UK Government gives voice to nature at COP30 climate conference
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-24)

UK accelerates global leadership on nature at COP30

- First company – a British startup – contributes to the Cali Fund paving the way for others to do the same and mobilise private sector finance for nature at scale
- Minister for Nature works with global partners to mobilise finance for nature, promote sustainable farming for food security and takes action to protect our oceans.
The UK Government has taken bold and ambitious action to protect and restore nature at the COP30 climate meeting.

UK representatives have championed the protection and restoration of critical ecosystems around the world, and the essential work we’re doing back home to restore our forests, landscapes and seas for the British people as part of the Plan for Change.

During COP30, the first payment to the Cali Fund – by a British business – was announced. This marks a major milestone since its launch earlier this year. The Fund enables companies – such as pharmaceutical and biotech companies - to share profits with Indigenous Peoples and local communities who protect the nature that provides genetic resources for their products.

The UK is working closely with the private sector and other governments to support effective implementation of the Fund, including through the Friends of the Cali Fund, and this first contribution is a real milestone in these efforts.

UK-based startup Tierra Viva AI proudly kickstarts contributions to the Cali Fund, paving the way for others to follow and contribute to the Fund at scale.

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said:

British families are already feeling the impact of climate change – from flooding that destroys homes to heatwaves that put vulnerable people at risk.

We cannot tackle nature loss and climate change in isolation; in Brazil we have built the global coalition for ambitious action on nature which is the only way to protect our home for future generations

Ruth Davis, Special Representative for Nature said:

The UK has demonstrated technical expertise and worked alongside our global partners to put nature on the agenda, but there is more to do, and we must now amplify the momentum for action at scale on climate and nature.

This isn’t just about doing the right thing for the planet. Building a stronger and fairer global economy will unlock enormous economic opportunities – we know that investing in nature creates jobs and accelerates growth with new opportunities attracting millions in investment.

At COP30, the UK government has made further commitments to halt and reverse nature loss This includes:
- Launching the UK-Brazil Fertilisers Declaration – a global push to cut emissions from fertiliser production and use. It’s about improving food security and protecting jobs and growth by supporting farmers’ resilience and boosting agricultural productivity.
- Joining the Saltmarsh Breakthrough – protecting these vital coastal ecosystems which anchor key marine food chains, shield communities from floods and lock away more carbon than most forests.
- Becoming a Food Waste Breakthrough Country Champion – driving the global goal to halve food waste by 2030 and cutting methane emissions by keeping food waste out of landfills.
- Nature actions - COP30 showcased the UK’s role in advancing the global ‘nature actions agenda’. The summit saw the Independent Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits launch its Nature Markets Policy Forum with the UK, France and Indonesia joining as founding members, helping to unlock innovation and investment in high integrity nature credit markets.
- Congo call to action - The UK also furthered its long-standing partnership with the Congo Basin region, joining a Call to Action, to ensure the world recognises the importance of Congo’s forests and funds solutions developed by Congolese institutions and communities.
The UK’s leadership at COP30 echoes our commitments to support the environment at home.

We announced that the second National Forest will be in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, where millions of trees will be planted as part of a wider commitment to allocate over £1 billion this parliament to tree planting. This will support nature recovery, green jobs, and net zero goals.

Further detail on this government’s plan to restore the environment will be set out in the upcoming Environmental Improvement Plan, which will outline the next phase of the UK’s nature recovery ambitions.

ENDS