COP Climate Negotiations: Cities

Debate between Baroness Boycott and Lord Whitehead

Wednesday 14th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Whitehead (Lab)]

The question of the role of cities in climate change generally is fundamental; by 2050, 80% of people in the world will live in cities. The cities in the C40 group are largely ahead of their respective sovereign Governments on emission reductions. Cities can and should play a central role in that march towards net zero. Certainly, the UK Government, among other things, are helping to fund the C40 cities organisation and are completely committed to making sure that cities play the leading role in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

[Baroness Boycott (CB)]

My Lords, it is now accepted that the majority of the world live in cities, so they are the victims of climate change more than pretty much anyone else. It seems extraordinary that they do not have proper representation at COP. To declare an interest, I was instrumental in London joining the C40 and I ran the London Food Board; I know what power and influence you can have among cities. Given that “climate change” seem to be words that you are not allowed to say at the moment and that—I use the privilege of the House of Lords to say this—yesterday I was told that the BBC is considering not sending as big a team to the COP this year because people are bored, is it not the Government’s responsibility to make sure that cities have a foot in the door and a loud voice at this table?