World leaders will come together to discuss tackling climate change at the 28th annual United Nations (UN) climate meeting in Dubai from 30 November until 12 December 2023.  

COP28 follows what is likely to be the hottest year in history, after the warmest June, July, August, September, and October on record globally. Hundreds of people and millions of animals have perished in wildfires, floods, and heatwaves on land and at sea. 

Ahead of the conference, the Government has set out a new nature package, with measures to improve access to green space and connect the public with the natural world. Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has welcomed the plans but believes there is more to be done to support nature’s recovery. 

Matt Buckler, Director of Natural Solutions at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, explains:  

“Derbyshire’s wonderful landscapes and wildlife are under threat from pollution, habitat loss and our changing climate. While this latest plan is a positive step forward, we desperately need more - more wilder and natural areas to help wildlife recover, enable nature to adapt to climate change and create healthier, happier, and more prosperous communities.  

“Our leaders and politicians cannot allow nature to drop down the agenda. Nature recovery is fundamental to climate action and improving people’s lives but we need better policies that fund nature-based solutions and create more space for nature to be reflected in the pledges made at COP28 and in the manifestos for the next election. As it stands there is still a gaping disparity between the current plans and investment versus what is really needed.”  

The Wildlife Trusts have three priorities for negotiators representing the United Kingdom in Dubai.  

• Faster action to reduce emissions: Climate change poses monumental threats to communities and the natural world. Lack of progress to reduce emissions means the goal from the 2015 Paris Agreement to stop global temperature increasing by more than 2 degrees hangs in the balance. COP28 must catalyse greater action to phase out fossil fuel use globally, including in the UK, this is a code red+ for humanity and our natural world. 

• Put nature recovery centre stage: The UK was visible and vocal at the Montreal UN biodiversity negotiations in December 2022.  We want to see the same level of ambition for nature recovery brought to the table in Dubai. Nature recovery and food production must be viewed through the same lens and all parties should pledge to increase high-quality nature-based solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation, including in the UK. 

• Champion global goals on adaptation and the loss and damage fund: COP27 promised support for developing countries through a ‘loss and damage’ fund. We expect details on the size and structure of the fund at COP28. There must also be significant progress on climate adaptation, an area where the UK has been consistently weak.  The UK Government’s latest National Adaptation Programme, published in June, does not go far enough to help the country prepare for climate change and is now subject to a legal challenge. 

Find out more about more about Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s approach to Nature-based Solutions