Petersberg Climate Dialogue: Aldersgate Group reactive

Reacting to the outcome of the 11th Petersberg Climate Dialogue held virtually by Germany and the UK, Nick Molho, Executive Director of the Aldersgate Group, said: “We welcome the result of this two-day conference, which gave an important signal on the importance of climate action during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. It was good to see countries around the world reasserting their climate ambition, the critical role of climate finance, and the importance of medium-term 2030 targets. Indeed, COVID-19 has not altered the fundamental assessment of climate change and of its impacts. As the host of both COP26 and the G7 summit in 2021, the UK now has a central role in galvanising concrete and joint global action on COVID-19 economic recovery and climate change.”

Nick Molho added: “The UK government deserves credit for its positive contribution to the dialogue, both from Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and COP26 President Alok Sharma. We particularly welcome the UK government’s recognition that a successful and responsible recovery is one that stands the test of time by ‘turning the tide on climate change’ and making the UK economy far more resilient to future environmental shocks. With existing and potential low-carbon industries located around the country, accelerating investment in low-carbon infrastructure and natural capital will help the UK rebuild its economy better by addressing immediate public interest concerns around unemployment and regional inequality as well as longer-term concerns around resilience to future crises.”