Tag: Downing Street

The press release issued by Downing Street on 11 December 2009.

Britain will provide £1.5 billion towards a three-year fund to help the poorest countries adapt to the effects of climate change, the Prime Minister has announced.

The money will form part of a £6.5 billion “fast start” fund agreed by EU leaders at a European Council meeting in Brussels today.

In a press conference following the summit, Gordon Brown also confirmed that the EU will offer to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2020 if other countries are willing to commit to ambitious reductions at the Copenhagen climate conference.

The PM said:

“Britain’s contribution is one that we are proud we are making, and that is $800 million or £500 million a year. That makes it possible for the poorest countries to come to the table knowing that they can mitigate carbon emissions and adapt to climate change.”

The PM said he and other EU leaders would do “everything in our power” to secure an ambitious deal at the UN summit in Copenhagen, which concludes next week.

He said:

“I believe there is goodwill now, that there is a determination that things move forward. Obviously we are hoping that other countries respond to the generous offers that Europe has made but we look forward to a successful outcome.”

Earlier, the Prime Minister released a joint statement with French President Nicolas Sarkozy committing the UK and France to work together for an ambitious deal in Copenhagen which would keep global warming to within two degrees.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 12 December 2009.

The Prime Minister has said the best policy for economic recovery in Britain is greater investment in the future.

In his latest podcast, Gordon Brown said the Pre-Budget Report has laid out a plan for encouraging growth and employment in the years ahead, and the Government was prepared to make the “tough choices necessary” to halve the deficit and protect frontline services.

The PM said the Government would focus on greater investment in highly-skilled jobs and infrastructure.

The plans will be put into action in the coming week with the opening of the first high-speed railway line in the UK. And the Government will launch the Back to Work White Paper which aims to create and support “thousands of new jobs and opportunities” for young people.

“We are a Government committed both to growth and jobs and to a better future for you and your family.

“Britain has been through a difficult year, but I am confident that this Pre-Budget Report and the policies we are announcing in the next week mean we are able to look forward to a stronger, more prosperous Britain in the years to come.”

Mr Brown said some people, especially the wealthiest, would be asked to contribute more in the future: “But in return we are able to guarantee a plan for growth that safeguards our schools, our police and our NHS.”

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 13 December 2009.

The Prime Minister has visited Afghanistan this weekend where he has met British forces and held talks with President Karzai and Afghan authorities.

Gordon Brown stayed overnight at Kandahar Airfield, the coalition headquarters for the region.

During the visit, the PM was briefed by senior military staff in Kandahar as well as meeting troops and inspecting new equipment purchased in recent months.

The Prime Minister later flew to Camp Bastion, in Helmand Province, where the bulk of the UK’s troops are based.

At a joint press conference with the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, Gordon Brown said the rising level of British troops was being met by increases in equipment, including helicopters and IED surveillance devices.

“We have ramped up our counter-IED efforts to give the best protection possible to our troops on the ground.”

The PM said the plan was to continue to weaken the Taliban and to strengthen the Afghan authorities.

“I think the next few months are obviously critical. We need to show there support for our forces back in Britain, which I know there is, and a determination to take on the Taliban.”

Gordon Brown thanked troops for their “bravery, professionalism and dedication” in what he described as a difficult year. And he paid tribute to service personnel who would be apart from loved ones over Christmas.

It is the Prime Minister’s third visit to Afghanistan this year.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 14 December 2009.

Gordon Brown called the Javelin train’s first weekday journey, “a momentous day in the long and glorious history of British railways” during the official launch of the UK’s first domestic high-speed rail service at St Pancras International station this morning.

The new Southeastern Rail service, which runs from London to Kent, can reach speeds of up to 140 mph and will mean a reduction of journey times from up to 69 minutes for commuters.

The Prime Minister said that investment in high-speed rail networks would continue, and that the Government would publish plans by the end of March for a North-South network. He also said that Transport Secretary Lord Adonis would announce the electrification of rail lines between Manchester and Liverpool and Preston later today:

“I know some people who think this is not the time to be investing in infrastructure but I believe it is essential to do so and we will be investing £20 billion in our rail infrastructure in the next few years.”

Mr Brown was joined by Lord Adonis and Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes after whom the train taking its maiden voyage was named.
Lord Adonis said of the new era in UK train travel:

“These fantastic new services, made possible by the government’s investment in this £5.8bn high-speed new line, are changing the transport map of Kent.

“Journey times have shrunk dramatically, bringing regeneration and new opportunities for investment.

“This shows the potential of high-speed rail and we now must consider what it can do for the rest of the country.”

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 14 December 2009.

The Prime Minister has announced that the Government “will go further” in providing equipment and support to troops serving in Afghanistan.

In a statement to the House of Commons following his visit to Kandahar and Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, Gordon Brown said the Defence Secretary is due to announce plans for more equipment, including specialist counter-IED support.

“The latest tranche of urgent operational funding from the treasury will include an extra £10 million for handheld mine detectors to follow the £12 million set aside earlier this year for new explosive disposal robots, over 30 of which are now in operation. And I can also announce a package of longer-term investment in our counter-IED capability including new facilities for training and for intelligence – an extra 50 millions pounds a year – £150 million in total this year and over the next two years.”

The PM said the announcement follows a doubling in helicopter numbers over the past three years; an increase of almost 80 per cent in mastiff vehicles and double the number of Ridgback vehicles since the summer; and a 20 per cent increase in aerial surveillance to track and target Taleban Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

Gordon Brown said he also began preparations with president Karzai on the London conference in January. He said the focus for the conference would be on security, reintegration, economic development, and the coordination of international efforts in Afghanistan.

The Prime Minister also thanked British Armed Forces in a year in which “100 of their colleagues have made the ultimate sacrifice”.

On the EU Council meeting held on 10-11 December 2009, the Prime Minister said European leaders addressed the economic recovery and how Europe can move forward a climate change deal at Copenhagen.

Leaders also expressed their “grave concern” over Iran’s nuclear weapons intentions.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 December 2009.

The Prime Minister assured young jobseekers that new measures would bring down unemployment in the coming year during a visit to the Acton Jobcentre Plus in London today.

Whilst hearing the stories of a number of young people who had been helped by their local Jobcentre, he said:

“We really don’t want to have a generation of young people who are out of the labour market for too long because it does hurt ambition and it causes a cycle for the next generation.”

Gordon Brown was joined by Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper as it was announced that 100,000 new jobs, apprenticeships and training opportunities for under 25s would be created in 2010.

Yvette Cooper, who today launched the employment white paper “Building Britain’s Recovery, achieving full employment” made the point that youth unemployment has historically continued rising after a recession and should remain a focus for Government:

“Unemployment is around 400,000 lower than we expected it would be at the time of the Budget as a result of a lot of the extra support and help that has been put in place.

“But it is still causing a big problem for families right across the country and we still expect unemployment to keep increasing in the New Year.

“That is why we need to do more to help people, especially young people, get back into work.”

“Our aim is to work with employers to get youth unemployment falling in the second half of next year.”

The Government will guarantee employment or training for all under-25s who have been out of work for six months or more.  The white paper also sets out plans to change the benefits system to help motivate older unemployed people, single parents, carers and those starting up new-businesses.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 15 December 2009.

The Prime Minister is in Copenhagen where he will work towards securing an ambitious agreement that limits global warming to a maximum two degrees.

Gordon Brown is calling on developed and developing countries at the United Nations Climate Conference to work together to advance shared goals at a “critical moment”.

After arriving in Copenhagen, the PM went straight into talks with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, and Australian PM Kevin Rudd.

He said:

“It is possible that we will not get an agreement and it is also true that there are many issues to be sorted out. But I am determined – with the conversations I have had already today with President Obama, with Chancellor Merkel, with President Sarkozy, and with President Meles of Ethiopia and now I have been talking to the prime minister of Bangladesh, to do everything I can to bring the world together.”

Shortly before leaving for Copenhagen, the Prime Minister met his Ethiopian counterpart, Prime Minister Meles, who has played an important role in bringing together the views of African countries.

In a statement released after their meeting, Gordon Brown said Africa’s survival now depends on a climate change deal.

“Some degree of climate change cannot now be prevented; but we can avert the utter catastrophe that would be the 4, 5 or 6 degree rise implied by a business as usual path of emissions. And we can provide the nations of Africa with the financial support they need to cope with its effects.”

The PM said he supported proposals presented by Prime Minister Meles, saying they offer a basis for agreement in Copenhagen on the “difficult financing question which lies at the heart of the talks”.

Prime Minister Meles has proposed:

• A commitment to predictable and long-term finance, with a clear trajectory from the fast start period of 2010-12 to 2020. I have argued for this to reach 100 billion euros annually by 2020.
• A commitment to additonality, ensuring that we do not use climate finance to detract from our determination to meet the Millennium Development Goals.
• And a focus on the use of innovative financing mechanisms, such as a global transactions tax, to raise funds.

During the UN Climate Conference Mr Brown will also meet leaders from other African nations and the European Union, the UN Secretary General and representatives from hard-hit, small island states.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 16 December 2009.

Gordon Brown has spoken of the challenges of his role at the Copenhagen climate change summit after initial talks with leaders including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, but says that he is determined to help bring the 192 nations involved to a consensus.

The PM said he hoped there would be an agreement by the end of the week, and a legally-binding treaty within six months.

Gordon Brown emphasised the importance of the talks both for the UK and for the future of the world’s population, and said that he would use his experience to bring countries together to discuss the various issues involved:

“This deal matters for Britain. I think if we could get a carbon change, then it is worth about half a million jobs to Britain in the longer run, so it is worth it for jobs.

“But I also think our children, growing up, going to school every day, I don’t want them to live in a world of floods, of droughts, of extreme weather.

“It is really important, therefore, for Britain that we get this deal and it is important that I do everything I can in the next few days to make that possible.”

He also spoke specifically about helping developing countries after backing Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi’s proposals that African nations receive funding to tackle global warming:

“You have got island states that are evacuating their people in the next few years unless we do something about it.

“You have got refugees in Africa – climate change refugees for the first time – you have got Bangladesh, which faces floods and the loss of land to sea as a result of what is happening.”

Britain has pledged £1.5 billion over the next three years to help kick start anti-global warming measures.

Later today, Gordon  Brown will meet leaders from Bangladesh, Nepal, East Timor, Lesotho, the Maldives and Brazil, as well as attending an EU/African Union meeting.

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 18 December 2009.

The Prime Minister said the conditions that would make a climate financing agreement possible were now in place, following a long day of discussions in Copenhagen.

Negotiations continued early into the morning as Gordon Brown and other leaders worked to secure a deal that would limit global temperature rises to two degrees.

The United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen continues today, with US President Barack Obama joining the discussions.

Yesterday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the United States would play its part in a $100 billion dollar-a-year climate financing agreement for developing countries, by 2020.

The PM said:

“We have now got to the position where it is possible that we will get agreement tomorrow on the $10 billion plan to 2012 and the $100 billion, public and private, including the carbon market and international finance.

“We have also made progress in other areas and I believe that the conditions for an agreement are now there.”

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 19 December 2009.

The Prime Minister has pledged to lead an international campaign to turn the agreements established at the Copenhagen summit on climate change into a legally binding treaty.

Speaking at the conclusion of the summit in Denmark late on Friday night, the PM said that nations had made progress and taken a “vital first step” but that more work was needed.

Mr Brown said that the international community had set a target to limit rises in global temperatures by 2050 to two degrees centigrade and for every nation to publish emissions plans to be held up for scrutiny by their peers.

The PM said:

“This is the first step we are taking towards a green and low carbon future for the world, steps we are taking together. First steps are difficult, but they are also necessary.

“Having taken that first step I hope that we can move quickly to the next step which is to get a legally binding treaty.”

US President Barack Obama described an agreement with several nations, including China and Brazil, as “meaningful and unprecedented” but acknowledged that there was “much further to go” in the fight against global warming.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that all nations had signed up to a plan to provide developing nations with up to $100 billion per year in climate change-related aid by 2020 and that follow up meetings to Copenhagen would be held in the German city of Bonn in six months time.