UK should sign climate change co-operation agreement with China, says think tank The UK should sign a formal agreement to co-operate with China on fighting climate change despite tensions in other areas, a think tank has said.
Researchers at international affairs think tank Chatham House urged ministers to deepen climate co-operation with Beijing, saying the “with us or against us” approach “belongs in the Cold War”.
Chris Aylett, one of the paper’s authors, said China could benefit from the UK’s “considerable success bringing down its own emissions” and offered a “huge” potential, given the country accounted for nearly a third of global emissions.
The Chatham House paper suggested greater co-operation on areas such as emissions trading and carbon budgeting, deploying low-carbon technologies and adapting to the risks posed by climate change.
The visit is the latest example of Labour’s softer approach to Beijing after a freezing of relations under former prime minister Rishi Sunak, although the Government has insisted it will “challenge” China where necessary.
