UK & Colombia renew strategic partnership on sustainable development

17 Jan '23

2 min read

Pic: Shutterstock

The UK and Colombia have announced the renewal of their partnership for sustainable growth in a bid to promote low-carbon and nature-positive development and accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The next phase of the partnership will also expand to include new and vital areas of collaboration, including halting biodiversity loss in land and marine ecosystems.

The partnership focuses on halting and reversing deforestation, implementing an ambitious energy transition, and promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity, with a commitment to supporting local communities across Colombia, the UK government said in a press release.

The UK also announced two new innovative projects to empower indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in Colombia. Working with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the UK will accompany IPLCs to enable them to harness the international carbon markets and maximise the opportunities they provide. The UK will also join a project led by GAIA Foundation to support the official recognition of indigenous local governments in the Amazon.

Recognising the need to jointly address the biodiversity and climate crisis, both countries will deepen their bilateral cooperation on climate change and increase efforts to protect and restore nature and biodiversity in land and marine ecosystems.

This will include further work on the illegal wildlife trade, ocean pollution, and forest and marine protection, with gender and social inclusion integrated at all stages, including recognising the central role played by indigenous people and local communities in nature conservation.

“The UK and Colombia are working closely together to prevent deforestation, promote a just energy transition and protect Colombia’s incredible biodiversity. I’m delighted to renew the UK-Colombia Partnership for Sustainable Growth today to deepen that co-operation even further, on one of the greatest shared challenges we face,” said James Cleverly, the UK’s foreign secretary.

“The United Kingdom is a strategic ally to focus on the defence of the Amazon and create a new face for this program that seeks to stop deforestation in our country,” said Colombian minister Susana Muhamad.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)

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