Search

***This blog was written with the assistance of AI. We used an LLM to generate a first draft based on a transcript of the podcast interview. Using AI can be energy and water intensive, so we attempted to do this more sustainably using a green prompting approach. Full details of the prompt used are given at the end of the article. The final version of this blog was written with the assistance of humans - Simon Salvi, Nick Turner & Simon Doxford.*** The UK often highlights its success in reducing domestic carbon emissions. But are we measuring the right thing? This blog, based on a recent conversation with Professor John Barrett OBE, explains why the way we count our carbon emissions matters, and how consumption-based emissions may be the missing piece of the puzzle. Listen to the full interview here: Environment Deep Dive .   The UK has cut emissions but that is not the whole story The UK was the first major economy to halve its territorial carbon emissions between 1990 and 2022 while the economy grew 79% over the same period – a significant achievement. However, this headline figure only tells part of the story. As Professor John Barrett OBE explained in our recent podcast, territorial, or production-based emissions – which have halved – only count greenhouse gases released within the UK’s borders. However, the UK is a globalised, service-based economy that relies heavily on imported goods, including food, clothing, electronics and construction materials. If we only focus on where emissions are produced, we miss the emissions generated elsewhere, which ultimately support what we actually consume in the UK.   What are consumption-based emissions? Consumption-based emissions shift the emphasis from where emissions occur, to who consumes the goods and services that cause them. In simple terms, consumption emissions equal: Territorial emissions - emissions in our exports + emissions from our imports This means the goods we produce domestically, but sell abroad, are not included in our consumption-based emissions. The goods we buy from abroad, but don’t produce ourselves, are included. This covers the entire supply chain, including extraction, manufacturing and transport - wherever that takes place. For countries like the UK, this matters. Our territorial emissions have fallen sharply, but consumption-based emissions have declined much more slowly.   Why does this matter for climate change? Climate change is global issue – the driving factor is total atmospheric carbon emissions. The place where that carbon is emitted is less important. If domestic emissions fall (as they have done) while emissions-intensive imports rise, global emissions may not fall fast enough to meet our climate goals and to maintain a safe, liveable environment. Given the UK’s consumption-based emissions have also fallen, just far less quickly than our territorial emissions, this means that we have not offshored all our emissions. However, this does mean that future progress cannot rely only on domestic decarbonisation, especially as some big wins, such as grid decarbonisation, have already occurred or are well on their way.   Consumption and global inequality Incorporating a consumption-based carbon accounting system raises questions about fairness. High income countries tend to consume more carbon-intensive goods. Meanwhile, lower-income countries are often positioned at the start of supply chains, extracting materials or producing more basic goods while capturing limited long term economic benefit. Moreover, many of the countries least responsible for total global emissions are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Understanding who is consuming the goods generating emissions provides more nuance than looking at territorial emissions alone.   Is consumption-based accounting realistic for policy? As John emphasises, the UK already publishes official consumption-based emissions each year. These can be found on the gov.uk website . Countries like Sweden and the Netherlands publish theirs too – while Our World in Data  visualises it based on information from the Global Carbon Budget. So, despite the challenges in collecting the data, it is possible. These metrics do not have to replace territorial accounting, rather they complement it. They help policymakers answer different questions, like using multiple financial indicators to analyse an economy.   Reducing consumption does not mean reducing living standards Discussing consumption-based emissions can often veer into seemingly scary territory about behavioural change, and what that could mean for the way we live our lives. However, as John reiterated, reducing our consumption-based emissions does not necessarily remove choices as consumers, or lower our living standards. Consuming differently can make our lives: • Cheaper - for example through well-insulated homes • Healthier - for example through active and public transport options • More resilient - for example through durable, repairable products The takeaway The UK’s fall in territorial emissions is a real achievement, but it does not capture the full emissions associated with UK living standards and supply chains. Consumption-based emissions add that missing perspective by attributing emissions to the final demand for goods and services, wherever production occurs. Read together, the two measures give a more complete picture of the UK’s actual carbon footprint. The issue is complex and will require complex solutions across all aspects of society – including housing, transport, and energy. This will therefore require us to break down siloed thinking to effectively climate change – and as John noted our conversation, part of the challenge is not necessarily to try and oversimplify the complexity, but to embrace it. ***This article was written with the assistance of AI. Below is the prompt we used to generate a draft version, alongside some tips for more sustainable AI prompting: Task: I'd like a blog written based on this transcript - (add transcript) Example: Follow this blog as a style example- (add previous blog) Format: Max words XXX Scope: answer only the task above Exclusions: no explanations, no reasoning, no extra commentary   To minimise the compute time & energy use of AI consider these factors when prompting: ·         Plan your prompt and be clear about the task required – more and longer prompts generally equal greater computational demand and therefore greater energy use. ·         Limit the output - format, length etc. Be aware of the different energy demands of processing text (least demanding) versus images or video (many times greater). ·         Ask for just the result, not the thinking (unless you require this). Avoid requests like "step-by-step", "explain in detail", which result in deep reasoning. Instead use phrases such as "list steps concisely" or "give a high-level overview”.***

Do you want to lead the biggest climate and environment staff network across the Civil Service? We are recruiting the next co-chairs to lead a community of committed and talented changemakers who are shaping the future of climate and environment work in government and beyond. Find out how to apply here .

The Civil Service Climate and Environment Conference is returning and we’re delighted to invite you. It is taking place on  Wednesday 25 th  March 2026  in person, online and at satellite locations across the UK!   Sophie Oakes outlines what to expect with some testimonials from last years conference. How to attend     In person: Leonardo Royal Hotel London Tower Bridge, 45 Prescot Street, London, E1 8GP    Online: join remotely with flexibility to dip in and out    Satellite locations: Edinburgh, Manchester (Salford), Plymouth and Cardiff        Please register  HERE   for either an in person, online or satellite location ticket using a Civil Service email.    In-person and satellite registration is open until 6pm on 13th March.  Online registration remains open until 20th March.  Whether you are working directly on these issues or are keen to learn more, we’d love to see you there!      As Will Stobbs (CSCEN Co-Chair and Conference Lead for 2024-25) reflected, last year’s conference was “an incredible success [and] brought together more than 1,000 passionate civil and public servants in London and at around 10 satellite locations.” These colleagues spanned across 88 departments and agencies to engage in sessions from climate and health to the circular economy and digital innovation. This success demonstrated an appetite for a forum that cuts across policy areas, professions and regions. At its heart, the conference is about creating space to learn from others across government and to feel a part of a collective effort to address some of the most complex challenges we face.   Feedback from last year’s conference shows just how valuable that space can be. Many attendees spoke about how refreshing it was to see what colleagues in other departments are working on, and how much they gained from hearing different perspectives:  “There are so many people involved in sustainability and climate across all departments and it was fascinating learning about things happening outside of my department.”  “I understand more about the breadth of experience in the Civil Service. It gave me opportunities to learn about things outside my core role and challenged me to think differently.”      Connecting for Growth     This year’s theme reflects a shift towards understanding how climate, environment and nature-based action can actively support sustainable economic growth, rather than being treated as an adjacent agenda.    Across the day, sessions will explore how innovation and collaboration can help embed climate and environmental thinking into everyday government activity, from infrastructure and transport to trade and adaptation planning.   This focus on connection and collaboration has resonated strongly with past attendees, many of whom described how the conference helped them see environmental and climate challenges more holistically:  “A key takeaway for me was putting many sustainability and environmental policy changes ‘in the round’ and seeing the broader interaction across policy domains.”  “What I learnt was more about how others were also solving problems – some of them being problems I wasn’t truly aware of.”  Building capability and confidence   Aside from sharing knowledge, the conference is also about reinforcing the role civil servants can play in driving change.  “Working for government means that I have agency. Every small positive environmental change I can make on the pathway to a greener world is significant.”  “Increasing ecological literacy across government means better decisions – because those decisions are grounded in evidence about the world we live in and how it’s changing.”  Rachel Kyte, the UK’s Special Representative for Climate, highlighted how the conference supports better decision-making across Whitehall:   “The CSCEN conference will increase everybody’s ecological literacy across Whitehall. The reason that’s exciting is […] it will mean the government will make better decisions – because it has more evidence about the kind of world we live in, a world that is being changed by climate change.”  From the inside: what makes the conference special   Emma Stirling, now Strategy Lead at CSCEN, recalls attending last year’s conference:   “I attended the CS Climate & Environment Conference for the first time last year, having originally not known much about the [Civil Service Climate and Environment] network. I thoroughly enjoyed my day - learning about a variety of topics including agriculture, natural hazards, and digital solutions. I also benefited from the speed mentoring which gave me useful insight for my own career. It was so well organised and the volunteers all really friendly - so much so that I joined to be a member after, then became a departmental champion and now I am proud to be a member of the committee. To see behind the scenes the effort that goes in to creating this is amazing - can't wait for the next one!”   That same sense of openness is felt by those who have since worked to shape the conference behind the scenes. Sarah Robinson, Conference Lead for 2026, shares her experience:   “I first became involved with CSCEN and the CS Climate + Environment Conference as part of the 2025 Conference Team, leading on the digital elements that helped bring the event to life, and being behind the scenes gave me a real appreciation for the creativity, coordination and sheer dedication that goes into delivering such a large and inspiring day. The buzz of watching everything come together was energising, and the passion of the volunteers and committee made me want to stay involved. That experience ultimately led me to step up as Conference Lead for 2026, and having seen first-hand the impact the conference has in bringing people together across climate, environment, policy and innovation. I’m excited to build on that momentum and help create another brilliant event for our network.”    Lydia Ison, who was part of the Conference Team for the 2025, reflects on the merit of satellite spaces for as many colleagues as possible to experience the conference together:  “I joined as a member of the Conference Team for the CS Climate + Environment Conference 2025, leading on the Satellite Watch Parties. The role involved coordinating regional watch parties across the country, enabling civil servants to watch the conference together. I really enjoyed seeing the value in bringing colleagues together to network, share ideas and opportunities. It was fun to see creative ideas, such as a clothes swap, to engage and inspire colleagues. It’s exciting to see the CS Climate + Environment Conference 2026 take shape and how it is building on the successes of previous years.”  Want to find out more?   You can explore the full agenda and session details on the CSCEN website:  Conference agenda   About the conference   For any questions regarding the conference, please don’t hesitate to contact us at  environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk , using ‘2026 Conference’ in the subject line.  Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

Research from Oxfam found that, in 2019, the richest 1% of the world’s population produced as much pollution as the poorest two‑thirds combined. In this blog, Finn Shillitto and Sophie Oakes  delve in to the consequences of this and what we can do as a society. Rising sea levels can have big impacts anywhere Why do those least responsible bear the biggest impact? Developed Nations account for the majority of historical emissions. A 2023 analysis from Carbon Brief  found that humans have emitted around 2,558 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide since 1850. By 2023, this meant that more than 92% of the carbon budget for the 1.5°C target  had already been used. However, these emissions are unevenly distributed, with developed countries and the wealthiest populations producing far higher levels. According to the analysis, USA are “top” of the list when considering domestic emissions and have the largest share of historical emissions; with 20% of the global total. China is the 2 nd  largest emitter with 12% and the UK in 8 th with 3% of total emissions. Yet despite this, it is those countries that have contributed the least, such as low-income countries and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), who bear the brunt of its impacts and are the least equipped to cope or recover. One country that exemplifies this inequality is Kiribati . Despite accounting for  only 0.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is at risk of becoming the first country to disappear beneath rising seas as a result of climate change. This global imbalance reflects a wider pattern in which climate change deepens existing inequalities, both between and within countries. Vulnerable communities who have historically contributed the least to climate change are disproportionately negatively impacted by it. Climate Change does not affect everyone equally (or proportionally) meaning there is not a one-size-fits-all approach. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),  around 3.6 billion people that currently reside in low and lower-middle income countries are especially at risk from the most severe impacts of climate change, including devastating natural disasters and increasingly extreme weather conditions. Research from Béla Galgóczi and Mehtap Akgüç   suggests that climate impacts fall hardest on people who already experience social, economic or political marginalisation, like those living in poverty and who are marginalised, such as women and indigenous people. Recognising this requires an intersectional approach. Intersectional Environmentalism  takes this into consideration; and is developed from a term first coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw (intersectional) in a 1989 paper to help explain the oppression of African-American women. Climate activist Leah Thomas adapted this and first coined the term Intersectional Environmentalism  in 2020 and is defined as: “ An inclusive version of environmentalism that advocates for both the protection of people and the planet. It identifies the ways in which injustices happening to marginalised communities and the earth are interconnected. It brings injustices done to the most vulnerable communities, and the earth, to the forefront and does not minimise or silence social inequality. Intersectional environmentalism advocates for justice for people and the planet” It’s crucial to focus on helping those who are hit hardest by the environmental crisis we are facing. This means giving space to those most impacted. Intersectionality allows us to see how we could include someone who holds multiple identities and how to make sure they have the resources and support they need. People from marginalised backgrounds play a vital role in protecting the environment. If we leave out the voices of those who have often been ignored, decisions won’t be complete. What can we do? If we start by helping where the problems/gaps are biggest, we can make a real difference. It’s important to consider which communities are most vulnerable to the immediate effects of climate change. We must acknowledge that some groups are already facing challenges when it comes to receiving equal protection under environmental laws. Ensuring everyone has fair access to a healthy environment should be a priority. Positive steps are already being taken: large climate funds, such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), require gender impact assessments and stakeholder engagement plans as part of their funding criteria. These often include consultation with indigenous communities about the potential impacts of projects, mitigating against a one-size-fits-all solution and helping ensure that future solutions are equitable and culturally informed. This demonstrates an increasing institutional acknowledgement that effective climate action must account for marginalised identities and lived experiences, and that effective change is best taken forward with an intersectional approach/lens.   For an individual just trying to live more sustainably, these may seem like overwhelming ideas, however there are smaller scale ways you can consider intersectionality in environmental work. A good starting point is to explore local environmental policies and find out how you can get involved to make a meaningful impact. You can also explore resources that promote an intersectional approach to climate action. Engaging with these platforms is a great way to support more inclusive climate conversations and action. Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

We have a special guest blog this month from Julie Maclean . Julie is a Climate Science Advisor at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero within the Climate Science team’s international strand. The team is responsible for UK engagement with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and science input into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Julie outlines the launch of the cross-Government resource The Climate Science Narrative , the urgent need for action, and the practical solutions available to protect our future. Extreme weather events, like heatwaves, droughts and heavy rainfall, are becoming more frequent and intense. Every fraction of a degree counts in tackling Climate Change. The science is clear: human activity has already warmed the planet by around 1.4°C   since the early industrial age [1] . Whilst staying below the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement looks increasingly unlikely, 1.5°C remains the right limit. Taking ambitious and accelerated action is still essential to keeping global warming as low as possible. Every fraction of a degree we can prevent makes a significant difference, as it reduces the severity of climate impacts and lowers the risks of major, irreversible changes to our planet.  As we accelerate efforts to make the UK a clean energy superpower and deliver net zero emissions, it is essential that climate action across government is supported by the best available science. That’s why the DESNZ Climate Science Team is proud to launch   the latest edition of The Climate Science Narrative; an easy-to-understand, cross-government resource designed to support evidence-based policy.  Civil Servants can download the narrative below (please do not share externally) What makes the Narrative essential reading?    Now in its 3 rd  edition, the Narrative summarises the latest global climate evidence - from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), peer-reviewed literature and other authoritative sources – in a single, accessible document.   Reviewed extensively by experts across government and leading research bodies, and endorsed by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Dame Angela McLean DBE FRS and Professor Emily Shuckburgh CBE FRMetS, HonFEI, FRGS   our Chief Scientific Adviser, the Narrative provides a robust, referenced resource for the climate questions that matter most to your work.   The evidence: Sobering realities, tangible solutions   We’re already living with the impacts of climate change. Sea levels are rising, and extreme weather events, like heatwaves, droughts and heavy rainfall, are becoming more frequent and intense. Some impacts are now irreversible for centuries to millennia. But deep, rapid, and sustained emissions cuts can still limit the magnitude of future changes.  Significant progress has been made since the Paris Agreement. Global warming projections have dropped from almost 4°C to just below 3°C based on current policies, and if global pledges are fully delivered, limiting warming to 1.9°C could be a possibility. However, the gap between long-term goals and short-term action remains stark, with global carbon dioxide emissions reaching a new record in 2024.  Solutions exist now. As the Narrative demonstrates, we have a multitude of feasible and effective options available to reduce emissions whilst delivering co-benefits for health, biodiversity, and economic prosperity. From renewable energy to nature-based solutions, from electrification to demand reduction – the tools are ready.  Why urgency matters   The window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future is closing rapidly. While the costs of climate action are significant, they are far lower than the costs of inaction. Early, ambitious action also drives innovation and promotes new low-carbon industries as the foundation of future economic growth.   At the same time, we must urgently scale up adaptation efforts. Protecting people and nature from climate impacts is essential now and under all warming scenarios.   How can you use the Narrative?   The Climate Science Narrative is designed for policymakers responsible for developing and delivering climate policies, and for colleagues engaging with them. Statements are clearly referenced, ensuring there is a scientific basis for all claims made.   For further information or support, contact the Science and Innovation for Climate and Energy Directorate briefing hub .  Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas! References [1] World to hit 1.4C of warming in record hot 2023  | Reuters

Following on from the success of Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Professional Recognition Week (8th-12th Dec.), which spotlighted the value of professional recognition in the GSE Profession;  Finn Shillitto dives into why getting professionally recognised can be your game-changer in the environmental sector. Ready to unlock your true potential? Read on!  Advance your career with support from professional bodies. What is a professional body?    Professional bodies are organisations made up of members who work within a specific field or industry. They play a key role in setting professional standards, offering accredited training and qualifications, and providing valuable support, resources, and networking opportunities to help members grow and thrive in their careers.  Some examples of professional bodies in the environment sector are:  ISEP  - The Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals, formally IEMA – Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment  Upcoming Event: CSCEN Careers Talk with ISEP - Inside ISEP: Building Skills for a Sustainable Future | CSCEN.   CIWEM  - The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management  SocEn - The Society for the Environment  IES – Institute of Environmental Sciences  CIEEM - Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management    The opportunities they can bring:   They all offer a wide range of fantastic opportunities to support both personal and professional development. Below are some key opportunities they offer:    Professional Recognition & Credentials   Gain industry-recognised qualifications (e.g. Practitioner Membership, Chartered Environmentalist).  Access to Training & Continued Professional Development (CPD)   Wide range of courses, webinars, and workshops to stay up-to-date on environmental legislation, climate science, ESG etc.  Career Advancement   Progression opportunities through access to exclusive job adverts.   Networking & Community   Connect with like-minded professionals through events, forums, and regional groups.  Influence & Advocacy   Contribute to shaping environmental policy, industry standards, and best practice by participating in working groups or consultations.  Resources & Insights   Access to research, publications, policy updates, toolkits, and case studies. Stay ahead of trends and challenges in the environmental sector.  Support for Ethical Practice   A framework of standards to support integrity and accountability in your work.  Sense of Purpose & Belonging   Be part of a movement working to make a positive impact on the planet.  Which one is best for you?   There are a few key things to consider when deciding on the most suitable professional body for you, as they can be costly! (Although there are opportunities for costs to be covered by the Civil Service, see your individual Departments policy on this). Key considerations:   The stage of your career:  Early career? Look for organisations that offer entry-level memberships, student support, and career guidance (e.g. ISEP Associate or Student Membership).  Mid-career or experienced? Consider bodies that offer professional recognition or chartered status to boost your credibility (e.g. Chartered Environmentalist via SocEnv or CIWEM).  Your specialism:  ISEP– Broad focus on sustainability, ESG, and environmental management.  CIWEM – Strong focus on water and environmental engineering.  SocEnv – Umbrella body offering Chartered Environmentalist status across various disciplines.  Explore the professional development pathways:  Each body will have different opportunities here.  Review the costs and the benefits  They can be expensive! So please consider all the above as well as costs; this will ensure your money (or your Department if support is offered) is spent effectively.  What does the Civil Service offer?    The level of support available for subscription to professional bodies in the environmental space will vary between departments, please consult the relevant Professions Hub.  Looking to develop your Science and Engineering skills?   ...Then the Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Profession has a great opportunity for you!   GSEs professional recognition week  ran W/C 8 th  December [More information here ] and   is offering a range of learning and development opportunities to build the science and engineering skills needed to deliver priorities.  Aswell as L&D opportunities, GSE are offering funding for a limited number of individual memberships and charterships to professional bodies for those in the GSE profession such as the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET), Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), and Institute of Physics (IOP).  Please see GSE Professional Recognition Offer – Government Science and Engineering  for more information.    Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

For December's theme of Nature and Climate: trade-offs and opportunities guest blogger Martha Jennings, a Sustainability Champion in DWP, takes us through the challenges Skomer Island has faced as a result of the worsening climate crisis, and the opportunities to protect it. Photo courtesy of Martha Jennings An internationally important seabird island and home to one of Britain’s largest puffin populations, Skomer, situated off the southwest coast of Pembrokeshire in Wales, attracts 20,000 visitors a year, including myself. The rich biodiversity on display both on and off the island has brought me back here for over a decade. In May this year I was due to visit the island again with friends. The morning of our visit, I received an email to say our trip had been cancelled due to ‘very strong winds and swell’. We managed to book onto a tour boat going around the island the next day where we were met with the on-going strong winds and stomach-churning swells. By booking 6 months ahead, my friends and I thought we had beaten the crowds, but in the face of climate change Skomer’s mass tourism is not the island’s only challenge. Challenges As a result of climate change, storms like the one that cancelled our trip are now more frequent, particularly during the guillemot’s breeding season in May as Professor Tim Birkhead’s 50 - year study of guillemots on Skomer observed. [1]  In May 2021, two storms ‘resulted in the direct loss of many guillemot eggs and reduced breeding successes’ and in 2014, another storm caused a ‘sharp increase in guillemot deaths’. [2]  Storm damage has also caused pink sea fan populations to decline [3] and behavioural changes has been seen in Skomer’s seal populations. It was reported that after Storm Brian in October 2017, the number of adult seals hauled-out on the beaches decreased. [4]   Climate change has also caused behavioural changes in Skomer’s seabirds due to rising air and water temperatures. Birkhead's study found that climate change had caused altered breeding patterns with guillemots ‘now breeding on average, two-and-a-half weeks earlier’ than they did in the 1970’s. [5]  Puffin feeds per day have also decreased due to the additional distance they must travel for decent shoal numbers as sand eels, integral to the puffin’s diet, are more attuned to cold water. [6]   In the last 3 years, the minimum sea temperatures were the highest on record since 2007, ‘9.1 degrees Celsius was the minimum recorded in March 2024 compared to an average of 7.9 degrees Celsius for 2000 to 2024’. [7]   Photo courtesy of Martha Jennings Opportunities   Despite ongoing challenges, opportunities to tackle the effects of climate change to protect and preserve the wildlife on Skomer have been seized in the last two decades. Crucial to this has been the introduction of Wales’ first Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ), established in 2014 under the Marine and Coastal Access Act of 2009. [8]   Skomer’s MCZ management plan uses byelaws under nature conservation legislation and codes of conducts to restrict certain activities such as dumping rubbish, and taking, killing or disturbing wildlife. [9] In recent years, Skomer’s MCZ has witnessed the recovery of its scallop population alongside a record 446 grey seal pups being born in 2021. [10] Additionally, the MCZ extensive research and monitoring programme not only broadens our knowledge and understanding of marine species, communities and habitats [11] , but it means that problems can be caught early- a valuable ability in the face of unpredictable changes to the climate. Opportunities to make the island more resilient to the impacts of climate change from projects like the ‘ Sustainable and Resilient Skomer and Skokholm Islands’ project funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in March 2024, have allowed urgent upgrades to infrastructure and facilities on the island to reduce energy. [12]  This includes the replacement of the solar hot water system and new windows on the south side of the library building which will reduce damp and draughts and keep heat in. [13] The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales has said that reducing energy costs will allow the organisation to invest more ‘income in the management of the nature reserve’, ultimately leading to enhanced biodiversity. [14] The island’s strict codes of conduct already in place further aim to reduce human impact on the island and wildlife. Visitors are highly encouraged to walk on the dedicated paths which have been purposely formed to go around the various wildlife habitats, particularly the fragile puffin burrows. Dogs are also not allowed on the island and there are no bins, so rubbish must be taken home. Photo courtesy of Martha Jennings What next for Skomer? In the face of climate change, it’s hard to predict what challenges Skomer island, its wildlife, visitors, volunteers and staff may face. Skomer has proven that there are opportunities for the island to withstand the impacts of climate change and in some areas thrive. I hope I, like the other thousands of visitors to Skomer, will be able to visit and support the island for future generations to come. Photo courtesy of Martha Jennings References [1] https://sheffield.ac.uk/news/scientists-50-year-study-reveals-climate-change-and-avian-flu-impact-uk-seabirds [2] https://sheffield.ac.uk/news/scientists-50-year-study-reveals-climate-change-and-avian-flu-impact-uk-seabirds [3] https://www.mcsuk.org/news/skomer-island-a-marine-conservation-success-story/ [4] https://skomerisland.blogspot.com/2017/10/seals-and-storms.html#:~:text=There%20was%20some%20impact%20on,also%20decreased%20since%20the%20storm.&text=While%20sharing%20this%20information%20is,breeding%20population%20of%20Grey%20Seals.&text=If%20you%20are%20interested%20in,here%20on%20the%20WTSWW%20homepage . [5] https://sheffield.ac.uk/news/scientists-50-year-study-reveals-climate-change-and-avian-flu-impact-uk-seabirds [6] https://www.seatrust.org.uk/blog/puffins-porpoise-and-policy-why-skomer-teems-with-life/ [7] https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/oct/26/guillemots-study-skomer-wales-budget-cut-tim-birkhead [8] https://www.seatrust.org.uk/blog/puffins-porpoise-and-policy-why-skomer-teems-with-life/ [9] https://naturalresources.wales/guidance-and-advice/environmental-topics/wildlife-and-biodiversity/protected-areas-of-land-and-seas/skomer-marine-conservation-zone/?lang=en [10] https://www.mcsuk.org/news/skomer-island-a-marine-conservation-success-story/ [11] https://naturalresources.wales/guidance-and-advice/environmental-topics/wildlife-and-biodiversity/protected-areas-of-land-and-seas/skomer-marine-conservation-zone/?lang=en [12] https://www.welshwildlife.org/news/sustainable-and-resilient-skomer-and-skokholm-islands#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20work%20to,their%20nest%20burrows%20after%20dark . [13] https://www.welshwildlife.org/news/sustainable-and-resilient-skomer-and-skokholm-islands#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20work%20to,their%20nest%20burrows%20after%20dark . [14] https://www.welshwildlife.org/news/sustainable-and-resilient-skomer-and-skokholm-islands#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20work%20to,their%20nest%20burrows%20after%20dark . Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

COP30 began on Monday 10th November. Finn Shillitto takes us through what this means, and why it's important.   Photo courtesy of CSCENs Bryony Loveless who is currently working out in Belém for COP30. What is COP? Under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the  Conference of the Parties  ( COP ) is an annual conference which convenes the nearly 200 countries that signed the original UN climate agreement in 1992. COP30 is the 30 th  annual conference of its kind. Azerbaijan hosted COP29 in Baku in 2023 and will hand over the presidency to Brazil.  Between 10-21 November , leaders from all over the world along with scientists, activists, diplomats and indigenous people will gather in Belém, Brazil for COP30.   Host nation Brazil has set out  three main goals for COP30 : reinforcing multilateralism and cooperation, connecting climate change to individuals and the economy, and accelerating implementation.  Why is COP30 important and what is the Paris Agreement?   Every COP is important; the stakes arguably get higher with every passing year.   In Paris in 2015, nearly 200 countries agreed to try to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C above "pre-industrial" levels and to keep them "well below" 2C; this has become known as the “Paris Agreement”.   Why 1.5C?   The scientific consensus agrees that the impacts of climate change would be far greater at 2C rather than 1.5C. If 1.5C is exceeded, it could massively increase the risk of catastrophic and irreversible climate impacts such as sea level rise and extinctions.    Is the target being achieved?   Whilst policy has been put in place and there has been an increase in renewable energy,  many countries have fallen short  of what is required to meet that target.   The 1.5C target is very close to being “overshot” but UN secretary general António Guterres has hopes that, with strong policy, temperatures could be brought back down to target levels by the end of the century.  COP30 can assist with this.    Prior to COP30, countries are asked to submit plans that detail how they have or will cut emissions to suitable levels, but it has been stated that only  1/3 of countries had done so by the deadline.    What are the aims of COP30?   A key aim is to incentivise, agree steps and demonstrate stronger commitments to the aims of the Paris Agreement and ensure agreements at previous COPs are upheld.   Renewables:   Dubai hosted COP28 in 2023 and there was an agreement to treble the global capacity of renewables by 2030. Whilst efforts have been made to achieve this, the  International Energy Agency suggests  that the world is not on track to meet the agreed targets.   There is an ambition gap between the targets agreed and the actions taking place, with energy thinktank Ember suggesting that  global capacity has increased by just 2% since the agreement.    COP30 will aim to come to a consensus and find the best method to ensure a smooth energy transition that meets targets without any detrimental effects on quality of life.    Finance: Money is regularly seen as a stumbling block for ambitious global policy, and it is no different here.   Developing countries require external funding of roughly  £1 trillion per year by 2035  to allow for adaptation and mitigation to climate change. Some progress was made in COP29 where developed countries agreed to “take the lead” by raising roughly £230 billion a year with an ask for other parties to fund the rest, though this obviously leaves a big gap that needs to be filled.  A  roadmap  that details how the £1 trillion will be raised has been published and this will be discussed at COP30. COP30 will aim to agree a clear plan and timeline to deliver on this ambition.  Nature:  Research  suggests that the world’s forests hold nearly twice the amount of carbon emissions from fossil fuels since 1850.  This further emphasises the importance of regulations that restrict deforestation. Brazil has launched the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) to triple international forest funding, promote forest protection, and support local communities. TFFF provides ongoing, performance-based payments to countries that prevent deforestation.   What difference will COP30 make?   COP30 is shaping up to be an incredible opportunity for real progress!   With the world coming together  in Belém to tackle the ambition gap, boost renewables, secure much-needed funding, and protect nature, there’s real hope for lasting change. If strong agreements are made and all countries remain committed, COP30 could be remembered as a turning point for our planet's future.    Let’s  keep an eye out to see how successful it is.      Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

Cara Burke explores the link between climate change and conflict, outlines the challenges for global collaboration and for the UK government, and highlights some key strategies to mitigate conflict caused by climate change. VBMR Griffon multirole armoured personnel carrier, Exercise Hedgehog, UK MOD © Crown copyright 2025 Why might climate change create conflict? In January 2025, the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report  listed environmental risks as the four most severe risks to the planet over the coming decade. Climate change is a threat multiplier  because it exacerbates already existing vulnerabilities and tensions.  As the climate continues to change over the coming years drought, soil erosion, floods, and environmental degradation will worsen. The resulting crop failures, food and economic insecurity, and loss of land and livelihood could lead to an increase in political unrest and violence as people fight for and struggle with scarcer resources. Countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change are also among the most politically and economically fragile. Increased migration as a result of climate change may create conflict where there is competition for limited resources and deepening social divisions. Around 3.3-3.6 billion people live in environments that are highly vulnerable to climate change , and the impacts of climate change are already displacing people with 20 million people forced to emigrate annually due to extreme weather events . Climate change disproportionately affects the poorest and most vulnerable, which could cause an estimated additional 68 to 135 million people pushed into poverty by 2030 . Climate adaptation ( the actions required to manage the effects of unavoidable expected climate change ) and mitigation are essential, but must be fair for the world’s poorest, as they are also disproportionately affected by the measures to address climate change . Climate change and UK national security Global Strategic Partnerships (GSP) led by RAND Europe conducted a study  exploring the implications of climate-change-related developments on the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD)’s ability to strengthen UK national security through engagement and response to crisis, and on NATO’s collective deterrence and defence. They concluded that climate change effects are expected to contribute to an uncertain geostrategic environment and expected to increase the frequency and scope of threats to the UK and its overseas territories. The study suggested that climate adaptation and mitigation measures could strengthen UK national security, but adaptation and mitigation challenges and requirements should be fair and balanced for low- and middle- income countries. It highlighted the need for global engagement and alliances to address climate change affects, with opportunities for the UK MOD to lead and champion within NATO on climate change. Collaboration on climate change adaptation There is a clear need for collaboration when mitigating climate change through decreasing carbon emissions, and also a need for collaborative climate adaptation strategies. The UK’s 2021 Integrated Review  and its 2023 Refresh  identified climate change as a multiplier of other global challenges, and notably emphasised the need for the UK to work in collaboration with other countries. In 2021, NATO published their Climate Change and Security Action Plan , highlighting the impacts of climate change on security and NATO’s plans to guarantee the security of the Alliance through analysing the impact of climate change on security annually, adapting to climate change, and contribute to mitigating climate change from greenhouse gas emissions from military activities and installations. Simultaneous 8 jet launch from HMR Prince of Wales, UK MOD © Crown copyright 2025 Defence impacts on climate change Climate change clearly impacts national security, but defence can also have a significantly negative impact on climate change. It accounts for 50% of the UK central Government emissions. The Ministry of Defence published their Climate Change and Sustainability Strategic Approach  in 2021, which outlines the impact of defence on climate change, and their plans to reduce emissions and increase sustainability. More information on what is being done Research briefing on Climate change adaptation and resilience in the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for Climate and Security Environmental Security research group | King's College London Global Strategic Trends: Out to 2055  published by MOD The FCDO have specialist CEIE advisors who cover climate diplomacy Climate,Environment,Infrastructure and Energy (CEIE) Technical Competency Framework - GOV.UK ​ Climate change and defence: a Dstl biscuit book - Guidance - GOV.UK Climate Change Committee Progress in adapting to climate change: 2025 report to Parliament Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

With this month's focus on Farming and Food Systems, Silas Gairdner from CSCEN's volunteering team takes us through some ways we can get involved in volunteering in food and farming. Volunteering in food and farming offers a hands-on experience, community connection, and time outdoors. Many government departments offer paid volunteering leave, making it easier to take part. Explore this month’s opportunities  – and take a look four ways others are getting involved in food and farming: 1. Cae Felin Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), Swansea Cae Felin CSA is a 7.6-acre agroecology site in Swansea Bay, leased from Morriston Hospital. Volunteers help grow chemical-free produce, plant trees and support nature-based social prescribing – while gaining experience in food production and conservation. Dan, a freshwater ecologist at Natural Resources Wales, reflects: “Cae Felin is a thriving site full of wildlife and community spirit. I’ve led walks, planted trees and watched schoolchildren grow their first vegetables. It’s deeply satisfying.” Cae Felin recently won an NHS Sustainability Award and plans to welcome local refugee groups next. Photo Credit: Cae Felin 2. FoodCycle Community Meals, Greater Manchester FoodCycle tackles food waste, poverty and loneliness in local communities. Every week at community meals up and down the country, volunteers cook up nutritious three-course meals, free of charge for local people. By cooking with surplus ingredients (often food from supermarkets that would otherwise have gone to waste) the charity aims to promote healthy, sustainable attitudes towards food and its impact on the environment, and help people learn more about healthy food. Sam Joyce, a policy advisor Defra’s peatland team, shares:  “It’s really satisfying being part of a project like this.  As a project leader, I coordinate a small team to feed around 30 hungry people for a dinner shift. It can be quite hectic, but I love the feeling when people are chatting happily, enjoying the food and coming up for seconds.” Photo credit: FoodCycle 3. OrganicLea, London OrganicLea is a community food project and workers’ cooperative based at Hawkwood Plant Nursery near Epping Forest in East London. Volunteers start with an induction day, then choose roles like Horticultural Assistant, Veg-Box Packer, or Kitchen Support. A six-session commitment offers hands-on experience in seasonal growing, soil care, and basic food prep. Silas Gairdner, a policy advisor on nature-based solutions at Defra, volunteered while studying horticulture: “Organiclea is a well-known and much-loved space in the world of agroecology – wonderfully, its also easy and fun to get involved! I did an induction day there and learnt about innovative growing methods from experienced growers who shared their expertise generously. You get to explore one of London’s best green spaces, enjoy a delicious lunch and meet engaged, knowledgeable volunteers.” Photo credit: Organiclea 4. City Harvest, London City Harvest rescues surplus food and delivers it free to charities, schools, and community centres across London. Each hour of volunteering helps provide enough food for 530 meals. Volunteers sort, pack, join delivery runs, or help with cooking demos – no minimum commitment required. As part of the Harvest for Hunger campaign, supported by Defra, City Harvest offers corporate gleaning days in autumn. Groups of volunteers spend a morning or afternoon rescuing apples that don’t meet retail standards, then deliver them to food banks, shelters, and youth centres. Julian shared about his time there in a CSCEN blog post. Photo credit: City Harvest Contribute to the CSCEN Blog  If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

Given this month's focus on water, CSCEN's Finn Shillitto  and  Cara Burke  take you through what a drought is, and what steps you can take to mitigate the impacts. Photograph by Glyn Baker , distributed under a   CC-BY 2.0 license . The sun is out in full force and summer is well and truly here, but our water reserves are feeling the brunt of this hot weather. Our taps might run 24/7, but water isn’t infinite. Droughts are becoming more common, and they can cause big headaches for our communities, wildlife and the planet. Here’s a quick, friendly guide to what’s happening, why you should care and how you can save every drop. What is a drought? A drought happens when rainfall stays well below average for weeks, months, or even years. Some droughts roar in like a scorching, arid summer, whilst others creep up over multiple seasons, quietly draining rivers and reservoirs. Either way, droughts can harm crops and deplete our drinking-water sources, damage habitats and stress wildlife, and bring health risks for vulnerable people. Scientists do not know if the current prolonged dry weather is linked to climate change, but with climate change we can expect more extreme weather events globally and more, and longer, periods of dry weather in the UK which will exacerbate drought. Why it matters right now In the North West of England, a drought was declared on 29 May , after the driest spring in 69 years. Parts of Wales saw just 37% of expected rainfall in the past 3 months. Rivers and public water supply reservoirs are low, soil moisture levels are decreased significantly, and wildfire incidents are on the rise. The Environment Agency monitors, reports and acts to reduce the impacts of drought. In response to the current conditions, they convened the National Drought Group in May and took forward the following key actions : Enhanced monitoring of river, groundwater and reservoir levels Close coordination with water companies to implement statutory drought plans when necessary Enforcement of water abstraction licence compliance Environmental incident response for low river flows Management of water transfers Publication of irrigation forecasts for the agricultural sector Preparing guidance for fishery operators Check Your Region Curious how your corner of the UK is faring? Explore the interactive drought map from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology’s Hydrological Data Service: UK Water Resources Portal . Who’s Most at Risk? Drought doesn’t just affect rivers, it impacts people too. Those most vulnerable include: Older adults & young children People with physical or mental health conditions Homeless people Anyone working or exercising outdoors It is important, in a drought, to stay informed of restrictions from your local water company. Vulnerable consumers can contact their water company to register on their Priority Services Register (PSR) to get extra help and support on the event of a drought. More advice is available here. Top Tips to Save Water (and Money!) Whether we’re in a drought or not, small changes add up. Try these today: Turn off taps  – Brushing your teeth or shaving? Stop the flow, it wastes up to 6 litres a minute . Swap baths for short showers  – Showers generally use far less water than baths, especially if you keep it under 5 minutes. Reuse water where possible  – That rinse water from veggies? Capture and use it to water the garden. Fix leaks & upgrade cisterns  – An old toilet can use 13 litres per flush . Modern ones use 6 litres  or less. Run full loads only  – Washing machines and dishwashers are most efficient when full—always pick the eco  mode. Stay informed  – Check your water company’s website  and local news for the latest drought alerts and advice. What You Can Do Next? Adopt one new water saving habit this week Sign up for your local water provider’s updates Each drop counts. Together, we can protect ourselves as best as possible against drought and safeguard our water future. Contribute to the CSCEN Blog  If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

Meet the team behind the UK's largest civil service environmental network CSCEN volunteer at the CSCEN Conference 2025 talking to attendees The Civil Service Climate and Environment Network (CSCEN) is thrilled to announce our presence at Civil Service Live 2025 ! This summer, we're bringing our passion for environmental action to venues across the UK, offering you the chance to discover how you can make a difference through our network. Why Visit Our Stall? Civil Service Live represents a unique opportunity to connect face-to-face with CSCEN committee members who are driving climate and environmental initiatives across government. Whether you're already working in environmental policy or simply interested in making your workplace more sustainable, our team will be ready to: Share information about our regular events, including talks from world-class speakers Discuss our professional development opportunities, including our popular shadowing scheme Connect you with like-minded colleagues across departments Help you discover ways to incorporate sustainability into your role Answer your questions about membership and getting involved Where to Find Us We'll be at the following Civil Service Live events: Tuesday 10 June: SEC, Glasgow Wednesday 25 June: Utilita Arena, Cardiff Wednesday 2 July: Sports Central, Northumbria University, Newcastle Tuesday 8 & Wednesday 9 July: ExCeL, London Tuesday 15 July: ACC, Liverpool As the government's flagship learning conference, Civil Service Live brings together thousands of colleagues to share knowledge, develop skills, and celebrate our collective achievements. In an era where climate action is increasingly central to government priorities, CSCEN's presence at these events reflects our commitment to supporting the civil service in meeting environmental challenges.

In our latest guest article, Tess Marczewski-Newman from the International Environment Negotiations Evidence team in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) discusses the importance of education as highlighted in the new IPBES Transformative Change Assessment. Education in the IPBES Transformative Change Assessment Nearly 150 Governments came together in December last year to approve an ambitious new assessment on the need for transformative change to halt and reverse biodiversity loss globally.  The new Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES, known as the ‘IPCC for biodiversity’) report  highlights the need for transformative change – which refers to fundamental, systemic shifts in attitudes, values, structures, and practices to reshape how society interacts with nature – to tackle global environmental challenges and crises. A key element in achieving this transformative change is education, particularly among young people, who play a crucial role in a positive future for nature.  The IPBES assessment emphasises that tackling the biodiversity crisis requires us to rethink the structures that govern human interactions with the natural world. Education is key to this process, as it empowers individuals with the knowledge, skills, and motivation needed to engage in sustainability and biodiversity conservation efforts. Education can foster an understanding of the intrinsic value of nature, promoting a shift from viewing biodiversity merely as a resource, to recognising it as something that humans are part of, and that we need to exist in harmony with.  Shifting views, values, practices and paradigms can be achieved through education across all levels, by formal and informal means, to promote the responsibility we have for nature, and strengthen the connection humans have with nature - including through  increasing awareness of alternative views of nature and Indigenous and local knowledge.   Formal education systems Firstly, the report highlights ways that biodiversity and sustainability can be integrated into formal education systems worldwide. By embedding biodiversity and conservation knowledge, and sustainable practices in curricula at all levels, the assessment explains that young people can develop a more profound connection to the natural world, and this can encourage them to take active roles in protecting biodiversity. Universities, colleges, trade schools and apprenticeships can offer training for future work forces in sustainability, regenerative agriculture, forestry, design and finance, as well as training in empathy and compassion, nature appreciation, and systems thinking. This develops capabilities to address multiple, intersecting environmental challenges.  Informal learning Going beyond the classroom, the IPBES assessment emphasises that education should also include informal learning experiences that allow young people to engage directly with nature, and help shift perceptions and values. Conservation projects and community-based initiatives can provide practical, real-world opportunities for young individuals to contribute to biodiversity conservation. These experiences, in addition to social and emotional learning, help to deepen understanding of the issues and can inspire long-term commitment to protecting the environment.    Young people in policy and decision-making In addition to formal and informal education, the report demonstrates evidence that young people’s involvement in policy and decision-making processes is crucial for transformative change. The assessment underscores the importance of fostering an inclusive, participatory approach to biodiversity governance to ensure all voices are represented. Within this, amplifying youth voices to have greater influence on policymaking could challenge both short-term thinking and the concentration of power.   Young people as agents of change Young people , the report goes onto explain,  can also play an important role in the transformative change process though being powerful agents of change in society. The rise of youth-led movements, such as the global Fridays for Future initiative, highlights the growing engagement of young people in advocating for urgent action to address climate change and nature loss. These movements demonstrate the ability of young people to mobilise, raise awareness, and place pressure on governments and corporations.  By equipping young people with the knowledge and tools to understand and address biodiversity loss through various forms of education, we can ensure that future generations are motivated, prepared and equipped to protect nature.  If you’d like to know more about IPBES’ activities, including upcoming assessments (including the Business and Biodiversity Assessment; and the Biodiversity Monitoring Assessment, or information about the next Meeting of IPBES being hosted by the UK in 2026), please join our  mailing list .  Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

A Six-Episode Journey into Defence Sustainability The Defence Infrastructure Organisation has launched an enlightening six-episode podcast series that takes listeners behind the scenes of sustainability efforts across the UK's vast Defence Estate. This engaging audio series features conversations with senior military figures, project leaders and industrial partners who are tackling environmental challenges head-on. From strategic planning to on-the-ground implementation, each episode offers unique insights into how Defence is integrating sustainability into its core mission. Listeners will discover not just the challenges faced, but the innovative solutions being deployed across this immense portfolio. Why This Podcast Matters The first episode is available now, with subsequent instalments being added to the playlist upon release. This podcast series breaks through traditional communication barriers, ensuring that vital sustainability messages reach beyond formal channels to inform and inspire action across the Defence community and beyond. The Scale of the Challenge The Defence Estate is vast—occupying over 1% of the United Kingdom's landmass. This enormous scale presents unique sustainability challenges that require equally ambitious solutions. While many might assume environmental considerations would be secondary to Defence operations, today's reality shows a fundamental shift in priorities. Sustainability has become essential to maintaining operational capability in a changing climate. Consider a practical example: water scarcity could severely restrict military training capacity at key sites, directly impacting readiness. This isn't a distant concern—it's a present challenge requiring immediate attention. Sustainability in Action The Ministry of Defence is responding with remarkable innovation. The award-winning Net-Zero Carbon Accommodation Programme is revolutionising living quarters while reducing carbon emissions. Simultaneously, infrastructure initiatives such as standardised electric vehicle charging points being deployed across Defence facilities. These initiatives demonstrate how the MOD has elevated sustainability to stand alongside security and health & safety as strategic priorities—without compromising its primary mission of protecting national security. A Resource for Civil Servants For members of the Civil Service Climate Change + Environment Network (CSCCEN), this podcast offers valuable perspectives even if you rarely encounter Defence property. The series showcases how Defence personnel—both service members and civil servants — are applying their expertise to sustainability challenges that mirror those faced across government. Their innovative approaches provide potential models for environmental initiatives in other departments, making this podcast series a valuable resource for all civil servants interested in sustainability. Tune in to discover how one of Britain's largest landowners is pioneering sustainable practices while maintaining its critical mission of national security. The first episode is available here: Episode 1: The big picture with Major General Andy Sturrock To stay updated on new episodes, follow the Defence Infrastructure Organisation on social media: Instagram X (Twitter) LinkedIn

Given this month’s focus on “weather vs. climate”, CSCEN's Emilio Risoli and Rebecca Sawyer (CSCEN committee member and Met Office climate scientist) take us through how the Met Office provide both weather and climate information to inform policy and decision making across government and beyond. The Met Office, Exeter - © Crown Copyright The Met Office is probably best known for its weather forecasts. You might have seen its name alongside weather warnings, and perhaps you assumed that weather  was the extent of its brief. However, as the UK’s national meteorological service, the Met Office has another significant strand of work: the climate . The weather and climate are different terms used to describe different things. Put simply, the climate " describes the average weather conditions over a long period of time " usually over 20-30 years. While the weather tells you what you should wear on a particular day, the climate determines the clothes you have in your wardrobe. But modelling the climate is a different pursuit to weather forecasting, and it serves a range of very different purposes. The weather The Met Office is the UK’s national weather service. It is primarily funded by UK Government and at the core of its operation is the Public Weather Service (PWS). The PWS provides a reliable public forecast for all UK citizens, and includes the issuing of severe weather warnings. Alongside this, the Met Office delivers specialist forecasts and advice to the UK defence sector, weather information for the aviation sector, and a range of global weather services to clients across industry, academia, the media and more. The “Unified Model” – which has been used by the Met Office since 1990 – is used to predict the weather in a certain area across a range of timescales. This model is therefore used for both weather forecasting (a few days) and climate modelling (up to hundreds of years). The supercomputer currently used to do this, the Cray XC40 , is one of the most powerful of its kind in the world, and is capable of (an inconceivable) 14,000 trillion arithmetic operations each second. This allows the Met Office to obtain 215 billion weather observations from all over the world every day. If you assumed that this was all done by computers, however, you’d be wrong. Central to the provision of weather forecasts are the Met Office’s meteorologists. While computer models provide an initial indication of forecasted weather patterns and conditions, it is the meteorologists who assess and compare this information with real-world observations, including the scale and progress of weather systems,  to ensure that the forecast provided to end-users is as accurate as possible. For example, a huge part of a meteorologist’s role is around predicting how people respond and behave before and during a severe weather event. This informs the timing, scale and level of the weather warnings that are issued. Meteorologists work closely with civil contingency advisors, emergency responders and local authorities to coordinate warnings to ensure they keep people as safe as possible. Weather forecasting: more than just daily wardrobe decisions The Met Office provides weather services to a broad range of customers. In transport alone, its forecasts and insights support pilots, airlines and airports, train and freight operators, the Marine and Coastguard Agency and National Highways, to name just a few. As a more specific example, its specialist forecasts are used by rail operators to run their services safely and on time. If you’ve ever wondered why your train is delayed on a windy day, there’s a good chance that it’s to do with leaf-fall on the track. When trains pass over these leaves, they form a slippery layer on the track, equivalent to black ice on the roads. To combat this, the Met Office provide rail operators with specialist forecasts that include estimates of leaf-fall and highlight locations needing more attention. Alongside this data, the Met Office provide a team of experienced rail consultants, who advise operators with solutions for specific weather hazard vulnerabilities. And this goes beyond leaves: these consultants help operators address a range of weather-related challenges to improve network efficiency. Source: Network Rail Climate in the Met Office Scientists in the Met Office use a combination of observations and climate models to look at overall weather trends over ‘climatological’ periods of 10-30 years. As Carbon Brief explain, “ in many ways, climate modelling is just an extension of weather forecasting, but focusing on changes over decades rather than hours ”. The climate models provide us with the opportunity to test assumptions and scenarios which would not be possible to observe in the ‘real world’. By varying the starting conditions of these models (i.e. the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the temperature, land use and cover) we can see how the climate responds in different situations. This helps inform the speed and scale of policy interventions needed to reduce average global temperate rise. The Met Office Hadley Centre Climate Programme (MOHCCP) undertakes scientifically excellent climate research and provides policy-relevant scientific evidence and advice to Government. The programme helps to ensure that both environment and energy policies are grounded in the latest scientific evidence. The MOHCCP supports policy work across DESNZ, Defra, the FCDO and many other government departments. Case study: Using climate data to assess the risk posed by wind-driven rain to British buildings A good way to display how the Met Office’s climate data can be interpreted, and used to inform policy, is through a case study of a project funded by the MOHCCP. Last year, the Met Office worked with DESNZ to understand the risk of damage to cavity wall insulation from wind-driven rain , and how climate change might impact this. Cavity wall insulation is a common retrofit measure, and plays a key role in both decarbonising buildings and reducing energy bills for consumers. When rain drops vertically, this fabric remains largely sheltered. However, wind-driven rain can lead to water entering the cavity (via roofs, walls, windows, doors etc.) and damaging the building fabric. This not only leads to losses in thermal insulation (making the house colder), but it also causes damp and mould, creating unhealthy conditions for occupants. For this reason, the Building Regulations state that this type of insulation should be avoided in locations with high exposure to wind driven rain. However, the dataset used to identify at-risk locations is based on evidence recorded between 1959 and 1991. This created a significant knowledge gap: an understanding of the buildings which were not currently exposed to wind driven rain, but might be in the future as the climate changes. This DESNZ-Met Office project created an updated wind-driven rain dataset using high-resolution climate modelling. The study used the latest UK Climate Projections (UKCP18) to model changes in projected wind-driven rain for 2°C and 4°C warming scenarios (relative to the pre-industrial period). It found that while on average wind-driven rain is not expected to change significantly, it will become more concentrated in southerly and westerly parts of the UK. Moreover, it is projected to become more concentrated in winter months. © Crown Copyright Conclusion The work on wind-driven rain is now being used to inform updates to retrofit guidance and building regulations. It is just one example of how the Met Office uses climate modelling to inform policy and decision making, and its specificity illustrates just how varied the uses of climate modelling can be. A recent evaluation concluded that for every £1 of public money invested, the Met Office returns £18.80 in value . Its value to the taxpayer in supporting decision-making with high-level weather and climate data and expertise, especially in a world grappling with climate change, is clear. Next time your train is on time, or your retrofitted home doesn’t have damp on the walls, thank the Met Office. Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

In 2021, the Environment Act enshrined 13 legally binding environmental targets into law. Defra is revising the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) to deliver these targets. CSCEN's Cara Burke, formerly of Defra’s EIP team, unpacks what a revised EIP for England would tackle, and how the Environment Act 2021 directs environmental action on a national level. Source: Environmental Improvement Plan 2023 What is the Environment Act 2021? The Environment Act responded to a clear case, and growing public demand, for action to address environmental challenges. It set a new domestic framework for environmental governance after the UK left the EU and set a path to achieving long-term action necessary for nature to recover through legally binding targets, an environmental watchdog and by placing environmental principles in domestic law in a consistent and transparent way. What is an Environmental Improvement Plan? On 30 July 2024, the Government announced a rapid review of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP). The rapid review has now been undertaken , and forms a vital stage of information collection as part of a wider, statutory review which will be completed when the revised EIP is published in 2025. The plan will focus on delivering the Environment Act’s legally binding environmental targets to save nature. It will be a statutory plan to protect and restore the natural environment. The Environment Act 2021 requires that Defra’s Secretary of State prepares an EIP for significantly improving the natural environment in England. An EIP must have a minimum duration of 15 years to ensure that governments consider the needs of the natural environment over the longer term. The government must review its EIP at least every five years and the review will consider what has been done to implement the current EIP since publication, whether the natural environment has improved during that period, and whether further steps are needed to improve the natural environment. The 25 Year Environment Plan (25YEP) was published in 2018 and was designated as the first EIP. It set out a comprehensive and long-term approach to protecting and enhancing the natural environment for the next generation through 10 goals. The latest EIP was published in January 2023 (EIP23). Under the Act, the Secretary of State must also prepare annual progress reports  to report on implementation of the EIP and report progress towards the EIP. Alongside the annual progress report, the  Outcome Indicator Framework data dashboard  shows how the environment is changing in relation to the 10 goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan. What are Environment Act targets? The Environment Act 2021 required government to set legally binding environmental targets. Following public consultation, all 13 environmental targets were in force by 31 January 2023 . The 13 targets cover air quality, water, biodiversity, resource efficiency and waste reduction, tree and woodland cover, and Marine Protected Areas. The revised EIP will focus on delivering these targets. Interim targets set the trajectory towards long-term targets and allow for an ongoing assessment of whether government is on track to meet them. When reviewing the EIP, the government must set new interim targets, and consider, given the progress made to date, what further measures are needed to achieve the interim and long-term targets. Environmental Principles and other Government Departments The environment is not solely Defra’s remit, and every government department has a role to play in protecting and restoring the natural environment. The Environment Act 2021 places a legal duty on Ministers of the Crown to have “due regard” to the environmental principles policy statement when making policy. The environmental principles policy statement  was published on 31 January 2023 and explains how Ministers of the Crown should interpret and proportionately apply the five environmental principles, as required by the Environment Act 2021. The five principles set out in the Act are: integration, prevention, rectification at source, polluter pays, and the precautionary principle. The Office for Environmental Protection’s latest progress report (see below) recommends that implementation of the environment principles duty is directly linked to statutory targets and delivery plans. The Office for Environmental Protection The Environment Act established the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) to protect and improve the environment by holding government and other public authorities to account. Its work covers England, Northern Ireland and UK reserved matters. The Act sets out the OEP’s powers and duties, which can be split into four functions. These are: monitoring progress in delivering environmental improvement plans and targets monitoring implementation of environmental law advising Ministers on changes to environmental law; and enforcing against failures to comply with environmental law through investigations and, only where strictly necessary, legal proceedings (Environmental Review or, in exceptional cases, Judicial Review). The OEP publish their own EIP annual progress report 6 months after Defra’s. Future of the EIP When the EIP rapid review completed, Defra’s Secretary of State provided an Interim statement on the EIP rapid review - GOV.UK  . This indicated that the the revised EIP will be published in 2025, and will aim to: be clear on the role of cross cutting enablers for environmental delivery across government and wider society and how actions interface as part of a system to improve the natural environment highlight how protecting and enhancing our natural capital is not just for its own sake but supports wider societal outcomes including the Government’s missions for clean energy and growth clarify Environment Act target delivery plans and update their corresponding interim targets to cover the 5-year period from completion of the review, in line with statutory requirements clarify how the EIP will be delivered, including the role of government departments and bodies, environmental NGOs, businesses, farmers, landowners/managers, local government and the public streamline and prioritise non statutory commitments to make sure that the EIP focuses on key actions that result in meaningful delivery towards environmental improvement, contributing to statutory targets and priority outcomes. Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

In our latest guest article, the Delivering Greener Transport team in the Department for Transport outline their priorities, recent steps that they've taken, and how the team approach the decarbonisation challenge. The intertwined crises of climate change and nature loss are the greatest long-term global challenges we face, and all of us in government have a role in mitigating and adapting to their impacts. Without doing so, we will not effectively deliver our missions to ‘make Britain a clean energy superpower’ (clean energy), to ‘build an NHS fit for the future’ (health), and to ‘kickstart economic growth’. Delivering Greener Transport 'Delivering Greener Transport' is a priority for the Department for Transport, and encompasses the following sub-priorities: Decarbonisation: ‘ Accelerating to net zero’ is a key pillar of the clean energy mission. Under the Climate Change Act 2008, HMG must achieve cross-economy net zero by 2050. The technologies needed to green our transport systems present strong opportunities for catalysing private investment across the UK, helping to kickstart economic growth. DfT is accountable across government for reducing carbon emissions from in-use transport (exhaust emissions). Decarbonising transport will improve the UK’s energy security by running on domestically produced clean energy. DfT also supports the delivery of cross-economy net zero by aiming to reduce the carbon emitted to construct, maintain and operate our transport infrastructure. Adapt the transport system to climate change: Our transport network must adapt to be resilient to more frequent and extreme weather events. A resilient transport system underpins strong business and consumer confidence, both of which are essential to kickstart economic growth. Reduce air pollution from transport: Reducing air pollution from transport is a key pillar of the health mission. Costs of air pollution to the economy could reach £5.3bn per year by 2035 without cross-government action. Reduce wider environmental impacts from transport and support nature recovery: DfT is implementing a range of environmental legal requirements, including the Environmental Principles Policy Statement duty, the Biodiversity Duty and Biodiversity Net Gain. The Department also participates in wider cross-government work to implement the Environmental Improvement Plan.   Recent steps In the past few months, the Department has taken further steps to Deliver Greener Transport, by: Encouraging greener travel by improving the quality and availability of public transport to all by: Bringing franchises back into public ownership through the Rail Passenger Bill. Giving power to local authorities to run their own bus services and launching a consultation for new draft guidance to provide advice and support for local leaders looking to bring services into public control. Driving forward with the Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) Mandate and a revenue certainty mechanism to spur investment. Embedding Environmental Principles into policy, project design and investment appraisal.  Setting clear requirements around carbon management and whole life carbon assessments for infrastructure investments. Resuming our global climate leadership role in negotiations at the 29th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties – UNFCCC COP29. Please leave the 'contribute to the CSCEN Blog' section below - this encourages members to get involved. Joined-up working The DGT Team   synthesises progress across these outcomes and organise senior departmental boards focused on Delivering Greener Transport, rotating agendas as required. A key challenge for us has been to drive joined up working across our sub-priorities for teams across the Department. We have identified significant value-add from linking decarbonisation and air quality workstreams, as most policy interventions tend to reinforce these objectives. Where possible, we use the governments’ missions to communicate the importance of Delivering Greener Transport, as this gives everyone a common language and will aid Departmental staff in using the missions when engaging externally. This article has been drafted by the Delivering Greener Transport team in the Department for Transport. If you would like to get in touch, please contact the DGT Team at dgtsecretariat@dft.gov.uk . Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

We were amazed by the large turn out and engagement for our November CSCEN Talk on Climate Misinformation and Disinformation . We sent outstanding audience questions to our speakers after the talk who have kindly responded with some further thoughts and reflections. A full recording of the talk is available on the CSCEN Website . As a reminder, our speakers for this talk were David Shukman (independent speaker, writer and consultant and former BBC Science Editor) and Zaneta Sedilekova (Qualified lawyer and director of climate and nature risk expert consultancy firm Planet Law Lab).    General reflections from David Shukman I found it very heartening to see such a big turnout of civil servants for this discussion. I think that’s quite new. Over the years I’ve engaged with officials of all levels who’ve tended to have a narrow focus on their roles, perhaps understandably. So physical climate impacts were something to do with Defra, anything low carbon was the job of the business department, urban planning was another ministry entirely. The reality is that all these problems – and the solutions – are intertwined and it’s hard to think of a government body that shouldn’t be involved in planning for extreme heat, for example. They all need to be at the table: Treasury, Defence, Transport plus the obvious one of Health. So a starting-point is to think beyond silos, and it’s great to see any sign of that.    However none of this takes place in a vacuum. There’s a constant barrage of pro-oil propaganda whose scale and potency are always underestimated. The oil companies and petrostates are fighting to preserve their interests. This can mean promoting all kinds of ideas and content that can be distorting or false, and these easily ether the political bloodstream. Their tactics are often described as deny, delay and distract, in other words undermine the science, slow down any response and shout ‘look over here’ at some shiny but ineffectual project. I would add a fourth ‘D’ for ‘disarm’. Some of the industry’s leading figures turn up at climate COPs, give media interviews, big up their contributions to the transition, give an impression of willing engagement. A lot of it is snake-oil: schemes that depend on public funding that’s yet to be secured; promises of delivering Net Zero while actually expanding production; making bold claims for cutting emissions that aren’t justified when one reads the caveats tucked away in tiny font sizes.   Critical to countering all of this is employing the clearest possible language. The marketing expert John Marshall says, rightly, that “no one gets out of bed saying ‘it’s a great day for decarbonisation’.  There are ways of talking about climate change accurately but intelligibly, and it couldn’t be more important. I like to picture myself trying to explain some point to my mother or a friend who may be an artist or musician. It takes real effort and thinking but it’s worth it. The world of climate policy is in a spiral of ever more complex concepts and acronyms, many of which are the result of compromises that require words that obscure reality rather than illuminate it. So here’s a challenge: can you talk or write about some aspect of climate change without using words ending ‘-tion’? Not easy, but crack it and you’ll find it makes a difference to the level of engagement and understanding, and what could more useful than that?    Zaneta Sedilekova’s reflections on outstanding audience questions   Do we have the right to make climate mis/disinformation illegal?    I would approach this through the lens of a balance between rights and power, not only a right as such. Legality and illegality of any act in the UK is within the power of the UK government to control. This power is not unfettered – it is restricted by human rights and freedoms of the UK citizens and residents (e.g. the freedom of expression). In making climate mis/disinformation illegal, the UK government therefore has to strike a balance between its power and people’s rights and freedoms.   Precedents exist – hate speech, for example, is illegal under Public Order Act 1986 and Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006. The focal point of making climate mis/disinformation illegal is likely to be the definition of both terms – it needs to be specific enough to capture the acts of mis/disinformation, while broad enough to accommodate ever evolving climate science.     Are we moving towards a US-style media ecosystem (including threats to the future of the BBC) and what is the impact on climate dis/misinformation? As such how do we restore trust and integrity in mainstream news media as truth-seeking, especially when criticism is fair as pro-fossil communications are sometimes adopted?    There are signs of it. Media’s function is first and foremost to keep society informed. Facts and news presented objectively are the pinnacle of informed society, followed by opinions and interpretations. The main threats to this purpose of media are:   corporate capture of media, where media present themselves as objective while the content they publish is heavily influenced by their corporate sponsors;    persona journalism, where enterprising and inquiring journalists are replaced by media personalities, who may seem competent and knowledgeable, but in fact have large teams working behind them;    disappearance of local media, where international journalists report on events half the world away, relying on accounts of local people but not verifying these stories themselves;     rise of anti-intellectualism, where art, literature and science are dismissed as impractical or politically motivated – people seek bite-size information, which narrows down complexity of a situation;     AI, which works with words and languages, but lacks intellectual cognition and moral code to determine which words are true and which are not – we have already seen algorithm incite violence; and    surveillance capitalism, where peoples’ behaviour, including exposure to news, is predetermined by private companies and government gathering data on their regular behaviour and influencing their future behaviour.   All these factors interplay with climate dis/misinformation – it is science-based and complex, but needs to be communicated in a simple way to the public. Personas and corporations are not suitable to communicate climate information – this is where my point about the need for fully informed civil service in the UK comes in. It is the government that needs to uphold independent media in relation to climate science (and not only).    Noam Chomsky makes some salient points about the history and the evolution of media in the US in his Masterclass  (no promotion here, just an honest recommendation).     Tobacco companies engaged in the same strategies (as Exxon mentioned previously and the “4Ds”). None of the directors faced any consequences. Do we need to change the way corporations are configured?   Corporate governance indeed needs to change for responsible business to work. However, the changes may not be as radical as some may envisaged. We already have directors at board level representing particular business divisions – e.g. a Finance Director, an HR Director. There is a scope to innovate within existing frameworks – for instance, Faith in Nature appointed  a Nature Director to its board in 2022 and is reportedly undergoing a huge mindset change across the entire business as a result (see the company’s Year 2 report ). I have recently finished a chapter called Corporate Governance for Nature that will be published in The Palgrave Handbook of Environmental Policy and Law in September 2025 , which discusses various approaches to bringing nature into corporate governance. All of them can be replicated for climate. I am happy to share that chapter with you once the editorial revision is completed (early 2025).   As for directors’ liability, the law is changing rapidly in this area. In the UK, we have an authoritative opinion  which states that under the law of England and Wales, directors should consider nature-related risks – in this context nature includes climate too. The opinion states that ‘Directors who fail to give consideration to relevant non-trivial nature-related risks, and take appropriate steps to mitigate them, may be exposed to claims that they have acted in breach of duty .’ The issues with such litigation is its procedural complexity – it is hard to successfully bring a claim against directors personally. This is the area of law, where litigation is not the answer, which is why I recommend looking at corporate governance.      How will the successful appeal by Shell to overturn an obligation to reduce its emissions in Holland (brought by Friends of the Earth) impact similar cases? Is it a good thing (fossil fuels worried action is being taken) or a bad thing (trying to water down transition) when so many fossil fuel folks attend COP29?   The Shell’s victory was multifaceted. First the appeal court actually confirmed that Shell has a ’special responsibility’ and ‘major obligations’ to reduce its emissions. The issues at stake was the extent of this obligation.    The most relevant point that the appeal court made was to say that the 45% reduction target imposed on Shell by the court of first instance was not valid. In essence, there was not enough science, according to the court, to impose such specific target.   This then impacted particular findings through the judgment:    In relation to its Scope 1 and 2 emissions, Shell has adopted 50% reduction target, even more ambitious than the one originally imposed (45%) and thus there was no case to answer;    In relation to Scope 3 emission, the court said there ‘may’ be an obligation to reduce these. May rather than must for two reasons:    There is, as of now, no guidance specific to oil and gas industry about how this sector must reduce its emissions (that is by how much and by when). – now this is where government regulation comes in. When such guidance becomes available, this argument will no longer stand.   There are, as of now, not enough substitutes (e.g. wind and solar) for oil and gas. This means that even if Shell reduced its Scope 3 emissions, another company would step n and supply the fossil fuels with net reduction being effectively zero. There is still demand for fossil fuels that Shell is merely supplying that demand. – this is where a) investments into renewable energy can make a real difference (on the supply side) and government incentive scheme (e.g. on the purchase of electric vehicles) on the demand side.    Court also said that new oil and gas fields may be incompatible with the energy transition.   This was a test case – first of its kind – and it gave climate litigants a clear blueprint for choosing defendants in future. We can therefore expect increase in:   Litigation against sectors with specific reduction pathways is more likely now as and when these are adopted;    Litigation against planning permissions of specific new fossil fuel projects is likely to increase too;   In relation to Scope 3 emissions, under CSRD, many companies will have a duty to prepare a Paris-aligned transition which. This includes their Scope 3 emissions and is likely to require alignment with the EU’s emission reduction goal, which sits at 55% by 2030 relative to 1990 levels.    Litigation is not a silver-bullet solution – having heard all of the above, a responsible company would start transitioning now as the liability risk for not doing so sits very high after this case and upcoming regulatory developments.      Do you believe that civil disobedience is an essential component in tackling climate change and does the harsh sentencing applied to climate activists risk discrediting the movement to tackle climate change?   Civil disobedience is one lever of change, indeed. When you imagine climate action as a continuum, with one end being climate denial and the other climate boycott, many actions sit in between the two extremes, including civil disobedience. All these actions are a form of communication – if we feel out government cannot hear us when we use language, we start screaming and then using other means – our actions – to communicate. This could include non-violent protests, but also violent protest (which we have not seen yet).    Sentencing on its own cannot discredit the movement – it is how such judgments are reported in media, which impacts public perception (we circle all the way back here). If sentencing is perceived as too hash for what the public sees as a legitimate movement, it can alienate judges from the public.       Do you think there would be an issue in promoting more simplified language in climate discussions whilst still maintaining scientific accuracy/complexity?   Not at all – if such language is agreed with scientists and then promoted more widely in media (also social media), it can lead to a powerful climate action. Scientists themselves are already doing this – in this video , for example – Johan Rockstrom, the scientist who developed the planetary boundary framework, uses a simple term ‘the corridor of life’ to describe variability in average temperatures in relation to the flourishing of modern human civilisation, and the presence of our species on this planet. He does so to show that we have no evidence whatsoever as to how ou r t species will come beyond 2 degrees Celsius – as we never had to in the history of our planet.    Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

Following the conclusion of COP29, CSCEN's Emilio Risoli looks at what the final NCQG deal means for international climate finance. Activists protest for climate finance at COP29. Credit: Reuters COP29 was billed as the “finance COP”, and “ the most important for climate finance since…COP15 in 2009 ”. This is because, at COP15, countries established a climate financing target of $100 billion annually for 15 years, and that pledge expires at the end of this year. The general consensus among negotiators in Baku was that a more ambitious goal was needed, to help poorer countries adopt low-carbon solutions and build resilience to worsening climate impacts. In his opening remarks to the ministerial-level World Leaders Climate Action Summit at COP29, UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutierres declared that “ COP29 must tear down the walls of climate finance ”. He outlined the obstacles facing poorer countries – scant public finance, high levels of debt, the increased cost of borrowing – and stressed that they “must not leave Baku empty-handed…or humanity will pay the price”. By the time a deal was finally agreed at 3am local time on Sunday, richer countries pledged to pay $300 billion (£238 billion) each year, by 2035, to help vulnerable nations tackle climate change. New Collective Quantified Goals on Climate Finance A relatively new acronym has taken centre stage at COP29: NCQG. This stands for New Collective Quantified Goal – which simply means the new annual target for climate finance, which countries have spent the conference trying to agree on. At this point, it’s probably worth clarifying what is meant by “climate finance”. According to the UNFCCC , “climate finance refers to local, national or transnational financing – drawn from public, private and alternative sources of financing – that seeks to support mitigation and adaptation actions that will address climate change”. That is, government or private money spent on clean energy, low-carbon technologies, or adaptation measures. It’s also worth noting at this point that this is different to the Loss and Damage Fund, which is effectively a form of compensation  paid by richer countries to low-income ones, to help them pay for the damage caused by climate-related natural disasters. You might have noticed that the UNFCCC definition is not very precise when it comes to the type of financing being referred to: are we talking about grants or loans, for example? Is this about aid or investment? In fact, this has been a source of contention during negotiations and the subsequent agreement. Negotiations in Baku Negotiations in Baku over the NCQG were widely reported as tense. According to the New York Times : “just days into the talks, there were pointed comments from the leaders and squabbling in the negotiating rooms about the details, including exactly how much money should be raised, who should pay, where it should come from and how it should be spent.” On the question of “how much”, developing countries, environmental activists and climate economists seemed generally in agreement: over $1 trillion a year was required to ensure alignment with the Paris Agreement. Where those funds would come from was a further point of dispute, with the US and EU reportedly indicating that they want countries like China and Saudi Arabia to provide a growing share of the funds. There was further disagreement on how much of the money should come from the private sector and, as referenced above, how much should be provided as aid. In a letter to governments, a coalition of activists and scientific organisations argued that all the money should be provided in the form of grants, and warned that the provision of loans would only compound the debt woes of poorer countries . Agreeing the Deal It was this fraught context which prompted Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, in the aftermath of the agreed $300 billion deal, to declare: “This is a critical eleventh hour deal at the eleventh hour for the climate. It is not everything we or others wanted but is a step forward for us all”. However, not everyone agreed with this assessment. Jasper Inventor, head of Greenpeace’s delegation, called the proposal “inadequate”, and “ divorced from the reality of climate impacts ” . Mohammed Adow, from the environmental group Power Shift Africa, described the deal as “ a slap in the face ”. So, what does the final agreement actually say? The key paragraph reads as follows: The Conference of the Parties “decides to set a goal…with developed country Parties taking the lead, of at least USD 300 billion per year by 2035 for developing country Parties for climate action: (a) From a wide variety of sources, public and private, bilateral and multilateral, including alternative sources; (b) In the context of meaningful and ambitious mitigation and adaptation action, and transparency in implementation; (c) Recognizing the voluntary intention of Parties to count all climate-related outflows from and climate-related finance mobilized by multilateral development banks towards achievement of the goal set forth in this paragraph”. Find the full text here . Notice that it specifies that the money must come from developed countries (i.e. not the likes of China or Saudi Arabia), but also that it does not specify the source of the money. Public, private and “alternative” sources are all included. What Next Key challenges lie ahead, not least in ensuring that action follows ambition (even if the ambition is not quite as high as many hoped). Many point to the fact that in the 15 years since COP15, the $100 billion annual target was met in full only once, in 2022. Making sure that this target is met will require further global cooperation. Remember that debate, referenced earlier, around what kind of money constitutes climate finance? That is sure to continue, and it will probably focus on the role of taxation. President Macron of France joined Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Kenyan President William Ruto in calling for a 0.1% levy on stock and bond trades, along with a a tax levied on oil and gas producers. Meanwhile, Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has proposed a 2% billionaire tax that could raise $250 billion while affecting only 100 families across the world. A frequent flyer levy is another sure way to raise funds in wealthy countries, and a recent Oxfam study found that fair taxes on private jets and superyachts in the UK could have raised up to £2 billion last year alone . Furthermore, they find that 4 in 5 Brits support higher taxes on luxury travel . However, these types of interventions often face powerful opposition, and richer countries often see climate finance as more of an investment opportunity than a direct cash transfer. One mooted solution has been that of wiping the debt of poor countries in exchange for climate investment . A further unknown is the impending Trump presidency: it is expected that the US will withdraw from the Paris agreement , and this prospect would undoubtedly have loomed over the negotiations. Indeed, commentators have suggested that this is a reason the final number was less than developing countries were hoping for. According to Professor Joanna Depledge, an expert on international climate negotiations at Cambridge University, " the other developed country donors are acutely aware that Trump will not pay a penny and they will have to make up the shortfall ". As the crowds dispersed in Baku, Mike Childs, head of policy at Friends of the Earth, perhaps summed up what many were feeling. He credited the UK delegation for playing a productive role during the talks, but also acknowledged that COP29 "kicked the can down the road", and " failed to solve the question of climate finance ". What is for sure is that global efforts in raising climate finance will need to continue to be ramped up from here on in. With or without the US, the UK must continue to play a productive and cooperative role. Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!

This month, Cara Burke takes a look at AI's potential to both spread dangerous climate misinformation , and play an active role in tackling the spread of climate misinformation . Last month, we had a look at AI’s capability to tackle climate and emissions challenges in The Artificial Intelligence for Decarbonisation Innovation Programme . But for all of AI’s potential in tackling the climate crisis, there is concern over its negative impacts: it requires a huge amount of energy to run, and it has the ability to spread dangerous climate misinformation further and faster. What is climate misinformation? The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024  identified misinformation and disinformation as the biggest global short-term risk, and extreme weather events as the most severe long-term risk. The landscape of climate misinformation is changing. Where it used to be dominated by an outright denial of global warming, “New Denial” is more nuanced , and focusses on suggesting climate change is the sole responsibility of individuals rather than governments, industry, companies or society; pushing for ineffective solutions for reducing GHG emissions rather than addressing root causes; highlighting solely short-term costs of climate policies; and suggesting we are “doomed” already and it is too late to take meaningful action. According to analysis from the Center for Countering Digital Hate, New Denial now constitutes 70% of climate denialist claims on YouTube . This more nuanced misinformation is much harder to identify and tackle and could be impactful in a society where most people believe the science of human-driven climate change. Climate misinformation can also influence the perception of public attitudes to climate change, which has dangerous implications if world leaders perceive the public as being unsupportive of climate policies. The People’s Climate Vote 2024 survey  found that globally, 72% of people want their country to move away from fossil fuels to clean energy quickly, and 80% of people want their country to do more. One study by the University of Leeds found that in the UK, most people are supportive of even the most stringent climate policies . The assistant secretary general of the UN, Selwin Hart, has warned that the idea of increasing “backlash” against climate action is being perpetuated by the fossil fuel industry to persuade world leaders to delay emissions-cutting policies . What are the risks of AI use in spreading climate misinformation? The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024  warns of the major societal risks of advanced AI and identifies misinformation and disinformation as the most severe short-term risk. It warns that AI models have already enabled an “explosion in falsified information and so-called “synthetic” content”, and have enhanced the volume, reach and efficacy of falsified information.  Newsguard have identified 1,110 websites that publish unreliable AI-generated articles with little to no human oversight , and on Twitter, false news has been found to spread further, faster, deeper, and more broadly than real news . Climate action against disinformation (CAAD), a coalition of 50 climate and anti-disinformation organisations, have released a report warning of the AI threats to climate change , including its potential to spread disinformation campaigns. Charlie Cray, Senior Strategist at Greenpeace USA, said “Governments and companies must stop pretending that increasing equipment efficiencies and directing AI tools towards weather disaster responses are enough to mitigate AI’s contribution to the climate emergency.” AI models are clearly a risk to the climate emergency, but there is some evidence that, when used well, they could be an active agent in combatting climate misinformation. What are the risks of AI use in spreading climate misinformation? The CAAD report had 3 major policy recommendations for tech companies and regulators to adopt and implement, under the headlines of transparency, safety and accountability. The CAAD coalition called on governments to develop common standards on AI safety reporting and work with the IPCC to develop coordinated global oversight. It emphasised that regulation will be very important in tackling climate misinformation perpetuated by AI models, but that identifying AI-generated content and tracking down the origin and flows of misinformation is becoming more difficult. AI models could offer a way to detect AI-generated climate misinformation and tackle its spread. A team of Australian and British researchers have developed the AI model CARDS . “[We’re] ultimately trying to solve what misinformation researchers call ‘the Holy Grail of fact-checking, which is detecting and debunking misinformation in real time,” said John Cook, a senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne who co-developed the AI model. CARDS was originally trained on material such as climate denial blogs but has now been updated using a database of millions of climate-related tweets. It currently detects climate misinformation roughly 90% of the time. Though it would still require more work before being deployed on digital platforms, it is a promising step, and highlights the potential for AI to be used to effectively combat its own problem in tackling climate misinformation online. Contribute to the CSCEN Blog If you're interested in contributing to the CSCEN Blog, get in touch with us at environment.network@energysecurity.gov.uk . We'd love to hear your ideas!