Climate change is one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet today. The effects of global warming are felt everywhere, and neither Romania nor the UK has been spared in the past few years. Floods, alternating with spells of extreme drought, general changes in spring/autumn weather patterns are clear evidence that climate change is already happening.

One of the UK’s top goals is to promote a low carbon, high growth, global economy. We believe it is essential to create the conditions for a rapid shift in investment towards low carbon and for an ambitious post-2012 climate agreement to reduce the threats associated with global warming. The UK is also focussed on ensuring access to reliable and affordable energy supplies in the future.

We are a strong supporter of EU's strong leadership in tackling climate change, which should not be put on the backburner because of current economic difficulties. Instead, we must use the imperative of building a low carbon economy as a route to creating jobs and growth, the path that will see us through the current downturn.

Romania and the UK are working as partners in the EU to promote action against climate change as a global problem. We cooperated in the run-up to the December 2008 European Council, where leaders of the bloc's 27 member states agreed an ambitious climate and energy package with stringent targets for CO2 emissions reductions and renewables consumption for 2020.

With only 2 months to go until the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen, the UK and Romania, as well as the EU, are stepping up efforts to push for ambitious commitments in the international negotiations aimed at reaching a post-Kyoto deal to fight global warming. The British Embassy in Bucharest also co-operates closely with Romanian central authorities, local institutions, civil society, schools and the media to raise awareness on the threats and opportunities associated with climate change.

What we do

Promoting clean technologies

Both Romania and the UK acknowledge that coal is and will continue to be a significant part of the energy mix, despite being the dirtiest fossil fuel. The Embassy has been working closely with the Romanian authorities and other stakeholders to promote carbon capture and storage (CCS). This is an emerging technology able to deliver up to 90% cut in CO2 emissions from burning coal. A seminar organised in Bucharest in June 2009 highlighted the potential benefits of an early deployment of the technology and show-cased UK expertise. A Romanian delegation (photo) led by Energy State Secretary Tudor Serban was in the UK in September 2009 to discuss UK policy, including the UK competition for a demonstration programme, and to visit Scottish Power's CO2 pilot capture project at the Longannet power plant near Edinburgh.  

UK strongly believes that renewable sources of energy are a crucial tool in tackling climate change and encourage the move to a low carbon economy. At the same time, it provides long-term competitive advantage by implementing low carbon technologies. To encourage the use of renewable sources of energy in Romania and share the UK best practice in the field, we established an effective partnership with the Bucharest Chamber of Commerce and organised a seminar on 'Green Energy: the environmentally responsible solution' in May 2009. The event was a significant opportunity for Romanian authorities to present their views on how to incentivise the development of the green energies sector. Contact between Romanian and UK companies working in this field was also facilitated.

Engaging stakeholders in the run-up to Copenhagen

In the context of international climate negotiations, the Embassy has co-sponsored an international conference on 'Climate change mitigation – on the way to sustainability in Romania', organised by Alma-Ro and Climate Action Network Romania in September 2009. This was a key event in preparing Romania's participation in the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen by bringing into discussion national reduction targets as derived from the 2020 Climate and Energy Package and various sectoral approaches (energy, transport, waste, agriculture, forests, climate change education). A report on the GHG emissions reduction potential, aimed at supporting Romanian decision makers’ commitment to an ambitious agreement in Copenhagen, will be also published.

FCO Special Representative on Climate Change John Ashton discusses challenges ahead of Copenhagen

Earth Hour

In February 2009, the British Embassy joined the World Wide Fund Romania in a global initiative that culminated in lights being switched off for one hour, in major cities worldwide, on Saturday 28 March at 8.30 in the evening. About 1 billion people around the world got involved in this exercise that promotes the protection of the environment, the fight against the negative impacts of global warming, and higher energy efficiency.

John Ashton

The visit by FCO Special Representative on Climate Change John Ashton to Bucharest in December 2008 highlighted the urgency of adopting an ambitious climate and energy package at EU level. John Ashton also talked about carbon capture and storage as a means to reduce carbon emissions, encouraging Romania to bid for one of the 12 EU supported pilot projects. His comments gave food for thought to the leading business daily Ziarul Financiar about the connection between climate change and business.

Young Ambassadors against climate change

The project, financed through the Public Diplomacy Fund of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, ran between October 2007 and March 2008. It consisted of a climate change training module for teachers and theoretical and practical workshops for secondary school pupils. A national competition of awareness campaigns was officially launched in January, with 4 Young Ambassadors chosen and awarded prizes in a ceremony on 15 April 2008.

Visit by Foreign Secretary David Miliband to Bucharest

Foreign Secretary David Miliband visited Bucharest on 4 September 2007. He took part in a debate with students, bloggers and media and spoke about global challenges, including climate change. He then visited a renewable energy roadshow in one of Bucharest’s central parks.