British secret services engage in "green espionage"

Like terrorism or armaments, the climate is now a real issue in the struggle for influence between States.

DOMINIQUE FAGET AFP / File

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3 min

Days after US President Joe Biden's climate change pledges - cut US greenhouse gas emissions by 50% to 52% by 2030 compared to 2005 - British Secret Service revealed on Sunday 25 April having embarked on "green espionage", that is to say, checking whether other countries are keeping their commitments in terms of climate change.

Ambition which is added to international economic and geopolitical issues.

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This is the secret service's new playground: if promises are made, they will be kept.

Like terrorism or armaments, the climate is now a real issue in the struggle for influence between States.

For the head of the British external intelligence services, Richard Moore, it is obvious that his organization has a major role to play:

“It is our job to shed light where some people would not want it to be. We are going to support the most important cause, both for our country and for the planet, which is the climate emergency and, of course, we have a role to play. It's a bit like what we've always done around arms limitation, we use the motto "

Trust but verify

", and in the area of ​​climate change, where everyone needs to be

aware of it

. start and play fair, sometimes you have to check that this is the case.

"

►Also read: The climate, a new issue in the rivalry between China and the United States

Richard Moore took the opportunity to point out that if relations with Beijing were complex, dialogue was more than necessary: ​​if we do not cooperate with China, we are by definition incapable of working with the country on the way to becoming the biggest global economic power, and arguably the biggest emitter.

To read also: The climate question, point of warming between China and the United States

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