On December 12th, the groundbreaking COP28 summit came to a close. Wera Hobhouse, Member of Parliament for Bath, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy and Climate, and Parliamentary delegate at COP28, notes that the summit has led to historic commitments to address the global climate crisis.

The agreement at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai featured the strongest language ever used in phasing down fossil fuels, reflecting a significant and necessary step toward a more sustainable future. Mrs Hobhouse sees the agreement as an important turning point for the global community.

The Bath MP attended not only in her role as Liberal Democrat Energy & Climate Change spokesperson, but also with PRASEG - the Renewable and Sustainable Energy APPG. She is also the Vice Chair of the Environment APPG.

Mrs Hobhouse views the agreement as one of her three key takeaways from the summit. Other takeaways include a commitment to a global stocktake on climate performance, fostering transparency and realistic plans for 2025, and the establishment of a Loss and Damage Fund.

The latter breakthrough is designed to assist vulnerable countries in rebuilding after climate-related disasters, and is contributed to by countries including the UK. Mrs Hobhouse's engagements spanned discussions with global leaders, including Laurence Tubiana and Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, as well as industry stakeholders such as Nissan, Liberty Steel, Iberdrola, and the German Bundestag Delegation.

The Bath MP’s focus on industrial strategy, competitiveness, and the UK's relationship with climate-vulnerable countries underscored her commitment to actionable outcomes and international collaboration.

Wera Hobhouse, Member of Parliament for Bath, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy and Climate, and Parliamentary delegate at COP28, commented: 

"COP28 came at a pivotal moment where wildfires, floods and extreme weather, exacerbated by climate change, are unjustly displacing people across the world. It was an honour to represent the Liberal Democrats and communities across the UK as a delegate to this critical summit."

“The commitments to a global stocktake and the establishment of a Loss and Damage Fund signal a groundbreaking turning point in our shared responsibility. Let this be a testament to the power of collaboration, but we cannot stop here. The world must keep moving toward more collaborative sustainable governance.”