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

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.

The UK has been engaging with the Government of Vietnam on climate change, which is an issue of increasing importance in Vietnam, as one of the countries in the world potentially most affected by climate change.

Looking forward, we will continue to work closely with our Vietnamese partners to strengthen dialogue and find opportunities for cooperation on economic policy-making, including looking at the longer-term transition to a low carbon economy.

New report on the economics of climate change in Southeast Asia

On 27 April the Asian Development Bank published its review of the Economics of Climate Change in South East Asia.

Vulnerable countries speak out on climate change

Representatives from over 30 countries joined experts to discuss the impact of climate change on countries that are particularly vulnerable because of geography or economic circumstances.

Copenhagen in the balance

The latest updates from the UK's Act on Copenhagen campaign

White paper on low carbon transition plan

See lobbying instruction on UK low carbon transition plan for the Department for Energy and Climate Change.