Tag: Foreign Office

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

Bangladesh and UK signed an agreement for working together on climate action bilaterally and multilaterally to help deliver the outcomes of COP26 and COP27.

• The Governments of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are committing to address the global challenge of climate change, the impacts of which are becoming ever more severe at both national and international levels.
• Building on the long-standing and highly-valued relationship between our two countries, we resolve to demonstrate leadership and to enhance cooperation in climate action bilaterally and multilaterally, to help deliver the outcomes of COP26 and COP27.
• We will aim to build on the climate leadership demonstrated by the Bangladesh Presidency of the 58-member Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and the UK’s Presidency of the COP26 at Glasgow. Bangladesh’s leadership at COP26 in coordinating and promoting the voices from the most climate vulnerable countries contributed to securing additional ambition from many of the big emitters. The UK Presidency successfully brokered the Glasgow Climate Pact, which will speed up the pace of action on mitigation, adaptation, finance and loss and damage. However, even with the action committed both during and before COP26, communities around the world will continue to feel the devastating impacts of a changing climate. All countries must continue with concerted and immediate efforts to deliver on all pledges made at COP26 and COP27.
• As part of UK’s global commitment to tackle climate change, new bilateral, regional and central programmes were announced at COP26 for Bangladesh. The programmes will contribute to build resilience, protect biodiversity, expand renewable energy, prevent pollution and better manage waste, while also supporting women’s leadership, increased access to climate finance, education and skills in Bangladesh.

MITIGATION

• We recognise the urgent need to take bold and comprehensive action to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The UK and Bangladesh will continue to take actions in line with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. We decide to submit ambitious and enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions expanding emissions reductions targets as far as possible. We will work together to support implementation of the measures necessary to achieve these targets. And we will encourage all other countries to be as ambitious as they can be.
• Bangladesh commends the UK for its commitment to achieve a net-zero by 2050, and for being the first major economy to put this commitment into law. The UK has also committed that by 2040 all new cars sold will have zero emissions.
• The UK welcomes Bangladesh’s Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan that calls for strategic investments into low-carbon development initiatives and tackling frontline climate threats.  The UK appreciates the addition of Agriculture, Forestry and other Land use and waste management in Bangladesh’s updated NDC. The UK welcomes Bangladesh’s intention to increase the share of clean energy up to 40% of the total energy by 2041 and low carbon development pathway.
• We emphasise the importance of international cooperation and investment in achieving our mitigation targets. We also recognise the need to ensure this delivers wider benefits such as energy security and access to energy, poverty eradication, economic growth and job creations.

ADAPTATION

• We recognise that Bangladesh as a climate vulnerable country is facing multiple climate change impacts, including sea level rise, heat stress, drought and devastating natural disasters often causing displacement on a large scale.
• We look forward to working closely through the Dhaka office of the Global Center on Adaptation to develop and take integrated approaches to avert, minimise and address displacement related to the adverse impacts of climate change. The newly launched Global Hub on Locally Led Adaptation will help climate vulnerable communities throughout the South Asia region benefit from adaptation solutions developed and tested in Bangladesh, the UK, and other countries.
• Both countries have expertise to share, based on their own National Adaptation Plans, in developing the Global Goal on Adaptation. We look forward to working together to accelerate adaptation locally, nationally and globally.
• As signatories to the 75th UNGA Leaders’ Pledge for Nature, we reiterate our pledge to continue to develop and share expertise on nature-based solutions.  We are committed to combine efforts and expertise to scale up nature-based solutions domestically and internationally and demonstrate their cost-effectiveness to other countries. We decide to encourage greater public and private investments in nature-based solutions for adapting to and mitigating climate change. We are determined to implement the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use and to work together to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.
• We reiterate our shared commitment to work closely in support of collaborative global coalitions including the Resilience and Adaptation Coalition and the Adaptation Action Coalition. We resolve to work with other UN members to show greater political ambition, and to support action on the ground.

LOSS AND DAMAGE

• We welcome the agreement at COP27 to establish new funding arrangements, including the setup of a dedicated fund, to respond to loss and damage from climate change.   We look forward to working to develop the detail of these new arrangements ahead of COP28, including through the UK’s role as a member of the transitional Committee.

FINANCE

• We recognise the crucial role of climate finance in accelerating the development and deployment of environmentally preferable and low carbon technologies. We will work together to encourage all global stakeholders to play their part in collectively meeting the $100 billion a year target, and in setting ambitious post-2020 financial commitments. We call upon multilateral development banks and development finance institutions to contribute to delivering climate finance goals, and to support a green, inclusive and resilient recovery from Covid-19.
• Bangladesh commends the UK for its doubling of international climate finance to £11.6 billion over 2021-2025, setting a clear benchmark for the international community. The UK commends Bangladesh for setting up the domestically resourced Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund financing nationwide adaptation and mitigation climate action projects.
• The Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance sets out to transform access to finance through a new, country-led approach. The UK, as co-lead, and Bangladesh as pioneer country, can play leading roles in ensuring more finance reaches more people on the frontline of climate change.
• We commit also to work domestically and internationally to enhance private finance for adaptation and mitigation, by creating an enabling environment to increase strategic investments in clean and renewable energy, and in protection of nature. We stress the need to work to increase access to climate finance by climatically vulnerable countries, secure greater funding for adaptation and to improve gender-responsiveness of climate finance.

COLLABORATION

• Bangladesh and the UK will exchange expertise, facilitate partnerships, and identify practical solutions to common climate challenges.
• The two countries will hold regular joint events and dialogues on climate action.  The events would be inclusive of all parts of society and focussed on scaling up action on the ground. We recognise the critical role of young people, and seek to meaningfully engage them in climate dialogue and action.
• We stress the need for realizing the opportunities of a clean energy transition and working with national and international institutions and investors towards that end. We decide to cooperate to expand renewable energy through detailed resource assessments for offshore renewables and by testing new technologies more suited to Bangladesh’s land constraints.
• We reaffirm the importance of global collaboration on research, development and capacity building to tackle climate change, and will strive to further collaboration in these areas.
• We express our resolve to continue to work together for sustainable ocean development under the Commonwealth Blue Charter and the UK-led Global Ocean Alliance. We reaffirm our shared commitment to tackle marine plastic pollution under the Commonwealth Clean Ocean Alliance. We propose to also enhance protection of marine resources including by reducing land-based sources of pollution, supporting better management of solid waste, and restoring natural ecosystems.
• We firmly believe by taking the actions outlined above we can contribute to meeting our commitments under the Paris Agreement, and to improving the resilience of the most vulnerable people to climate change.

Signed on 12 March 2023 by

Honourable State Minister, H.E. Mr Md. Shahriar Alam, MP For the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Rt Hon. Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, Minister of State (Indo-Pacific) For the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the UK

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 March 2023.

Diplomatic missions met with Palestinian families under imminent threat of forced eviction from Silwan, Sheikh Jarrah and the Old City of Jerusalem today.

Representatives from Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom call on Israeli authorities to reverse the decisions on the intended evictions.

This month, six Palestinian families in Silwan, Sheikh Jarrah and the Old City of Jerusalem are facing imminent forced eviction and/or decisive hearings on eviction cases initiated by Israeli settler groups, placing more than 80 individuals under imminent threat of forced displacement.

The abovementioned representatives reiterate their strong opposition to Israel’s settlement policy, which is illegal under international law, and actions taken in this context, including evictions, and call on Israeli authorities to reverse the decisions on the intended evictions.

Domestic laws do not exempt Israel, as the occupying power, from meeting its obligations to administer the occupied territory in a manner that provides for and protects the local population.

The continuation of Israel’s illegal settlement policy fuels tensions. In the context of escalating violence in the West Bank, it is particularly worrying that Israeli authorities plan to continue demolitions in East Jerusalem during the month of Ramadan.

Israel’s illegal settlement policy undermines the viability of the two-state solution and the prospect for a lasting peace in the region and seriously jeopardises the possibility of Jerusalem serving as the future capital of both states.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 March 2023.

During the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the UK delivered a statement on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 13 March 2023.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 13 March 2023.

The Government has awarded a one-off payment of £20 million to the BBC World Service as part of the refresh of the Integrated Review.

The money is being provided to protect all 42 World Service language services over the next two years, support English language broadcasting, and counter disinformation.

The refreshed Integrated Review concludes that democracies like the UK must go further to out-cooperate and out-compete states that are driving instability. Developments over the past year, particularly the conflict in Ukraine, have shown the importance of being able to counter the hostile use of disinformation and to tackle the spread of harmful state narratives.

Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, said:

The BBC World Service is vital in the fight against the spread of disinformation around the world. This funding will ensure people across the globe continue to have access to accurate, high quality journalism.

As the world’s most trusted international broadcaster, the BBC World Service is a vital tool in providing accurate and impartial news, analysis and discussion in 42 languages to 365 million people around the world each week. This one-off funding will allow the BBC World Service to maintain its unrivalled status as the world’s largest international broadcaster, and to continue playing its crucial role in tackling harmful disinformation through providing trusted, impartial news and analysis globally.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 March 2023.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has issued a statement following reports that a missile has been launched by North Korea.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 March 2023.

BHC Nicole Davison and Minister Orlando Habet signed a Memorandum of Understanding, formalising the cooperation to implement the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund.

March 9, 2023

On behalf of the UK government, the British High Commissioner to Belize, H.E. Nicole Davison, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Management, Hon. Orlando Habet.

The British High Commissioner to Belize, H.E. Nicole Davison, hosted a reception at her residence in Belmopan in partnership with Hon. Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change, and Disaster Risk Management (MSDCCDRM), to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, formalising the cooperation between both governments to implement the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund.

The Biodiverse Landscapes Fund is a programme developed by the United Kingdom’s Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra ) which supports poverty reduction, biodiversity protection and conservation, and climate change mitigation and adaptation outcomes across six biologically diverse landscapes worldwide. It will also support host governments in meeting international commitments under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030.

The Biodiverse Landscapes Fund will invest up to US$20 million between 2023 and 2029 in Mesoamerica, covering areas of Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. In Belize, the Biodiverse Landscapes Fund will implement projects in collaboration with the MSDCCDRM in the Selva Maya Region, including the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. Projects will be delivered locally in communities with the support of environmental organisations, academic institutions, and the private sector. The projects will aim to accelerate the recovery of nature through activities such as supporting sustainable agricultural practices; promoting the sustainable management of resources; and strengthening the rights and capacities of indigenous people in order to better manage their natural resources.

Defra is currently in the process of selecting a Delivery Partner to lead the programme in the Mesoamerican Landscape, and expect projects to begin work during the second quarter of 2023.

The fund is classified as Official Development Assistance (ODA) and is part of United Kingdom’s commitment to international development.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 March 2023.

Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan announced new UK funding to support Rohingya people living in camps in Bangladesh.

• Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, announces new UK funding through the World Food Programme to help 449,000 people
• she is visiting Bangladesh for the first time in her role to strengthen historic UK-Bangladesh ties
• she will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen, and strengthen UK-Bangladesh partnership on climate action

Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan will visit Cox’s Bazar this week to see first-hand how UK support is providing a lifeline to Rohingya people in the camps.

During her first visit to Bangladesh in the role, she will also set out how the UK is providing new humanitarian support through the [orld Food Programme to supply food for 449,000 people living in the camps this month.

UK support will also go to the [nited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for pressure cookers that can help to reduce the consumption of cooking gas.

Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

The UK is committed to supporting Rohingya people who continue to live in Cox’s Bazar. We are helping the World Food Programme feed 449,000 people, as well as providing pressure cookers that can help to reduce the consumption of cooking gas.

The UK continues to push for a long-term solution that will enable the Rohingya to return to Myanmar on a safe, voluntary and dignified basis.

During her visit, Minister Trevelyan will meet Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen as well as hold talks with civil society organisations.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson said:

I’m pleased to welcome the Minister for the Indo-Pacific to Bangladesh. The UK’s partnership with Bangladesh is a unique and valued relationship which contributes much to the prosperity and security of both our countries.

This visit reaffirms the UK’s firm commitment to Bangladesh as a fast growing Indo-Pacific partner with strong people-to-people connections and our ambition to work even more closely together in the future.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 10 March 2023.

The UK spoke on a variety of agenda items at the WTO General Council on 6 – 7 March 2023.

The press release issued by the Home Office on 9 March 2023.

The United Kingdom and its allies have re-affirmed their joint commitment to enforce sanctions on Russia.

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 9 March 2023.

The UK, France and Germany (the E3) have issued a joint statement announcing the liquidation of INSTEX.

The E3 said:

The INSTEX shareholders – Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the UK – have decided to liquidate INSTEX.

INSTEX was set up by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom in 2019 to facilitate legitimate trade between Europe and Iran, particularly in humanitarian goods.  Over the past 4 years, INSTEX has consistently tried to facilitate trade exchanges between Europe and Iran. There was a strong and sustained demand by European exporters to use the INSTEX mechanism, mainly from the humanitarian sector.

For political reasons, Iran has systematically prevented INSTEX from fulfilling its mandate. Iran only agreed to a single transaction, in early 2020, for the export of medical goods from Europe to Iran. After that, Iran consistently and deliberately blocked other proposals for transactions between the United Kingdom, Norway, the European Union and Iran. This was born from a political determination to impede the use of INSTEX under any circumstance. Thus, the Iranian leadership has chosen to act against the interests of its people by refusing to cooperate on the export of medicine and other life-saving goods.

In light of Iran’s persistent refusal to engage with the company, the INSTEX shareholders have reached the conclusion that there is no more ground for maintaining INSTEX operational. The INSTEX shareholders have voted in favour of the dissolution of INSTEX at the extraordinary general assembly of March 9th 2023. This decision is taken on its own merits for exclusively commercial reasons.