FCO climate headcount down 60 per cent since 2011, FOI reveals

Madeleine Cuff
clock • 3 min read

Freedom of Information request reveals number of UK-based Foreign Office staff working on climate change has fallen from 554 to 221 over the last six years

The number of UK-based diplomats working on climate change issues for the UK government has fallen dramatically over the last six years, new Freedom of Information data released publicly earlier this week...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Politics

North Sea: Green Tories call for geothermal and nuclear focus as oil and gas declines

North Sea: Green Tories call for geothermal and nuclear focus as oil and gas declines

Conservative Environment Network accuses Labour, SNP, and Reform of 'letting Scottish workers down' by failing to adequately plan for North Sea transition

Michael Holder
clock 20 February 2026 • 5 min read
Plaid Cymru leader drops pledge to achieve net zero in Wales by 2035

Plaid Cymru leader drops pledge to achieve net zero in Wales by 2035

Rhun ap Iorwerth admits flagship emissions target is no longer realistic, but expresses confidence Wales can still reach net zero ahead of the UK-wide target date of 2050

Stuart Stone
clock 20 February 2026 • 4 min read
If the government wants to unleash clean energy, it should learn from the Tories

If the government wants to unleash clean energy, it should learn from the Tories

Expanding freeports with designated clean energy zones and offering up more Permitted Development Rights to renewables could help accelerate the UK energy transition, writes Elinor Bale from the Conservative Environment Network (CEN)

Elinor Bale, Conservative Environment Network (CEN)
clock 19 February 2026 • 4 min read