The UK government has been at the forefront of international efforts to combat and mitigate the effects of climate change, working with partners at many levels (G8, EU, UN) to ensure that international agreements on emissions reductions can be made.

The UK recently instigated a landmark debate on climate change at the United Nations Security Council, the first time that climate change has been recognised as a core threat to international peace and security.

The UK government has also taken significant steps to address climate change domestically. The UK is one of few countries to meet  and even exceed  its Kyoto targets.

In March the UK introduced the first Climate Change Bill in the world, with a longterm framework for the UK to achieve its goals of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60 per cent by 2050.

The UK's chancellor of the exchequer also announced measures in his March budget to combat climate change, including high duties on petrol, support for biofuels, and 800 million pounds (Bt52 billion) for projects overseas that help developing countries respond to climate change.

Of this, 50 million pounds is earmarked for a project to reduce unsustainable deforestation in the Congo Basin.

British Charge d'Affaires, Andy Pearce said: "As the foreign secretary stated at the UN Security Council recently, the vast majority of the international community now see an unstable climate as an unprecedented threat that we must meet with much greater urgency and ambition. This is an issue that affects us all and we must all work together to try and tackle it."

The Nation