The World Bank’s former climate change chief has been appointed to lead Britain’s efforts to form a global coalition on climate action, The Guardian can reveal.
Rachel Kyte, a former UN special representative and World Bank vice-president, will take on the role of special climate change envoy and lead the UK back to the forefront of global climate diplomacy.
Her role will be crucial to a pledge made by Foreign Secretary David Lammy last week that the UK will play a central role in tackling the climate and nature crisis, in contrast to the previous government, which he described as a “climate dinosaur”.
Rishi Sunak has sacked him as envoy, to the anger of activists and dismay of foreign governments and allies. He has also downplayed international climate talks.
A veteran of international climate summits and most recently a professor at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, Kyte is widely respected by governments in developed and developing countries, having worked with many countries’ governments during his time as Chief Executive of the Sustainable Energy for All initiative.
Kyte told the Guardian: “This government is committed to reconnecting the UK with the world, with climate action as a top priority. And the world is being shaped both politically and economically by climate change. This presents an opportunity to use international action to help deliver the UK’s energy mission. And it also provides challenges, such as mobilising finance to protect people and drive greener growth. There is no better time for the UK to drive action and I am excited to play my part in this new role.”
Mr Lammy and Energy Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband are due to announce the appointment on Wednesday at New York Climate Week, where they are hosting an event on building a global clean electricity alliance.
Mr Miliband will meet with other governments to discuss the need for a huge increase in climate change funding for developing countries. Poorer nations want guarantees that they will receive at least $1 trillion a year in aid to help them reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deal with the effects of climate change.
Climate finance will be a key topic at the next UN climate change summit in Azerbaijan, where tough discussions are expected to take place. Miliband will personally lead the UK’s negotiations, in stark contrast to previous governments, which left it to junior ministers.
Miliband’s diplomatic offensive has already begun, welcoming COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev to London in July and paying an extensive visit to Brazil in August, which currently chairs the G20 group and will host next year’s COP30 climate summit.
Lammy will also appoint the first ever conservation envoy to lead a global effort to protect the environment, along with Environment Secretary Steve Reid, The Guardian reported last week. The appointment is not expected to be made until next month.
Kyte, whose official title will be Britain’s special representative for climate change, will be responsible for coordinating Britain’s relations with other donors as well as building alliances with economic powers China and India for poorer and developing countries.
Her appointment was welcomed by climate experts and activists. Edward Davie, UK director of the think tank World Resources Institute, said: “Rachel is a giant, passionate woman with vast knowledge and experience and a global network of friends and allies. She is brilliant and will be a force to be reckoned with.”
