Greenpeace UK executive director John Sauven said:
“This signal is a welcome moment of clarity amidst the all-pervading Brexit uncertainty, but it could have come with a much speedier timetable. Some of the world’s major economies have already ratified the Paris deal. So why is the UK government taking so long? Once the deal has come into force, Theresa May will still face the much bigger task of putting in place a coherent set of green energy policies that can help the UK meet its climate commitments. There’s still hope Britain can do a Usain Bolt – slow off the starting blocks in ratifying the Paris deal but quick to leap ahead in the race to harness clean, green power.”
Rhian Kelly, CBI infrastructure director, said:
“We warmly welcome the news that the Government has committed to ratify the Paris Climate Change agreement. This is an exciting moment, and another step on the path towards a global low carbon future.
“Having also committed to reducing emissions in the UK in line with the 5th Carbon Budget, business looks forward to working with the Government to develop a clear and credible plan to meet this ambition.
“There is no magic solution to climate change, but with business and the Government working together – developing innovative new products and services, and leading the way in cutting emissions – we can all move towards a sustainable low-carbon path.”
Nick Molho, executive director of the Aldersgate Group of businesses said: “Theresa May has shown welcome leadership on the world stage today by announcing the UK’s upcoming ratification of the Paris Agreement. Together with the government’s recent approval of the fifth carbon budget, this decision will help the UK maintain an influential role alongside other countries such as China and the United States in international efforts to tackle climate change and help the UK secure an important share of the growing global low carbon economy, which was recently valued at $5.5tn.”
“To deliver on the Paris Agreement and the UK’s own climate targets, the government’s focus should now be to put together a national policy framework that will increase affordable private sector investment in low carbon technologies, accelerate their reduction in cost and grow the UK’s low carbon supply chain, which already employs over 238,000 people directly. A detailed emissions reduction plan and an industrial strategy that supports low carbon investment will be critical in delivering these objectives.”
Lawrence Slade, chief executive of Energy UK, said:
“This is an important moment for our shared ambition for a low carbon future. Government needs to deliver a credible emissions reduction plan across all sectors of the economy in order to turn this commitment into material progress. Energy UK looks forward to working with government on this plan.
“The energy industry has already taken great steps towards decarbonisation. A carbon plan that everyone signs up to will boost progress towards a more sustainable future.”
Asad Rehman, Friends of the Earth climate campaigner, said:
“Ratifying the Paris climate deal is an important step from the Prime Minister but it won’t be worth the paper it’s written on if the government continues to invest in dirty fossil fuels.
“We need a clear plan from the UK government as to how they are going to meet the target of 1.5°C of global warming – and that can’t include going ‘all out’ for shale gas, or building new coal mines.
“Theresa May and other world leaders must also do much more to support those already effected by climate change. The greatest injustice of climate change, is that those who are the least responsible for causing the climate crisis, are the first to suffer. Those forced to flee their homes due to extreme weather must be afforded proper protection – not just written off as economic migrants.”