Response to UK Government's Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy

Press release on 16 March, 2021

Front cover of 'Global Britain in a competitive age The Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy' published by HM Government in March 2021.

Commenting on the publication today by the UK Government of ‘Global Britain in a Competitive Age: the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy’, Professor Lord Stern of Brentford, a ‘Friend of COP26’ advising the UK Government and Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said: “It is right that the UK Government should make tackling climate change and biodiversity loss its top foreign policy priorities because both pose growing threats to lives and livelihoods around the world. It is also enormously important to invest in building and maintaining long-term relationships between the people of the UK and the people of China. For example, during the past year, China has set more ambitious targets for limiting its emissions of carbon dioxide, and was supported through constructive engagements between universities in China and the UK. The UK must continue to find ways to work with the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, particularly China, in order to promote an effective multilateral approach to stopping climate change.”

Bob Ward, Policy and Communications Director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said: “It is very welcome that the Government has recognised the importance of tackling climate change and biodiversity loss, and has set a goal of making the UK a scientific superpower. However, it is difficult to reconcile this vision for Global Britain with the decision to make devastating cuts to the Global Challenges Research Fund, as a result of the thoroughly reprehensible decision to slash overseas aid. This reckless and sudden move will abruptly end many critical projects that are designed to provide a better understanding of how to promote sustainable development and deal with climate change in poor countries.”