11th January 2012
The address of Pope Benedict XVI to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, at the start of each year, is always an opportunity to look ahead at the foreign policy challenges of coming months. 2012 was no exception, and I was struck by just how much of his Holiness’s wide ranging speech dovetailed […]
15th December 2011 USA
For those of us actively working toward successful international negotiations on climate change, the most recent meeting in Durban, South Africa seems like cause for optimism this holiday season. The UN climate talks wrapped up last weekend with over 120 countries (including major economies such as the United States) forming a coalition behind the EU’s […]
1st December 2011
At the Angelus in St Peter’s Square on Sunday 27 November, Pope Benedict XVI made a special appeal in support of an agreement at the Durban Conference on Climate Change. The Pope said: “Tomorrow in Durban, South Africa, work begins at the UN Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. I hope that all […]
Read more on Climate Change: Protecting Creation | Reply (1)
22nd September 2011
I was in the Pauline-Carmelite Monastery at Sopronfalva this morning. Lovingly and beautifully restored through the vision of Gabor Kovacs (KOGART), it is now a hotel, conference facility and meditation centre. It’s an excellent example of how a cultural heritage conservation project can be integrated into a local community. But today the monastery was the […]
2nd August 2011
The Embassy team has just hosted the visit to Bolivia of Minister of State, and Minister for Latin America, Jeremy Browne. Such visits are always valuable in our efforts to take forward the bilateral relationship, and highlight Britain’s role in Bolivia. It was the first visit to Bolivia of this level since Kim Howells visited […]
Read more on Visit of Minister of State Jeremy Browne | Reply (1)
6th July 2011 Ottawa, Canada
This year on World Oceans Day (June 8, 2011) WWF-Canada hosted a round table and reception with government, industry and academic participants, aimed at drawing attention to and increasing the dialogue on the conservation and economics of our oceans. Stephen Hall from the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC), in was invited to present an overview of […]
Read more on World Oceans Day – WWF hosts Stephen Hall from the UK’s National Oceanography Centre | Reply
19th May 2011
Today I hosted a press conference at the British Residence to launch Hungary’s home-grown platform of corporate CEOs who are committed to supporting ambition in Hungarian and European climate change policy. This is an exciting new initiative. Establishing such a group was discussed during the official visit of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales […]
21st April 2011
Hobart, capital of Tasmania, is only a four hour flight from Australia’s Antarctic research stations. Whilst there I had a fascinating visit to the Antarctic Division, the equivalent of our own British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge. Scientists there talked about some of the fascinating research they are doing on the impacts of climate change, which […]
Read more on Visiting Tasmania – Antarctic research on Climate Change | Reply
8th April 2011
The most controversial subject in Australian politics right now is climate change. The Labor government, with support from the Greens and some independents, is currently pursuing legislation aimed at introducing a carbon price leading to an emissions trading scheme. This is being heavily attacked by the Opposition coalition, who says it will increase the cost […]
28th March 2011 Bucharest, Romania
For those who have seen Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, the colour code is hopefully a familiar reminder of the iconic 1990s movie. For the less avid film fans, the British Embassy is looking for 10:10 agents to act as our private eye squad and spot places/things across Romania that are energy wasters. We have just launched […]
Read more on Agents 10:10 and Green – this is not a noir movie | Reply