A coalition of NGOs has called on the new UK Government to expand the title and function of the role of UK Special Representative for Climate Change to Special Representative for Climate Change and Biodiversity.

The coalition, led by the Environmental Justice Foundation, have written to the Prime Minister with the following asks:

‘We warmly welcome your ambition to reinstate the UK Special Representative for Climate Change role. We believe this is critical to enhance the UK’s engagement at the highest levels of international climate negotiations. It will undoubtedly give positive visibility to Labour’s ambition to accelerate climate action.

However, we believe biodiversity protection must also be recognised within the role’s title and remit. Our global climate and biodiversity crises are fundamentally interconnected and mutually reinforcing, not least because the planet’s natural carbon stores, such as wetlands and forests, are degraded and losing their ability to sequester atmospheric carbon. In the UK, the loss of our peatlands has transformed this carbon sink into a net source of carbon emissions. The vicious cycle of global heating and biodiversity loss is projected to intensify, resulting in new streams of greenhouse gas emissions and more significant harm to wildlife, ecosystems and our basic human right to a secure environment.

The UK ranks as one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries with one in six species now threatened with extinction. Globally, monitored wildlife populations have declined by 69% on average, and climate change is predicted to become one of the most important drivers of extinction. Bold action that prioritises nature protection offers significant wins for both the climate and biodiversity, as well as the fundamental human rights and economic benefits they underpin.

We propose a transformative step: expanding the title and function of the role to Special Representative for Climate Change and Biodiversity. This integrated approach will revolutionise the UK’s representation at both climate and biodiversity COPs and help foster effective ‘whole of government’ approaches.

We share your ambition for the UK to become a global environmental leader and offer our support to help progress much-needed actions to protect our natural world. Thank you for your time and consideration, and we welcome your response.’

The letter was signed by over twenty NGOs, including Greenpeace, WWF, Oceana, Pew and the RSPB. The letter can be read in full here.