the role of the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office in UK Government. I would like to contribute my views on
the very helpful role that the FCO plays in international
climate diplomacy.
My department works very closely with the FCO and
we agree that an effective response to climate change is in the
UK's fundamental national interest. It underpins both our security
and our prosperity, DECC welcomes the FCO's role in taking this
work forward internationally which complements DECC's focus on
the UNFCCC negotiations process by deploying foreign policy
assets to create the political conditions within nations that
will be necessary for an effective response to climate change.
This is crucial to underpinning the continuing effort to reach
a legally binding agreement, and thus create the policy confidence
required to drive a low carbon transition. I have been very impressed
with the enthusiastic work done by the FCO officials here in London
as well as by their network of posts around the world and
the impact that it has had. We have been able to work together
to deliver our mutual objectives eg in supporting the Mexican
presidency in Cancun.
It is clear too that the targeted use of programme
funds has been instrumental in both leveraging political change
and in ensuring that concrete actions on the ground build up to
provide a coherent response. The FCO's commitment to an inclusive
approach to the use of these funds has meant that my officials
were regularly consulted on their use under the Low Carbon High
Growth SPF programme. I look forward to forthcoming announcements
on how the FCO's programme funding will be organised in the future
and my officials stand ready to give relevant input where required.
The FCO's commitment to the climate change agenda
has been further supported by the appointment of the Foreign Secretary's
Special Representative. He has played a critical role in our progress
to date by setting out the compelling case for low carbon growth
and in creating the international political conditions necessary
for action to prevent dangerous climate change. He has ensured
that there is consistent engagement from FCO Ministers and officials
in climate diplomacy which plays an important role in our joint
efforts to ensure that we achieve a UN global binding deal which
agrees effective action against climate change.
7 February 2011
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