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The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 March 2023.

Mr Edward Hobart CMG has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates in succession to Mr Patrick Moody who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Hobart will take up his appointment during May 2023.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Edward Andrew Beauchamp Hobart

Date	Role
2017 to 2023	FCDO, Director, Estates, Security and Network Directorate
2015 to 2017	FCO, Migration Envoy
2012 to 2015	Dubai, HM Consul General
2011 to 2012	Abu Dhabi, Deputy Head of Mission
2011	FCO, Head, Libya Unit, MENAD
2010	FCO, Acting Chief Information Officer
2007 to 2010	FCO, IT Programme Director, Information and Technology Directorate
2003 to 2007	Kuala Lumpur, Head, Political, Economic and Public Diplomacy Team
2000 to 2003	FCO, Head, Multimedia Unit, Public Services Directorate
1998 to 2000	FCO, Public Diplomacy Officer, Information Department
1995 to 1998	Havana, Third, later Second Secretary, Chancery
1993 to 1994	FCO, Assistant Desk Officer, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Africa Department (Southern)
1993	Joined FCO

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 March 2023.

Four of South Africa’s most promising clean energy start-ups have been selected to pitch their products to investors from the City of London.

BSF Breeding, Everlectric, Hohm Energy and Wetility will showcase their innovative low-carbon energy solutions in London alongside other projects from Colombia, Mexico, Pakistan and Turkey.

The 4 projects from South Africa are contributing to building growth and reducing carbon emissions in a range of sectors including:

• farming
• transport
• sustainable housing

while helping South African consumers and businesses to find an alternative, reliable low-carbon energy supply in a cost-effective way.

Each of these 4 firms has received support through the UK government’s Climate Finance Accelerator programme, which works to develop a sustainable pipeline of investment-ready, low-carbon projects. The programme is part of the UK’s efforts to support climate action on a global scale, facilitating access to finance and helping governments achieve climate targets under the Paris Agreement.

The high-profile investor event, taking place from 13 to 16 March, will involve leading financiers and investors, project developers, climate finance experts, the private sector and UK government discussing the opportunities and challenges faced in securing and mobilising capital for low carbon initiatives at scale in emerging markets.

Each of the businesses attending will receive 2 days of technical advice and support from City of London investors before making a pitch on the last day. The event offers an opportunity to present their projects to global markets and access funding from investors to further grow their businesses.

British High Commissioner to South Africa Antony Phillipson said:

“BSF Breeding, Everlectric, Hohm Energy and Wetility showcase the best of South African innovation and expertise and I am delighted that they have been selected to attend such a high-profile event hosted by the Climate Finance Accelerator and the City of London. I wish them all the very best of luck as they present to potential investors, and I hope that the connections made at this event lead to direct investment into the projects and a tangible contribution to building green growth and climate security in South Africa.”

Over the last 2 years the CFA programme has supported nearly 100 innovative low-carbon projects around the world that have a total value of over US$ 2 billion, helping them to build proposals for investment.

In South Africa the programme has supported a total of 28 projects. A new round will be initiated in late spring, with the ambition that the programme is permanently embedded into the South African climate finance landscape. The CFA is implemented in South Africa by The National Business Initiative and GreenCape.

Business profiles

BSF Breeding

BSF Breeding provides black soldier fly larvae that can be grown by anybody and used to produce process organic waste (including human waste) and turn it into products such as protein additives in animal feed, offering an inexpensive, clean and sustainable food source for livestock. Black soldier fly can also be used to produce insect oil, biodiesel, and soil enhancer. Established in 2015, the BSF Breeding’s larvae are now shipped around the world from their HQ in Cape Town.

“We believe BSF protein is the most environmentally-friendly produced animal protein in the world, making use of organic by-products (waste) to feed the larvae with minimal CO2 emissions in our operations.’’ – Gerhard Gous, Commercial Director

Everlectric

Based in Pretoria, Everlectric offers electric vehicle packages for businesses made up of leading international electric vehicles, charging infrastructure and innovative finance solutions. Their all-inclusive service incorporates fuel and maintenance costs and makes it easier for businesses to transition from a petrol or diesel fleet of vehicles to an electric vehicle fleet.

“We are honoured to be selected by the UK Government’s prestigious CFA programme. We are excited to meet like-minded growth partners who can act as catalysts in our journey to lead the South African logistics industry’s transition to environmentally-responsible, operationally-efficient and commercially-attractive electric vehicles”- Ndia Magadagela, Co-founder and CEO

Hohm Energy

Johannesburg-based Hohm Energy is a solar rooftop marketplace that manages and streamlines solar installers, product suppliers and financiers to make going solar simple for homeowners and businesses.

“Hohm Energy is thrilled to be a part of the CFA programme and the support of the UK Government. Hohm Energy’s mission is to accelerate the uptake of solar rooftop PV through our innovative fin-tech lending solution. Our climate tech platform is paving the way towards a greener future, and I am excited to see the positive impact it will have on our country, especially during this period of our energy crisis.’’ – Tim Ohlsen, CEO

Wetility

Based in Johannesburg, Wetility is a smart energy provider that offers a battery-based system that stores solar energy, paired with a digital platform to allow customers to monitor their energy use. Wetility offers customers affordable monthly payments and a flexible financing model, making the move to solar more affordable.

“We at Wetility are excited to have been selected to attend the CFA event in London and continue our longstanding partnership with the CFA. By harnessing the power of the sun, Wetility is committed to providing energy independence to everyone, affordably, while reducing household CO2 emissions. We look forward to meeting the other teams and investors in London and building fruitful partnerships.’’ – Vincent Maposa, CEO

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 March 2023.

During the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the UK delivered a statement on Freedom of Religion and Belief on 13 March 2023.

Thank you, Mr President.

We congratulate the Special Rapporteur on her appointment and welcome her initial report.

We welcome the collaboration between the Special Rapporteur and member states through her ex-officio membership of the Council of Experts of the growing International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance. We also value her discussions with the International Contact Group on FoRB.

The UK’s resolve to promote and protect the right to freedom of religion or belief has been strengthened by the injustices we see around the world including systemic discrimination directed against individuals on the basis of their religion or belief.

The UK government remains committed to championing freedom of religion or belief for all. Last July we hosted the International Ministerial Conference on Freedom of Religion or Belief in London which was an important milestone. We are working hard to build on its momentum and turn words into action.

Special Rapporteur,

How best can international efforts of governments, civil society and faith and belief leaders be focussed and coordinated to effect concrete changes, including for those imprisoned on account of their faith or belief?

Thank you.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 14 March 2023.

Statement to the 102nd Session of the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons by Her Excellency Joanna Roper, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Mr Chair, Director-General, Colleagues,

The United Kingdom welcomes the publication of the OPCW’s latest report into chemical weapons use in Syria. The chlorine attack in Douma in April 2018 was a horrific attack, in which 43 men, women and children were killed and dozens more injured. The evidence assembled, considered and presented by the investigation team provides undeniable evidence of Syrian state responsibility. We pay tribute to the work of the OPCW’s investigation team.

International investigations have now definitively established Syrian regime responsibility for nine separate chemical weapons attacks. The decision to use chemical weapons against Syrian civilians in Douma came more than four years after Syria acceded to the Chemical Weapons Convention. The Syrian regime’s deliberate decision to use chemical weapons represents an egregious violation of international law. Syria’s non-compliance with the Convention has been laid bare, yet again. Whilst Syria continues to deny the facts and attack the OPCW for doing its job, States Parties must continue to stand firm. We must demand the same standards from Syria as from every other member of this Organisation.

The Syrian regime has been enabled in its chemical weapons use by Russia, another State Party openly flouting its international obligations. On 4 March 2018, Russian state agents used a novichok nerve agent on the streets of Salisbury. One person died and others were injured as a result of that heinous attack. Two years later, another Novichok nerve agent was used in Russia to target Alexey Navalny. Russia’s desperate attempts to blame others have served only to compound their culpability.

The Russian state’s industrial levels of disinformation to try and distract from their violations of international law continue to this day. We remain very concerned that Russia’s baseless allegations of chemical weapons attacks in Ukraine could be used as a pretext for an escalation of their illegal and abhorrent violation of Ukraine’s sovereign territory. The Chemical Weapons Convention bans the use of riot control agents as a method of warfare and there would be serious consequences for any use of chemical weapons in Ukraine.

Mr Chair,

Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has wrought economic shocks and undermined food security in many of the most vulnerable regions of the world. The inflationary pressures facing us all are one facet of that. As the OPCW Secretariat prepares the next biennial budget proposal, difficult decisions will be needed on reprioritising and restructuring. The Organisation must continue to seek efficiencies and grasp new opportunities, such as the exciting launch of the Centre for Chemistry and Technology in May.

The preparatory process for the Review Conference in May is now well underway. The thematic discussions and many high-quality national papers have enriched the discussions and identified many areas of common agreement. As we resume deliberations after the Executive Council, we remain focused on forging agreement with all of those states determined to uphold the provisions of the Convention and ensure that chemical weapons use never goes unchallenged.

Thank you Mr Chair.