Newsletters from No 10: 22 September 2009
Dear friends
I hope you had a good summer (though that seems some time ago now). I wanted to update you on progress towards Copenhagen.
We are now just eleven weeks away from the start of the COP15 UN climate conference in December. Though the formal negotiations under the UNFCCC - which shift to Bangkok next week - are proceeding very slowly, the intensity of the informal talks among the leading nations is increasing. The fourth meeting of Leaders' Representatives in the Major Economies Forum took place last week in Washington DC; there were further informal discussions chaired by Denmark in New York over the weekend; and today sees a full day of face to face talks between world leaders at the UN Secretary General's summit on climate change, also in New York.
Gordon Brown's view is that achieving a new global agreement in Copenhagen can only be done with the active engagement of heads of government. The ambition and complexity of the issues, and the far-reaching economic and social impact that a low carbon development path will have on every country, mean that only leaders can take the decisions necessary to forge an agreement. Accordingly, he announced yesterday that he would himself go to Copenhagen if it is necesary to clinch the deal - and would be urging other leaders to do the same. He is the first major world leader to announce such an intention, so this is a considerable step. Today he is travelling to New York to attend the UN Summit, where he will seek to persuade other leaders to commit to going. He is chairing a round table on climate finance, where he will be seeking to find agreement on the proposals he set out in June; and will take part in a two-hour dinner for key leaders hosted by the Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Those attending include almost all the leaders of the Major Economies - including Presidents Obama and Hu - along with a number of climate-vulnerable states. He then goes on to the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh where again the focus will be climate finance.
These are unique opportunities for leaders to talk face to face about how to secure the Copenhagen agreement, and we believe that progress can be made. The focus on climate this week caps a summer of British diplomatic activity aimed at progressing the deal. Over the summer Ed Miliband travelled to Brazil, South Africa, India and Bangladesh for further talks, and Peter Mandelson to China. David Miliband did a tour of European capitals earlier this month. Copenhagen has featured heavily in the PM's recent bilateral meetings and phone calls with other leaders.
The Prime Minister's announcement came in an extended article he has written in this week's Newsweek magazine. The essay argues that by increasing business confidence in low carbon policy the Copenhagen deal will have a significant impact on global economic recovery. HSBC now estimates the global turnover of the low carbon sector to be larger than aerospace and defence combined: as the PM has been arguing for some time, investment in low carbon energy is set to be one of the main drivers of global economic growth in the coming decade. Anyway I attach the piece in case it's of interest; or see [http://tinyurl.com/nycb79 - int edition]
Yesterday was also the international day of action on climate change organised by Avaaz and the 'tck tck tck' campaign (see [http://tinyurl.com/mwfs9a]). Gordon Brown was rung by a young climate activist yesterday as part of a global 'flashmobbing' - see [http://tinyurl.com/kujzzm]. The international mobilisation of public opinion in favour of an ambitious climate deal has the potential to apply real pressure on governments as we approach Copenhagen; having compared the imperative with Make Poverty History the PM has long urged a more visible campaign and it now looks as if it is finally beginning to happen.
I will report back on the events in the US this week at the beginning of next.
With best wishes
Michael Jacobs
Michael Jacobs
Special Adviser to the Prime Minister
10 Downing St
London SW1A 2AA
I hope you had a good summer (though that seems some time ago now). I wanted to update you on progress towards Copenhagen.
We are now just eleven weeks away from the start of the COP15 UN climate conference in December. Though the formal negotiations under the UNFCCC - which shift to Bangkok next week - are proceeding very slowly, the intensity of the informal talks among the leading nations is increasing. The fourth meeting of Leaders' Representatives in the Major Economies Forum took place last week in Washington DC; there were further informal discussions chaired by Denmark in New York over the weekend; and today sees a full day of face to face talks between world leaders at the UN Secretary General's summit on climate change, also in New York.
Gordon Brown's view is that achieving a new global agreement in Copenhagen can only be done with the active engagement of heads of government. The ambition and complexity of the issues, and the far-reaching economic and social impact that a low carbon development path will have on every country, mean that only leaders can take the decisions necessary to forge an agreement. Accordingly, he announced yesterday that he would himself go to Copenhagen if it is necesary to clinch the deal - and would be urging other leaders to do the same. He is the first major world leader to announce such an intention, so this is a considerable step. Today he is travelling to New York to attend the UN Summit, where he will seek to persuade other leaders to commit to going. He is chairing a round table on climate finance, where he will be seeking to find agreement on the proposals he set out in June; and will take part in a two-hour dinner for key leaders hosted by the Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Those attending include almost all the leaders of the Major Economies - including Presidents Obama and Hu - along with a number of climate-vulnerable states. He then goes on to the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh where again the focus will be climate finance.
These are unique opportunities for leaders to talk face to face about how to secure the Copenhagen agreement, and we believe that progress can be made. The focus on climate this week caps a summer of British diplomatic activity aimed at progressing the deal. Over the summer Ed Miliband travelled to Brazil, South Africa, India and Bangladesh for further talks, and Peter Mandelson to China. David Miliband did a tour of European capitals earlier this month. Copenhagen has featured heavily in the PM's recent bilateral meetings and phone calls with other leaders.
The Prime Minister's announcement came in an extended article he has written in this week's Newsweek magazine. The essay argues that by increasing business confidence in low carbon policy the Copenhagen deal will have a significant impact on global economic recovery. HSBC now estimates the global turnover of the low carbon sector to be larger than aerospace and defence combined: as the PM has been arguing for some time, investment in low carbon energy is set to be one of the main drivers of global economic growth in the coming decade. Anyway I attach the piece in case it's of interest; or see [http://tinyurl.com/nycb79 - int edition]
Yesterday was also the international day of action on climate change organised by Avaaz and the 'tck tck tck' campaign (see [http://tinyurl.com/mwfs9a]). Gordon Brown was rung by a young climate activist yesterday as part of a global 'flashmobbing' - see [http://tinyurl.com/kujzzm]. The international mobilisation of public opinion in favour of an ambitious climate deal has the potential to apply real pressure on governments as we approach Copenhagen; having compared the imperative with Make Poverty History the PM has long urged a more visible campaign and it now looks as if it is finally beginning to happen.
I will report back on the events in the US this week at the beginning of next.
With best wishes
Michael Jacobs
Michael Jacobs
Special Adviser to the Prime Minister
10 Downing St
London SW1A 2AA
