Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is responsible for promoting British interests overseas and the country's relations with other countries.

The FCO manages consulate offices and embassies around the world and also works with UK and international partners to promote and develop human rights, law and governance and a low carbon high growth global economy.

Climate Change is a priority area. The FCO is particularly focused on:

• communicating the economic benefits of taking action to combat climate change
• promoting the development of low carbon technologies
• making sure that the poorest and most vulnerable countries are listened to in the international debate
• helping to research the implications of climate change for global security.

Together with the Department for International Development (DFID), FCO is working with vulnerable and developing countries to help them cope with the challenges of climate change, and to minimise the risks to their future development.

FCO joined UKCDS in October 2009 and its Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor David Clary, sits on the UKCDS Board.

Science and Innovation Network

In response to the growing importance of science, technology and innovation for the UK's future, the FCO established the Science and Innovation Network (SIN)—a network of more than 95 science and innovation officers based in UK embassies and offices around the world, including India, China and Brazil. SIN is now co-managed by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).