Climate Solutions

Tackling climate change will need action on two important fronts: preventing and preparing for climate change. The international community must prevent dangerous climate change, by reducing emissions and building low carbon economies, and help poor countries prepare for the impacts of climate change (referred to as adaptation).

Building low carbon economies

1.6 billion people have no electricity and energy demand in developing countries is set to more than treble by 2030. That’s why it is important that developing countries are able to adopt low carbon technologies and grow in a cleaner, greener way. This will mean agreeing an international deal that includes provision for technology transfer as well as establishing ways to accelerate financing for cleaner energy, energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Adapting to climate change

Regardless of efforts to cut global emissions, the world is now locked into some global warming due to past emissions. That is why it is important that developing countries are able to adapt to the impacts that climate change will bring.

Preparing for climate change will mean adopting new, different ways of living, for example:

• better managing water supply and storage
• ensuring homes, schools and hospitals are more flood resistant; or
• using new crops that are more drought resistant

To make this possible, governments need to agree measures and funding for adaptation as part of a global climate change deal, currently being negotiated.

Agreeing a global climate deal

The UK is keen that world governments reach a comprehensive agreement on climate change by December 2009, so that the agreement can be translated into law by the time the Kyoto Protocol comes to an end in 2012.

This global deal, which should listen to all countries' voices and the particular needs of developing countries, must set out ambitious targets and incentives for cutting emissions and open up money for low-carbon energy in the world's poorest countries. Investing in technology, tackling deforestation and helping countries adapt to the effects of climate change, are also crucial.

If the world agrees an ambitious deal - with richer countries taking responsibility and leading the way – we can tackle climate change and help beat world poverty.

Tackling deforestation

Forests are of vital importance both to tackling climate change and reducing poverty. Deforestation generates almost a fifth of carbon emissions, making it the third largest source of greenhouse gas emissions – larger than the entire global transport sector. And more than 1.6 billion people depend to some degree on forests for their livelihoods, many of them the world’s poorest people.

Tackling deforestation must be part of a new, global climate deal. And developing countries, especially those which have large areas of natural forest, must be part of shaping and leading the deal.

Action in the UK

A strong policy on climate change in the UK is essential if we are to show leadership internationally. Through the Climate Change Bill, the Energy White Paper and other measures, the UK is demonstrating that it can move to a low-carbon economy while continuing to grow economically. Since 1997, the UK economy has grown by around a quarter, while greenhouse gases have gone down by 7%. And the UK Government has committed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 80% by 2050.