The UN’s climate change conference, to be hosted in Glasgow, is when world governments must show how they will implement the emission reduction pledges they signed up to.
The news is a feather in the cap for the international reputation of the UK government, which has been battered by the ongoing ructions surrounding Britain’s withdrawal from the EU.
The UK’s success in landing this landmark event recognises the government’s commitment to becoming the first major economy to adopt the 2050 net zero emissions target.
But the UK will have to ensure its climate change house is in order by the time delegates arrive in Scotland late next year.
While emissions from the UK’s power sector have plunged, those from transport have continued to climb. Next year’s deadline therefore puts pressure on the UK government to accelerate its progress on reining in emissions at a time when it faces more immediate challenges.
In Claire Perry, who stepped down as energy minister to take on the presidency of the COP talks, the UK has a staunch advocate of the green agenda. She will be able to adopt a single-minded focus on the role, but will be undertaking it from outside government, unlike her immediate predecessors.
Nobody doubts the soon to be ex-Devizes MP’s commitment to the climate change battle. The question is whether she will be able to pull the Whitehall levers to translate rhetoric into action.