France and the United Kingdom reaffirm their commitment to combating forest fires and the negative impacts of heatwaves in Europe
Paris, July 30 (KUNA) -- France and the United Kingdom reaffirmed on Thursday their commitment to confronting the threat of wildfires and the negative impacts of heatwaves sweeping across Europe. This was stated in a joint statement issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs following talks held between French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and his British counterpart, David Lammy, in the French capital, Paris.
The statement noted that “in light of the unprecedented wildfires and heatwaves affecting Europe due to the global climate crisis,” Barrot and Lammy “underscored their shared resolve to address this threat.” The statement conveyed that both sides emphasized that the wildfires that broke out this summer highlighted the risks posed by climate change to Europe, and called on all countries to intensify efforts to address its causes and enhance their capacity to cope with its effects.
It further pointed out that “based on the Statement of Intent between the United Kingdom and France on Global Issues and Development, signed in 2025, the two countries are committed to strengthening cooperation to anticipate, prevent, and respond to climate-related risks, particularly wildfires, as well as deepening coordination through their broader partnership on climate and environmental issues, including through multilateral forums.”
According to the statement, the two sides recalled that “recognizing that the growing impacts of climate change do not respect borders, the United Kingdom and France will work together to advance international efforts to enhance climate change adaptation, including through improved adaptation measures, strengthened preparedness and risk reduction, and coordinated responses to threats affecting our shared environment, security, and prosperity.”
In the same context, the statement noted that Lammy and Barrot reaffirmed their commitment to protecting all vulnerable population groups through early warning systems and the Early Warnings for All initiative, “considering it the primary tool for realizing UN Secretary-General António Guterres’s ambition to provide comprehensive early warning coverage for all.”
They also agreed on the importance of strengthening investment frameworks that facilitate sustainable financing, innovation, and competitiveness, acknowledging the “pivotal” role of international financial institutions, particularly multilateral development banks, and mobilizing private finance to direct investment and support climate action. In this regard, they stressed that “addressing the causes and consequences of climate change is crucial to ensuring the security, stability, and resilience of our communities for future generations, which supports our current efforts to secure energy supplies and tackle the cost of living.”
Furthermore, the statement indicated that “in light of increasing climate risks, the two ministers reaffirmed their support for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, and their respective temperature-related goals.”
On the other hand, Lammy and Barrot reaffirmed their determination “to defend the role of science as a compass for global climate and environmental action,” emphasizing the importance of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Seventh Assessment Report as a key input for the second Global Stocktake.
The two sides called on all parties, in accordance with their obligations as members of the Paris Agreement, particularly major emitting countries, to submit nationally determined contributions (NDCs) aligned with the goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, covering all sectors and greenhouse gases, as adopted in the first Global Stocktake at the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UNFCCC.
The French and British foreign ministers also stressed the need to enhance synergies among the three Rio Conventions and reaffirmed their commitment to continuing joint work toward carbon markets “that are integrity-driven and enable long-term investments in nature and biodiversity.” They further affirmed their commitment to continuing joint efforts to encourage all major emitting countries to achieve their domestic climate targets and long-term low-carbon development strategies, and to strive for greater efforts.
In response to the UN Secretary-General’s call for action on methane, launched during the London Climate Action Week, the two sides will seek to accelerate methane emission reductions at COP31 and encourage all parties to work jointly to develop a market for near-zero methane intensity fossil fuels.
It is worth noting that this visit marks Lammy’s first trip to France since his appointment as foreign minister about two weeks ago, highlighting the depth of relations between the United Kingdom and France and the importance of coordination between them on key international issues. (End) M.B./A.B.K.
