UK Government Highlights Nature Priorities at COP30 Climate Conference

UK Advances Global Engagement on Nature Protection

The UK Government outlined its efforts to safeguard and restore natural ecosystems during the COP30 climate conference. Officials presented ongoing initiatives to protect critical environments worldwide, as well as work underway within the UK to revitalise forests, landscapes and marine areas as part of the Plan for Change.

First Contribution Made to the Cali Fund

The first payment to the Cali Fund was confirmed during the conference, made by a British business. This marks an important development since the Fund’s launch earlier this year. The mechanism enables companies, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, to share profits with Indigenous Peoples and local communities that safeguard the natural resources supporting their products.

The UK is collaborating with private sector partners and other governments to support the Fund’s effective operation, including through the Friends of the Cali Fund. UK-based startup Tierra Viva AI made the inaugural contribution, encouraging further participation at scale.

UK Minister for Nature Highlights Climate and Nature Challenges

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said that British families are already experiencing the effects of climate change, including flooding and heatwaves. She emphasised that addressing climate change and nature loss requires coordinated action, noting the coalition built in Brazil to advance global commitments aimed at protecting the environment for future generations.

Commitments Announced at COP30

The UK government introduced several new commitments aimed at reversing nature loss. These include the UK-Brazil Fertilisers Declaration, which seeks to reduce emissions from fertiliser production and use while supporting food security, employment and agricultural resilience.

The UK also joined the Saltmarsh Breakthrough to help safeguard coastal ecosystems that support marine food chains, provide flood protection and store significant levels of carbon. In addition, the UK became a Food Waste Breakthrough Country Champion to support the international goal of halving food waste by 2030 and reducing methane emissions by limiting landfill disposal.

Global Cooperation on Nature Actions

The conference highlighted the UK’s role in advancing the global nature actions agenda. This included the launch of the biodiversity credits policy forum created by Indonesia and supported by partners seeking greater private sector investment in nature.

Congo Basin Collaboration

The UK strengthened its engagement with the Congo Basin region by joining a Call to Action that promotes recognition of the region’s forests and supports solutions developed by Congolese communities and institutions.

UK Environmental Actions at Home

The UK announced that the second National Forest will be established in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, with plans to plant millions of trees. This forms part of a wider commitment to allocate over £1 billion during the current parliament toward tree planting to aid nature recovery, create green employment opportunities and support net zero objectives.

Further details on the government’s environmental strategy will be included in the upcoming Environmental Improvement Plan, which will outline the next phase of the UK’s nature restoration agenda.