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. We will continue the good work in 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

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.

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.

Climate change debate in the Romanian Parliament with the participation of Rt Hon Elliot Morley, MP

At the Embassy’s initiative, the Romanian Parliament organised on 15 April 2008 its first ever debate on climate change with Romanian MPs and government officials. Rt Hon Elliot Morley, MP, Head of Globe UK and the PM's Special Representative on the Gleneagles Dialogue, delivered a comprehensive presentation and discussed threats and challenges of climate change with Romanian officials.

John Ashton

The visit by FCO Special Representative on Climate Change John Ashton to Bucharest last December 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.

Raising awareness on climate change

The British Embassy in Romania has supported several projects aimed at increasing awareness and knowledge of climate change among the general public and the media. Journalists were briefed about how to report on climate change, its impacts and main areas of action in an Embassy-sponsored seminar in February 2009. A local NGO gathered enthusiastic teenagers in a national debate contest to find the best answers to a challenging question: How to improve and strengthen Romanian legislation on recycling?

Earth Hour

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