Climate change is not just an environmental challenge - it is a threat to the global economy and security.

An increase in extreme weather and flooding will undoubtedly increase drought, conflict and poverty. The UK Government is committed to lowering carbon to reduce this threat.

Working with other countries and international institutions such as the EU and UN to rapidly shift towards a lower carbon world is one of our key goals.

We're also focussed on securing energy for the UK and tackling the challenges of a global economy.

What is the FCO doing to lower carbon?

We play a key role in the UK’s international effort to tackle climate change – we are working for:

• the EU to implement an ambitious package of targets for emissions and use of key low carbon technologies

• the EU to lead a global plan for universal deployment of carbon capture and storage

• significant investment in low carbon technologies

• a carbon price to be established in the EU and other major economies such as the G8+5

• the EU working with China to increase two-way flow of low carbon investment.

But we need to help create the right political conditions to do this:

• leaders need to see a stable climate is essential for their national security and prosperity

• leaders need to publicly support an ambitious framework

• developing countries need to determine what they want from a framework

• key countries and blocs need to be engaged in negotiations based on mutual trust and scientific and economic evidence.