The “special relationship” between the United States and United Kingdom has shown signs of fragmentation for years; recently, tensions are evident in the two countries’ disagreements about bilateral trade and misalignment regarding the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, Prime Minister Johnson and President Biden share an interest in swift action to address climate change. COP26 presents an opportunity for the UK and US to demonstrate this shared interest, and a series of briefs written by the US-UK Youth Coalition on Climate Policy offers insights along these lines.
The authors produced recommendations for the US and UK at COP26 and beyond, spanning domestic and international policymaking. Across themes of global security, lands and ecosystems, just energy transitions, and youth mental health, these include recommendations for adapting to and mitigating climate change within COP26 negotiations.