Category: Press Releases

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 10/01/2020.

The Foreign Secretary has issued a statement about the Foreign & Commonwealth Office updates to travel advice for Iran.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:

“Given the body of information that UIA Flight 752 was shot down by an Iranian Surface to Air Missile, and the heightened tensions, we are now advising British nationals not to travel to Iran. We also recommend against taking a flight to, from and within Iran.

We urgently need a full and transparent investigation to establish what caused the crash.

Our thoughts are with the families of the victims, including the four British nationals who lost their lives.”

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 11/01/2020.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab offers congratulations to Dr Tsai Ing-wen on her re-election.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:

“The presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan today are testament to Taiwan’s vibrant democracy. I offer warm congratulations to the people of Taiwan on the smooth conduct of those elections and to Dr Tsai Ing-wen and her party on her re-election. I hope that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will renew dialogue to resolve differences and build constructive relations across the Strait.”

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 11/01/2020.

The British Ambassador to Iran was briefly detained by Iranian authorities on 11 January.

Following the brief detention of Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Iran Rob Macaire, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:

“The arrest of our Ambassador in Tehran without grounds or explanation is a flagrant violation of international law. The Iranian government is at a cross-roads moment. It can continue its march towards pariah status with all the political and economic isolation that entails, or take steps to deescalate tensions and engage in a diplomatic path forwards.”

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 21/10/2019.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab gave a statement in the House of Commons on the death of Harry Dunn and what the Foreign Office is doing to support his family.

“Today, I want to update the House on the tragic case of the death of the 19 year old Harry Dunn in a car accident in Northamptonshire, and what we are doing to support his family in their search for justice.

As the father of 2 young boys myself, I can only begin to imagine the grief and suffering of losing a child. It’s every family’s worst nightmare.

I’m sure the whole House will join with me in expressing my deepest sympathies to Harry’s family for their unbearable loss.

Mr Speaker, let me start with the facts of this case, and the steps that the government has taken in recent weeks to support the police investigation.

On 27 August, Harry Dunn was killed in a road traffic collision while riding his motorbike in Croughton, Northamptonshire. The suspect in the police investigation is an American woman.

As it has been widely reported, at the time of the accident, the American involved had diplomatic immunity. The UK government had been notified of the family’s arrival in the UK in July 2019.

This diplomatic immunity was the result of the arrangements agreed between the UK government and the US government in 1995.

Under those arrangements, US staff at RAF Croughton and their families were accepted as part of the US Embassy in the UK.

Pursuant to these arrangements, the staff and their families were entitled to immunity under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

Under the exchange of notes in relation to the Croughton Annex, these arrangements waived immunity for employees, but the waiver did not cover spouses.

Returning to the specific case of Harry Dunn. On 28 August of this year, the US Embassy notified us that the spouse of a member of staff at RAF Croughton had been involved in an accident.

On 30 August, the US asserted that the spouse was covered by immunity, so a waiver was needed.

To enable the police investigation to follow its proper course, on 5 September, the FCO formally requested the US Embassy to waive immunity. Given the seriousness of the incident, our view was -and remains – that justice needs to be done.

If her immunity had been waived, Northamptonshire Police would then have been able to compel her to cooperate fully with their investigation.

However, on 13 September, the FCO was informed by the US Embassy that they would not waive immunity, and that the individual would be leaving the country imminently, unless the UK had strong objections.

We duly and immediately objected in clear and strong terms and have done since. Nevertheless, under the Vienna Convention, UK police could not have lawfully prevented the individual from leaving the UK.

When the FCO followed up with the US Embassy on 16 September, they informed us that the individual had departed the day before.

We immediately informed Northants Police.

When FCO’s views were sought on timing, officials asked the police to delay telling the family by a day or two, so that they could inform me and other Ministers and agree the next course of action.

I am aware that the police did not tell the family until 26 September, which was 11 days after the family had left.

As the primary point of family liaison, the decision as to when to tell the family was properly a matter for the police.

Turning to the issue of waiver, I can reassure the House that representations have been made to the US government at every level of the administration. The Head of the Diplomatic Service summoned the US Deputy Ambassador.

I raised this case twice with the US Ambassador, in order to express my disappointment with their decision not to waive immunity, and to request that the decision be reversed.

I spoke to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the same terms on 7 October, and the Prime Minister raised the case with President Trump on 9 October.

The scope of immunity is a complex area of law, because in some circumstances there may be a residual immunity that can continue once an individual returns home, depending on their status and the particular facts of the case.

Our position, in this case, is that immunity clearly ended when the individual concerned left the UK.

The US government in turn stated on 8 October that since the individual had returned to the US, in their view, immunity was ‘no longer pertinent’.

We took time and we took care to resolve this point, because of its relevance to the case.

We also wanted to be fully confident in the legal position, before we communicated it to the family, given their anguish and frustration with the obstacles to the investigation. Once the position was clear, I conveyed it directly to the family by letter on 12 October.

We continue to urge the US authorities and the individual in question to fully cooperate with the investigation.

The case is now with Northamptonshire Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, and it is for them to consider next steps as part of their criminal investigation.

At every stage in this process, we have sought to clear away any obstacles to justice being done.

At the same time, I have been mindful of the need to avoid anything that could be construed as political interference, in case that might later be argued to prejudice the proper and fair course of the investigation, and thereby prevent justice being done.

Mr Speaker, let me now turn to our next steps.

First, we will continue to do all that we can to support the Police and the CPS during this process. And I can assure this House, as I assured Harry’s family when I met with them on 9 October, that we will continue to fight for justice for them.

Second, I have already commissioned a review of the immunity arrangements for US personnel and their families at the Croughton Annex, holding privileges and immunities under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

As this case has demonstrated, I do not believe the current arrangements are right. The review will look at how we make sure the arrangements at Croughton cannot be used in this way again.

Mr Speaker, in one night, a tragic accident took the life of a young man with his whole future ahead of him.

That loss has devastated his family, as it would any of ours.

I can reassure the House that this government will do everything it can to give them the solace of justice being done. Our hearts go out to them, and I commend this statement to the House.”

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 22/10/2019.

The British High Commission and the British Council in Cyprus hosted the first ever island-wide reception for graduates of UK universities.

Your Excellency President of the House of Representatives and acting President of the Republic, Mr Dimitris Syllouris, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

I apologise for disrupting the DJ. I hope you’ve been enjoying his music, as well as the fish and chips, and the gin, and perhaps feeling a little nostalgic for those student days and perhaps some misspent nights in the UK.

On behalf of myself and my wife Denise I extend a very warm welcome to this very special gathering of very special people. That’s you: the Cypriot alumni of British universities, from around the island.

In some ways it’s surprising we’ve not had a reception like this before. With over 40,000 Cypriot alumni of UK universities it’s not easy to organise an island-wide gathering of you all: the garden simply isn’t big enough, especially on a wet evening. But I’m delighted to start with this select group this evening: you are obviously the most active and ambitious alumni!

Having studied in the UK you don’t need me to tell you about the benefits of a UK education. Perhaps like me you saw the recent report which reveals that Cyprus is the 10th most important source country for international students in the UK. My guess is that means Cyprus sends more students to the UK per head of population than any other.

Not that education collaboration is a one-way street. UK institutions are increasingly looking to deliver British education here in Cyprus – through Cyprus-based campuses and departments, joint degree courses and distance learning. And I would like to pay tribute to President Syllouris for the strong personal support which he has offered for these transnational education initiatives, which are helping position Cyprus as a higher education hub in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Meanwhile research collaboration between Britain and Cyprus goes from strength to strength. We’re showcasing many of these research collaborations and educational partnerships this evening, and welcoming representatives of three of the biggest research collaborations in Cyprus, which are all with UK universities: KIOS, RISE and Maritec-X with Imperial, UCL and Southampton respectively. You’d be surprised if as High Commissioner I didn’t mention Brexit. As you know events appear to be reaching a climax, with some increasingly positive indications about the prospects for reaching a deal at the European Council in Brussels.

Whatever your views on Brexit, I want to assure you that the UK Government is fully committed to an even stronger and deeper relationship between Britain and Cyprus, based on shared values, shared membership of the Commonwealth, and the wealth of personal connections of which you are part. While we have chosen to leave the EU, we are not leaving Europe. We were close partners before Britain or Cyprus joined the EU, and with your help and support, I am confident that we will be even closer partners in future.

Let me close with a few words of thanks:

To our sponsors for this evening: PWC Cyprus and Laiko Cosmos Trading

To the representatives of over 30 UK universities who have joined us here: they are in Cyprus for the British Council’s annual Study UK Fair.

To the UK university alumni groups on the island. They have well-established networks of alumni, and are enthusiastic proponents of staying in touch with their institutions and keeping alive the connections they made there. We have joined forces in organising tonight’s reception, and I thank them for introducing many new faces to the High Commission.

And above all, to you Your Excellency, Mr President, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, thank you again for joining us tonight. I encourage you to stay in touch with us, directly, through your university alumni groups or through our UKalumniCY page on Facebook.

Thank you very much.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 22/10/2019.

Aidan Liddle, Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament, makes statement to the UN General Assembly, outlining UK’s commitment for a world without nuclear weapons.

The United Kingdom aligns itself with the statement made by the EU. Allow me to add the following in our national capacity.

Mr Chair,

The UK remains committed to a world without nuclear weapons, with undiminished security for all, and to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The 2020 Review Conference, on the 50th anniversary of the Treaty’s entry into force, provides an opportunity to celebrate its successes and come together to strengthen its future.

The Treaty and the IAEA safeguards that underpin it have helped to make us safer and more prosperous. They have extended the benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, provided a framework for substantial disarmament and minimised the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

Our commitment to the step-by-step approach to nuclear disarmament under the NPT remains undiminished. That commitment is not just rhetorical; we have demonstrated it by our actions over the years.

While the UK’s independent nuclear deterrent remains essential to our security today, and will do so for as long as the global security situation demands, it is maintained at a minimum credible level. We have reduced our deterrent to a single delivery system, and our operationally available warheads to no more than 120, of which just 40 are deployed. We also remain committed to reducing our overall stockpile to no more than 180 warheads by the next decade.

The ongoing programme to maintain and renew elements of our nuclear deterrent capability to ensure its continued safety and reliability is a necessary aspect of being a responsible Nuclear Weapon State, and is fully consistent with our obligations under Article VI of the NPT

The UK continues to support the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty and Organisation, and the start and early conclusion of negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty in the Conference on Disarmament. We have maintained a voluntary moratorium on the production of fissile material for use in nuclear weapons or other explosive nuclear devices since 1995.

The UK contributes actively to work on nuclear disarmament verification, including through international initiatives such as the IPNDV and the Quad Partnership with Sweden, Norway and the US. In that regard we are proud to co-sponsor resolution L.22 on Nuclear Disarmament Verification, which we commend to the Committee.

The UK also welcomes other efforts to explore realistic paths to nuclear disarmament, including the United States’ Creating the Environment for Nuclear Disarmament initiative and Sweden’s Stepping Stones initiative.

We are also committed to increasing transparency, to the extent possible, and to improving our reporting on our NPT obligations and undertakings.

The UK does not, however, intend to support, sign or ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The Ban Treaty risks undermining the NPT, ignores the security environment and does not address the technical and procedural challenges that must be overcome to achieve nuclear disarmament in a secure and responsible manner.

Mr Chair,

At the same time, we must acknowledge the serious challenges that exist in the security environment.

Russia’s decision to continue to develop and deploy destabilising new nuclear capabilities threatens global security. Earlier this year, their decision to deploy a prohibited missile system led to the collapse of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty. We regret that Russia showed no willingness and took no demonstrable steps to return to compliance with its international obligations. Russia bears sole responsibility for the Treaty’s demise.

We remain committed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and as such are deeply concerned by Iran’s moves to reduce nuclear compliance. We urge Iran to reverse its actions and adhere fully to its commitments. We are working closely with partners on diplomatic efforts to engage Iran on negotiations for a long-term framework for its nuclear programme as well as on its destabilising regional activity.

North Korea’s nuclear programme poses a threat to regional and global security and the integrity of the NPT regime. We urge North Korea to engage in further dialogue to decrease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and to undertake complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation.

It is against the backdrop of this challenging security environment that the NPT remains so important. It is a fundamental pillar of international security and the only framework we have to limit nuclear proliferation and pave the way for a world without nuclear weapons. That is why the UK continues to campaign for the universalisation of the NPT. As the 2020 Review Conference approaches, we remain determined to work with partners across the international community to strengthen the NPT that benefits us all.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 22/10/2019.

Mr Neil Crompton has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in succession to Mr Simon Collis CMG.

Mr Neil Crompton has been appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in succession to Mr Simon Collis CMG who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service. Mr Crompton will take up his appointment during February 2020.

CURRICULUM VITAE

Full name: Neil Crompton

Married to: Rosa Zaragoza

Children: Two

2019 Full-time Language Training (Arabic)
2015 to 2019 FCO, Director, Middle East and North Africa Directorate
2014 to 2015 FCO, Deputy Political Director, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate, and South Asia and Afghanistan Directorate
2012 to 2014 FCO, Director, South Asia and Afghanistan Directorate
2007 to 2011 Washington, Counsellor, Foreign and Security Policy Department, Joint Intelligence Committee Representative
2005 to 2007 FCO, Iran Coordinator, Iran Department
2003 to 2005 FCO, Head of Iraq Policy Unit
1999 to 2003 Tehran, Deputy Head of Mission
1998 to 1999 Full-time Language Training (Farsi)
1997 to 1998 FCO, Head of Iran Section
1995 to 1997 FCO, Senior Research Officer, Middle East and North Africa Group

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 24/10/2019.

Nik Mehta, DHM British Embassy Seoul, spoke at the ASK Global Summit on Real Estate & Infrastructure, hosted by the Korea Economic Daily.

Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It’s a great pleasure to be here today, and I am particularly pleased to have the chance to speak before such a distinguished group of investors. I would like to take this opportunity to thank CEO Kim and his colleagues from the Korea Economic Daily for bringing us together this morning.

Over the next ten minutes, I hope to convince you, if you need convincing, why the UK continues to be a premier destination for capital investment.

Before I talk about capital investment and the importance of long-term growth, I wanted to say something the UK’s investment in Korea…in its broadest sense.

In 1797, a Royal Navy vessel captained by William Broughton was caught in a storm on its way to Japan. The vessel ended up in Busan and this was the first interaction between our two countries. It took almost a hundred years for the UK and Korea to agree a formal bilateral treaty – diplomacy took time in those days!

In 1883, the British government purchased the site of our current compound opposite City Hall for the princely sum of £100. Perhaps this was the first example of UK capital investment in Korea!

So our formal relationship is over 130 years old. The longest of any European country. We have been by Korea’s side through the ups and downs of the 20th century. Almost 100,000 British soldiers were deployed to Korea during the Korean War. We have remained a strong promoter of peace on the Peninsula ever since.

We have watched with huge admiration Korea’s democratic and economic growth over the last few decades. We are also proud that our trade and investment relationship has increased exponentially over this period. Since the EU-Korea FTA came into force in 2011, our bilateral trade has doubled to 22Tn Korean Won ($18.9bn).

But there is so much more that we, as the world’s 5th and 11th largest economies, can achieve together.

I was delighted that two months ago, the UK and Korea agreed a Continuity Free Trade Agreement. This agreement is the first of its kind in Asia. We expect it to be ratified by our respective parliaments shortly. This agreement will ensure that UK and Korean companies will continue to benefit from preferential tariffs when the EU-Korea FTA ceases to apply.

I know you won’t expect me to speculate on Brexit and what might happen in London over the next few days! And that’s good because the situation is developing so quickly. What I would say is two things: Firstly, when the UK leaves the EU, we will remain the EU’s closest partner and friend. We are leaving the EU not Europe. And Secondly, whatever happens over the next few months the UK-Korea relationship will remain strong and the ties between our two countries will continue to develop.

We are long-term investors in Korea not short-term speculators!

So why am I so confident about the UK’s attractiveness to investors?

As we move forward towards a more global future outside of the EU, foreign investors have reaffirmed their confidence in the UK. Between 2015 and 2018, the UK attracted more foreign direct Investment than any other country in Europe, with nearly four thousand projects bringing in more capital investment than second and third placed Germany and France combined. According to the Center of American Entrepreneurship, London is the third largest single destination for venture capital deals after Silicon Valley and New York.

Korean investors are already grasping opportunities in the UK.

Last year, the UK attracted more than 40 percent of the record $8.1 billion worth of South Korean investment into Europe’s commercial property market.

And this year, Korean companies are estimated to have invested almost $800 million in Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

Korean companies have also, in recent years, invested in UK rail and other transport infrastructure. Most noticeably the National Pension Services 30% stake in UK’s High Speed 1 which they acquired in 2017 and Samsung C&T has been a key partner in the development of the Mersey Gateway Bridge spanning the River Mersey and Manchester Ship Canal.

We are committed to ensuring that the UK retains its reputation as a stable, open and mature market in which to invest. We have set out our ambitions in a bold, long-term industrial strategy. This will help generate growth and job creation to ensure the economic benefits are felt by all.

Companies investing in the UK will have access to one of the lowest rates of corporation tax in Europe, tax credits for companies innovating and registering patents in the UK, and access to a world class R&D environment and talent pool. Three of the world’s top 10 universities are in the UK including the top two.

And for international SMEs looking at the UK for global expansion we operate exciting investment support opportunities such as the Department of International Trade’s Global Entrepreneurs Programme.

A key foundation of our Industrial Strategy centres on upgrading the UK’s infrastructure throughout the country. Our National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline is worth around $778 billion and public infrastructure investment will have doubled in a decade by 2022/2023.

Through our Industrial Strategy, the country’s economic geography will be transformed by a surge of infrastructure investment heralding a new technological era. We plan to build a Britain that lives on the digital frontier, with full-fibre broadband, new 5G networks and smart technologies. As a former Deputy Director of GCHQ, the UK Government’s Cyber Intelligence Agency, I am proud that we have committed to making the UK the world’s safest place to live and work online.

We will create a new high speed rail network that connects people to jobs and opportunities, regenerate our stations and airports, and progressively upgrade our road network. And we will improve people’s lives where they live and work, with high quality housing and clean, affordable energy.

During today’s seminar you will hear about many of the investment ready projects currently available. Our team of expert advisors from our Department of International Trade stand ready to help you find appropriate opportunities and smooth the investment journey with tailored advice, insight and introductions.

Before I finish, I want to say something about the UK’s commitment to economic growth alongside our ambitious efforts to address the challenges of climate change.

Climate change and environmental degradation are among the most urgent and pressing challenges we face today. In July, the UK recorded its hottest day ever. The temperature reached 38.7C.

And here in Korea I have seen first-hand the declining air quality in Seoul. Days when we have seen the world’s highest levels of PM 2.5. Days when I cannot see the mountains behind the Blue House. Days when it is not safe for children to play outside.

The UK is a committed, ambitious and effective leader on climate change. We were the first major economy to legislate for net zero emissions by 2050. We have decarbonised our economy faster than any other G20 country, while retaining the highest growth figures in the G7. And we were the first country in the world to set a legally binding long-term emissions reduction target through the Climate Change Act 2008.

We have just doubled our contribution to the Green Climate Fund. And the UK will host COP26 in Glasgow in partnership with Italy, where we will be driving ambition on mitigation, resilience and finance.

Meeting our objectives and delivering the global transition to a low carbon economy will require unprecedented levels of investment in green and low carbon technologies, services and infrastructure.

More than $119 billion has been invested in clean energy in the UK since 2010 – but much more will be needed to deliver a net zero economy.

The low carbon economy in the UK could grow 11 per cent per year between 2015 and 2030 – over four times faster than the rest of the economy. Our Green Finance Strategy sets out how we will be working to apply a green filter to the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline.

Let me finish by saying: This is an exciting time for the UK. A time of unprecedented opportunities. We are confident in our assertion that in the UK, your businesses will prosper and your capital investments make strong and safe returns.

Thank you.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 24/10/2019.

British Ambassador to South Korea Simon Smith spoke at the 2019 International Conference on Coal Phase-out and Climate Action in Chungcheongnam-do.

Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

It is my distinct pleasure to be here in beautiful Chungcheongnam-do at the “2019 International Conference on Coal Phase-out and Climate Action”. As British Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, I am speaking today as co-chair of the Powering Past Coal Alliance, the world’s largest and most ambitious grouping of countries, sub-national governments and private sector participants working together to accelerate the phase out of coal from the energy mix. I am delighted to be here to celebrate the launch of the “East Asian Association of Climate and Environment”, led by our PPCA colleagues here in Chungcheongnam-do.

I would like to thank both Chungcheongnam-do and the Chungnam Institute for their sterling work in convening this conference. In particular I would like to express my gratitude to Governor of Chungcheongnam-do Yang Seung-jo, Chairman of the Chungcheongnam-do Provincial Assembly Yoo Byung-Kuk, Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Environment Park Chun-kyu, Governor of Gyeonggi-do Lee Jae-myung, Mayor of Sejong-si Lee Choon-hee, French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Lefort and other distinguished guests. And it is an honour to be speaking straight after former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, whose climate legacy will be forever enshrined in the historic Paris Agreement.

In October last year Governor Yang signed Chuncheongnam-do’s Declaration to Join the Powering Past Coal Alliance, becoming our first Asian member. His climate leadership should remind us all that the continued burning of coal in Asia is a problem that requires Asia to take action. I hope today’s conference will encourage and extend climate action across Asia.

Climate change

In a world which faces many challenges, climate change is the single biggest threat to our way of life.

The IPCC special report on climate change made this abundantly clear. Even if we do achieve the 2˚C target agreed in Paris, while we may avoid many of the catastrophic effects of climate change, the consequences will be significantly worse than if we limit temperature rise to 1.5˚C.

We are already seeing the effects. This summer vast swathes of the Amazon rain forest, the lungs of our planet and home to 20% of the world’s stored oxygen, burned to the ground. Resource scarcity is driving migratory flows through North Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. Hurricanes continue to batter the Caribbean.

In July, the UK recorded its hottest day ever. The temperature reached 38.7C. In 2003 a heatwave claimed more than 70,000 lives across Europe, including 2,000 in the UK. We are still waiting to see this year’s death toll.

And here in Korea I have seen first-hand the declining air quality in Seoul. Days when we have seen the world’s highest levels of PM 2.5. Days when I cannot see the mountains behind the Blue House. Days when it is not safe for children to play outside.

But climate change is not merely a risk to the environment or to our health. It is a financial risk as well. For governments and business, unexpected financial damages resulting from natural disasters such as floods, storms and droughts can lead to major disruption. According to the Economist, the value of global financial assets at risk from climate change, including stranded assets, is estimated at $4.8 trillion.

UK climate action

The UK is a committed, ambitious and effective leader on climate change. We were the first major economy to legislate for net zero emissions by 2050. We have decarbonised our economy faster than any other G20 country, while retaining the highest growth figures in the G7. And we were the first country in the world to set a legally binding long-term emissions reduction target through the Climate Change Act 2008.

We have just doubled our contribution to the Green Climate Fund. And the UK will host COP26 in Glasgow in partnership with Italy, where we will be driving ambition on mitigation, resilience and finance. Of course, heads of state need to show strong climate leadership if we are to meet the Paris climate goal. But we need climate leadership at all levels of government, industry and civil society.

A history of coal in the UK

But I am here today to talk about coal. You can trace the UK’s long history with coal back to the role it played in powering the UK through the Industrial Revolution from the 19th century onwards.

In January 1882, Thomas Edison opened a 93 kilowatt turbine at Number 57 Holborn Viaduct in London. This was the world’s first coal power plant. By today’s standards it was tiny – about 65, 000 times smaller than the plant at Dangjin in Chungnam. Tellingly, it operated at a loss before closing 4 years later in 1886. A reminder that new energy technologies do require support before they become economically viable.

From the time of the Industrial Revolution, coal helped build modern Britain. Due to our long industrial history, there is a sentimental attachment to coal in Britain today and you can still see its effect on our skyline. For example, one of the most desirable residential developments in London right now is the renovation of Battersea Power Station, a starkly beautiful grade 2 listed building.

Coal phase-out in the UK

But the past is the past and times have changed. For clean air and public health, sustainable economic growth and trade promotion, the UK is driving the transition away from coal and into renewable energy.

We are phasing out coal from our energy mix. In 2012 coal accounted for 40% of our power. Today it is well under 5%. In 2017 we recorded our first coal-free day since the Industrial Revolution. And we keep setting longer and longer coal-free records, most recently in May, when the UK went without coal for 16 days. We will close the last of the UK’s coal-fired power plants by 2025 at the latest.

To keep the lights on we have invested in the largest installed offshore wind capacity in the world. This currently stands at 8.2 gigawatts and will rise to 14 gigawatts in 2023. In Scotland, wind turbines generated almost twice the domestic power requirements in the first 6 months of this year. Exports from our low carbon and renewable energy sector topped £5 billion in 2017. And 1 in 5 electric cars sold in Europe last year were built in the UK.

Powering past coal alliance

The UK and Canada launched the Powering Past Coal Alliance at COP23 in 2017. We now have over 90 members, most recently Germany and Slovakia who joined at the UN Climate Action Summit in September. We are of course still very proud that Chungcheongnam-do were the first participants from Asia.

The PPCA is a voluntary, member-led organisation of like-minded governments, sub-national bodies and businesses who have made a commitment to phase out coal. At the national level, members must commit to phasing out coal power generation, while corporations and non-government members must commit to power their operations without coal. All members must commit to supporting clean power generation through their policies.

In July we launched the PPCA finance principles, which explain how financial institutions can support unabated coal phase out by 2050 globally and by 2030 in the OECD to meet the Paris goal. It will be key to bring the financial sector on board to accelerate coal phase out.

Asia’s turn to step up

Coal accounts for nearly a third of the rise in average temperatures since the Industrial Revolution. And Asia digs up and burns three quarters of the world’s coal. So the single most powerful step that countries in Asia can take, to support the commitments made in Paris, is to phase out coal from their energy mix and accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

The transition away from coal must be a just transition. Support is required for those affected who will lose their jobs. New opportunities must be created in the low carbon sector. Globally, we expect to see $11.5 trillion investment in new power generation between now and 2050, of which 73% will be in wind and solar.

Phasing out coal and raising climate ambition to keep temperatures rises under 1.5 degrees will not be easy. But together, you have the power to build a coalition of climate action that can drive ambition at the national level to deliver the Paris Agreement.

Thank you.

Below is a press release issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 24/10/2019.

Statement by David Clay, UK Political Coordinator at the UN, at the Security Council briefing on the situation in Sudan and South Sudan.

Thank you, Mr President. We hope to see both governments seize the opportunities this offers for forging a lasting and comprehensive peace in Abyei, Blue Nile and South Kordofan. We are therefore encouraged by the recent talks between the governments of Sudan and South Sudan and express our hope that this momentum in bilateral relations will continue.

A strengthened dialogue is key to securing a lasting resolution to the situation in Abyei.

We remain concerned that armed forces from both sides continue to occupy the safety militarized border zone. We therefore commend the recent commitment by both governments to withdraw all forces from this zone and urge swift implementation of this commitment.

Mr President, the UK welcomes the first round of preliminary peace talks between the government of Sudan and the armed movements. We encourage all parties to return to talks on 21 November, ready to engage constructively and without preconditions.

We also welcome the government of Sudan’s moves to remove bureaucratic impediments on humanitarian actors. We hope this decision will be implemented in full, enabling unfettered humanitarian access across Sudan, including in Abyei and the two areas.

Mr President, against this changing backdrop, we welcome the continuing progress outlined in the Secretary-General’s report at the mission level, including on human rights and judicial capacity-building. However, we recognise the persistent operational challenges the mission faces, including delays in issuing visas and entry clearances for mission assets. We regret that the civilian deputy head of mission has not yet been deployed, given the importance of this role in supporting progress on the political track.

Like others around the table, we commend the government of Ethiopia for its contribution to UNISFA. We condemn all attacks on mission personnel and reiterate our condolences to the government of Ethiopia and the family of the peacekeeper who lost his life on 16 July.

Mr President, as the security situation in Abyei remains fragile with an increasing criminality and sporadic presence of armed elements, we share the Secretary-General’s assessment that UNISFA continues to have a vital role in maintaining stability. This council should ensure the mission is adequately resourced to deliver its mandate, including through strengthened civilian and police capabilities. This is vital if Abyei and the two areas are to benefit from the opportunities for peace created by recent political developments at the national level.

Thank you, Mr President.