The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Climate Changed hosted an event on Tuesday, bringing together parliamentarians, academics and stakeholders to discuss and lay out priorities for the next steps of the UK's COP26 presidency. 

COP26 ended just over 100 days ago, but the UK's presidency will continue until COP27 in Egypt.

The UK is still in the limelight on everything to do with climate change and sustainability. This year is a critical year for tackling climate change, and for the UK to reach its net zero ambitions. 

APPCCG Chair Caroline Lucas MP, hosted this session alongside Daisy Cooper MP, Deidre Brock MP and Kerry McCarthy MP.

The session covered: 

• The UK’s domestic leadership in reducing emissions, 
• The role of climate diplomacy and building consensus, and 
• The need for adequate finance for climate vulnerable countries affected by loss and damage. 

The first speakers we heard from were Vivian Scott, from the Climate Change Committee and Rebecca Newsom, Head of Politics at Greenpeace UK:

🗣️@Rebecca_Newsom outlines @GreenpeaceUK's 4 asks for the UK government which includes reforming domestic oil and gas supplies in line with what the global climate science suggest is necessary to limit warming to 1.5 degrees and points on #Decarbonisation . #COP26NextSteps pic.twitter.com/uGvHLVSAYi

— All-Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group (@APPCCG) February 22, 2022

In the next part of the session, speakers included Anna Schulz from International Institute for Environment and Development, as well as Anna Åberg from Chatham House:

.@EAMAberg_ presents 3 main areas for the UK to focus its diplomatic efforts on to tackle the #ClimateCrisis this year: encouraging & putting pressure on countries to raise their ambitions on national emissions reductions; scaling up #ClimateFinance; and delivery. #COP26NextSteps pic.twitter.com/huqwoYKkGP

— All-Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group (@APPCCG) February 22, 2022

The final part looked at the need for adequate finance for climate vulnerable countries affected by loss and damage. Joining us for this session were speakers Harjeet Singh from Climate Action Network International, and Professor Lisa Vanhala from UCL. 

Prof. Lisa Vanhala outlines what the UK could do to identify the level of funding needed: Listen to developing countries, look at existing & new research, start thinking about establishing new processes for how to assess #LossAndDamage needs. #COP26NextSteps pic.twitter.com/d4Drlonez5

— All-Party Parliamentary Climate Change Group (@APPCCG) February 22, 2022

The event was rounded up with a discussion and general notes on the priorities for the UK's COP26 presidency and what is needed next to tackle the climate crisis. 

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