UN Climate Conference 2021: British Overseas Territories

(asked on 18th August 2021) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in British overseas territories on their contribution to the COP 26 Conference in the context of those countries having generally low carbon emissions but often being affected by climate change.


Answered by
James Duddridge Portrait
James Duddridge
This question was answered on 10th September 2021

The UK Government is working closely with the Overseas Territories to ensure that their valuable contribution to address the environmental issues they face is featured appropriately during the COP26 conference. While the Overseas Territories make a minimal contribution to global emissions, they are on the frontline of climate change and work in the Overseas Territories contributes to global understanding of climate science. COP26 provides an opportunity for the Overseas Territories to showcase their unique biodiversity, environments and marine protected areas and highlight the importance of adaptation.

At the UK-Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council in 2020, each Overseas Territories government committed to endeavour to communicate a territory-led plan for climate change adaptation and mitigation, which contributes towards global carbon emission reductions, by the time of the COP26 Summit. The Minister for the Overseas Territories discussed the territory-led plans for climate change and COP26 with Overseas Territories Environment Ministers in June 2021.

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