British foreign secretary calls for stronger global climate action in Seoul

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy speaks at a climate, nature and development event held at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, Oct. 21. Courtesy of British Embassy in Seoul

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy attended a climate, nature and development event at Ewha Womans University on Monday to explore ways to enhance cooperation with Korea in this field. The event included university students, businesspeople and representatives from various climate and development organizations.

Climate, nature, and development have emerged as top priorities for the U.K.’s new government, which was elected in July. The event in Seoul served as a platform for Lammy to elaborate on its policies to an international audience and to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation between the two countries.

Lammy linked security and economic growth with the urgent climate crisis, noting the biodiversity of the demilitarized zone and contrasting it with the situation in Pyongyang.

"I was struck by the demilitarized zone’s biodiversity and all your conservation work there. There is a stark contrast to attitudes that seem prevalent in Pyongyang," he said, praising Korea's efforts in reforestation and suggesting mutual learning opportunities, particularly in offshore wind energy. Ahead of COP29, Lammy stressed the importance of climate and nature for the Global South.

"We both know climate and nature are critical for our partners in the Global South, who matter so much more in a geopolitically contested world," he said. "We have high ambitions at home, targeting Clean Power by 2030. We’ve ended the ban on onshore wind and launched GB Energy to attract investment."

Lammy outlined several international initiatives, including appointing new special representatives for climate and nature and establishing a Global Clean Power Alliance to expedite the global rollout of clean energy.

"Global investment in clean energy is now almost double investment in fossil fuels, but many countries are missing out," he said.

The foreign secretary also advocated for increased climate and nature finance, urging more private sector involvement.

"We need to leverage the private sector and reform international financial institutions like the World Bank and IMF," he said.

During a Q&A session, Lammy addressed the U.K.'s successful transition from coal power. "The U.K. is now the first G7 country to phase out coal. We’ve gone from coal being 40 percent to zero percent of our power mix in just 12 years. Now we want to go further, faster," he said.

Lammy also spoke about a modernized approach to development, focusing on partnership rather than paternalism.

"I am proud of the U.K.’s record on development. But we need to recognize the world has changed," he said. "With my heritage, I recognize the pain caused by aspects of the past. This makes it vital we engage with countries in the Caribbean or Africa based on mutual respect," Lammy concluded.

Lammy had been serving as the secretary of state for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office since July 5, following the general election that brought the Labour Party to power.