London Climate Action Week: Daily Update – 23 June

"London isn't just calling, it’s cooking.” 

As climate disasters become more frequent and costly, and temperatures soar across London and much of Europe this week, the UN Secretary-General's warning at London Climate Action Week landed at exactly the right moment, underscoring once again that cutting methane is still our fastest lever for slowing near-term warming. 

Today, the UN Secretary-General has launched a global Call to Action on Methane outlines nine priority actions across fossil fuels, agriculture and waste, delivering cleaner air, healthier communities and stronger food systems. 

In response, Canada and the European Union, Co-Conveners of the Global Methane Pledge, issued a joint statement endorsing the initiative and encouraging countries to accelerate implementation ahead of COP31.

The urgency of action was further underscored today by the release of the Scientific Advisory Board Brief on Earth System Tipping Points, which warns of the growing risk of irreversible changes to the Earth system and highlights the importance of rapidly reducing emissions to avoid crossing critical thresholds.

Methane Abatement as a Pillar of Energy Security

A major political signal emerged from London Climate Action Week this week as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Commission issued a joint statement positioning methane abatement in the energy sector as a pillar of energy security. In the joint statement, they urged countries to strengthen methane policies and called for broader support for the UK-led Fossil Fuel Declaration launched at COP30, framing methane cuts as both a climate priority and a way to prevent energy waste and improve supply security.

The statement followed a closed-door High-Level Roundtable on the Global Methane Pledge hosted by Canada House and convened by Global Methane Pledge Co-Conveners Canada and the European Commission together with the United Kingdom.

The roundtable brought together senior political leaders, international organizations, financial institutions, and implementation partners to focus on translating methane commitments into action ahead of COP31, and featured keynote interventions from Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband, United Kingdom Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero; Hon. Julie Dabrusin, Canada's Minister of Environment and Climate Change; and Dan Jørgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing.

The dialogue, facilitated by Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, and Brazil, France, Germany, Australia, the World Bank, UNEP, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat, the Global Methane Hub, and the United Nations.

Representing the United Nations Secretary-General, Selwin Hart, Assistant Secretary-General and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition, emphasized the importance of implementing the Secretary-General's Call to Action on Methane and accelerating delivery across the fossil fuel sector.

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Addressing Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution for Health, Climate, and Economic Benefits

At a House of Lords roundtable hosted by PSE Healthy Energy and Baroness Sheehan, Chair of the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee, parliamentarians, scientists, philanthropies, and international organizations examined the growing evidence linking methane emissions, air pollution, and human health. 

Speakers included Seth Shonkoff, Executive Director of PSE Healthy Energy; Martina Otto, Head of the Secretariat of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition; Rachel Huxley, Head of Mitigation for Climate and Health at Wellcome; and Sean Maguire, Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Clean Air Fund. 

The discussion highlighted emerging research showing that methane leaks from homes and gas distribution infrastructure can expose communities to hazardous pollutants such as benzene, creating health risks both indoors and outdoors, while reinforcing the message that action on methane and other super pollutants delivers immediate benefits for clean air, public health, economic productivity, and climate resilience.

COP31/IEA High-Level Dialogue on the Energy Transition

Elsewhere in London, senior government, industry, finance, and international organization leaders convened at Bloomberg for the second COP31–IEA High-Level Energy Transition Dialogue, hosted by the COP31 Presidency and the International Energy Agency. 

Discussions focused on how to accelerate implementation of the energy transition while strengthening energy security and affordability, with particular attention to electrification, energy access, clean cooking, zero-waste approaches, and methane abatement. 

Participants highlighted methane reduction as one of the fastest and most cost-effective opportunities to improve energy system resilience, reduce waste, enhance energy security, and deliver near-term climate benefits ahead of COP31.

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LCAW Continues

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s update as London Climate Action Week continues, with another busy day of discussions focused on practical climate action, implementation, and the growing role of super pollutants in delivering near-term benefits. Several high-level engagements are expected to keep super pollutants firmly in the spotlight as momentum builds toward COP31.