Dear Prime Minister
This year, it will be a decade since the Paris Agreement was signed. Yet fossil fuel emissions continue to rise, and the window to avert the worst impacts of climate breakdown is rapidly closing. At this critical moment, the re-election of Donald Trump as president of the United States seriously increases the grave danger we are in.
Trump’s presidency will have a direct effect by further increasing US emissions. If he pulls the US out from the Paris climate agreement, and potentially even from the entire UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the indirect effects may be even more disastrous. Trump is a figure who emboldens climate deniers, authoritarians and the far right. If the wealthy, polluting US walks away from global climate negotiations, it greatly heightens the risk of other countries doing the same.
We ask you to use your position as UK Prime Minister, firstly to urge Trump not to pull out of the Paris agreement, and secondly, to do everything in your power to maintain and repair the principles of collective global action on climate change, and ‘common but differentiated responsibility’.
This means the UK acting as an exemplar for a comprehensive, swift, and equitable fossil fuel phase-out: an end to new North Sea oil and gas drilling with a fully funded plan for workers and communities, alongside a comprehensive climate plan for the rest of the economy.
It also means the UK doing its fair share on climate finance. The pledge of $300 billion agreed at COP29 was entirely inadequate, targeting just a small fraction of the trillions needed, and it is highly likely to be delivered largely.as private finance and loans pushing countries deeper into debt. The UK must stand alongside developing countries challenging this, by increasing our direct contributions, implementing and demanding the highest standards of transparency, and unlocking domestic and international finance using the well-known ‘polluter pays’ principle.
This November, COP30 in Brazil will be a milestone summit and must make real progress towards climate justice, whatever Trump’s actions. This is impossible if rich countries do not step up on climate finance, and if fossil fuel lobbyists are allowed to steer the debate, limit ambition and promote false solutions.
Climate destabilisation is already destroying homes, livelihoods, and lives, with those who have done least to cause the crisis suffering the most devastating impacts. The next four years are critical for avoiding climate tipping points: from Atlantic Ocean currents on which the UK’s climate depends, to the Amazon, the ice sheets and and the permafrost. We can’t allow Trump’s presidency to derail climate action. We call on you as our Prime Minister to do all you can to make safeguarding our climate your legacy.
Yours sincerely
Campaign against Climate Change
Climate Justice Coalition
Faith for the Climate
Fossil Free Parliament
Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Global Justice Now
Greater Manchester Climate Justice Coalition
Greener Jobs Alliance
Greenpeace UK
Mothers Rise Up
NEU Climate Change Network
Oil Change International
Operation Noah
Platform
Quakers in Britain
Unite Grassroot Climate Justice Caucus
South Yorkshire Climate Alliance
Tipping Point
War on Want
Weald Action Group
Women’s Environmental Network
The Working Class Climate Alliance
Yorkshire and Humber Climate Justice Coalition