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Tag: Press Release

  • PRESS RELEASE : £100 million for vulnerable countries tackling climate change [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : £100 million for vulnerable countries tackling climate change [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 December 2023.

    The UK government announces measures to support climate-vulnerable countries and joins calls for bolder action on climate adaptation.

    • £100 million of UK funding will help climate-vulnerable populations adapt to climate change
    • at COP28 Summit today, the UK will call for bolder action to fight the impact climate change is having on health
    • package that contributes towards the £1.6 billion of climate aid announced by the Prime Minister on Friday

    The UK government will make commitments to help vulnerable countries strengthen their resilience to the increasingly frequent and severe effects of climate change at the COP28 Summit on Sunday (3 December).

    International Development and Africa Minister Andrew Mitchell will announce £100 million to support some of the most climate-vulnerable countries to tackle climate change. This will support an initiative to strengthen early warning systems in countries on the front line of climate change, giving people advanced warning of cyclones, flooding and other extreme weather so they can move away from danger, saving lives and protecting vulnerable communities.

    The funding will also help make health care in these areas more resilient and able to withstand disasters, like floods, and ready to deal with spikes in infectious diseases, like cholera and malaria, due to floods caused by climate change.

    Recognising the urgency of the situation, which forces 26 million into poverty every year, the government will also join calls for bolder collective action to protect the lives, health and livelihoods of those most impacted by climate change.

    This supports the Prime Minister announcing major funding for climate projects and stressing the need for ambitious, innovative and pragmatic action.

    International Development and Africa Minister Andrew Mitchell, said:

    The devastating effects of climate change hit the most vulnerable the hardest.

    These funding commitments will help countries and people be better prepared and protected against extreme weather events and natural disasters. They will help roll out measures such as early warning systems, and open up access to climate finance to build resilient health services.

    The UK will continue to press for a bold and ambitious approach to support those on the frontline of our changing climate, and to create a safer planet for us all.

    On behalf of the UK, Minister Mitchell will endorse the ‘Getting Ahead of Disasters’ Charter, the ‘COP28 Declaration on Relief, Recovery and Peace’, and the ‘COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health’.

    Speaking at COP28, he will outline details of the funding package, which include:

    • nearly £20 million for a package of disaster risk financing and early warning systems. This will help the one-third of the world’s population who are not covered by early warning systems to prepare for climate shocks and extreme weather, reducing disaster-related mortality and damage. It will also provide affordable insurance against climate disasters, such as droughts
    • funding of £36 million for climate action in the Middle East and North Africa to support long-term climate stability. This will mobilise $500 million for clean energy and green growth projects, support 450,000 people to adapt to climate change, and support 200,000 women in better protecting their families from climate shocks. This delivers on the UK’s commitment to scale up pre-arranged finance for crisis recovery
    • over £4.4 million to improve access to climate finance for Small Island Developing States and enable them to adapt to the impacts of climate change, with support from the Global Environment Facility’s Special Climate Change Fund and the Alliance of Small Island States
    • another £3 million for a new research hub in partnership with Canada, to help local communities address climate shocks and adapt to the long-term impacts of a changing climate. This will be delivered through the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) programme, launched by the UK at COP26
    • up to £18 million for an innovative new programme to adapt and strengthen health systems. This will help partner countries manage the growing health impacts of climate change, from infectious diseases and food shortages, to water insecurity and other health-related emergencies. It will be the first climate and health programme to be announced by a G7 country
    • a further £20 million for a new research programme to guide the UK’s future work on climate-resilient health systems, recognising the fast-evolving agenda and the need for a stronger evidence base of what works to address the growing threats from climate change to health
    • finally, £3 million for a new partnership with the International Rescue Committee to reduce the impact of climate-related crises on schools, students and communities. The Climate Resilient Education Systems Trial will build an evidence base of effective approaches to combatting climate change in and through education

    At the COP28 Summit on Sunday (3 December), the UK will convene experts and thought leaders for a panel discussion on climate security. It will be the first time that the UK has hosted such an event, with the US, the EU, Iraq, Kenya, Mali, NATO, and United Nations Development Programme expected to attend. It aims to improve collective understanding of the security implications of climate change, including global instability and conflict, while exploring best practice to respond to these risks through data-informed policy making, stress testing, analytical foresight capability, and international cooperation.

    Background:

    The £20 million disaster risk financing package consists of:

    • £5 million for the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) initiative to enable the least developed countries and Small Island Developing States to better prepare for climate shocks and extreme weather
    • £7.4 million to fund drought insurance protection for Somalia over the next 3 years through African Risk Capacity (ARC), Africa’s risk pool, which will provide rapid payouts to vulnerable communities if rains fail
    • £7.1 million to fund disaster insurance cover in Senegal, Somalia, Madagascar and Zimbabwe over 2 years through the Start Network, which allows members to pool funds and risks in order to stretch funding further and provide additional cover. This will also cover locally-led responses to the impact of El Niño-driven extreme weather across multiple countries

    The £40 million climate-health package consists of:

    • £18 million for the UK’s flagship Climate Resilient and Sustainable Health Systems Programme
    • £20 million for a newly approved Climate and Health Research Programme
    • increased funding to UNICEF to help develop the climate resilience of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) services and to unlock climate finance

    The new CLARE Research for Impact (R4I) Hub will identify demand from key stakeholders and match it with past research investments made by the UK and Canada. By repurposing this evidence to meet the specific decision-making contexts and the local adaptation needs and priorities, it will lead to more tangible impacts on the ground.

  • PRESS RELEASE : UK leads global action to protect rainforests, cut methane emissions and advance low carbon technologies [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : UK leads global action to protect rainforests, cut methane emissions and advance low carbon technologies [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 2 December 2023.

    UK commits more than £85 million funding at COP28 to tackle deforestation and cut methane emissions.

    • Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho announces over £85 million dedicated funding to tackle climate change at COP28 in Dubai
    • package includes support for developing countries to cut carbon emissions
    • UK to sign unique partnerships with Brazil on hydrogen and decarbonising heavy industry
    • new international pledge on nuclear signed alongside US and France

    The UK will today announce a multi-million pound package of measures to protect the world’s rainforests, encourage investment in clean energy technologies and help developing countries cut their carbon emissions.

    At COP28 in Dubai, Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho will commit over £85 million funding for initiatives ranging from combating deforestation to cutting methane emissions and will sign new clean energy agreements with international partners, including Brazil, the US and countries across Europe.

    The funding includes up to £35 million to protect the Amazon rainforest through Brazil’s dedicated Amazon Fund, agreed on Friday. This would be on top of £80 million announced by the Prime Minister earlier this year, placing the UK among the fund’s top 3 contributors.

    Other measures include:

    • backing green enterprise – up to £40 million new funding to expand the UK’s Climate Finance Accelerator. The Accelerator aims to provide practical ways to help countries finance and deliver their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. For example, this has helped start-up company Source Global attract £79 million of investment to make hydropanels that use solar energy to produce drinking water from air moisture. The extra funding, agreed on Friday, will support up to 750 new low carbon projects in up to 16 countries across Latin America, Africa and Asia between now and 2029
    • cutting emissions – £2 million support for President Biden’s Methane Finance Sprint, alongside the European Union, Canada, and other international partners. Contributions to the Sprint will support projects in developing countries, helping them to reduce emissions in major methane emitting sectors such as energy, agriculture, and waste. This is part of a wider £12 million package for the International Energy Agency’s programme to accelerate the transition to clean energy
    • Brazil partnerships – 2 unique partnerships between the UK and Brazil to speed up the South American country’s transition to clean technologies. The agreements will help Brazil cut emissions from heavy industry, support the development of hydrogen technologies and leverage the strength of both countries by bringing together a global package of financial, technical and other specialist assistance
    • nuclear pledge – the UK will endorse a global ambition to treble civil nuclear power capacity between 2020 and 2050, alongside other like-minded nations including the US and France, helping combat climate change and improve energy security. This builds on the government’s commitment for a quarter of the UK’s power to come from nuclear by 2050

    Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho said:

    The UK is a world leader in the drive to net zero, so it is vital we support our international allies like Brazil in meeting their climate ambitions.

    That’s why we have pledged up to £35 million to help stop deforestation in the Amazon, making the UK one of the largest contributors to the Amazon Fund.

    We will also partner with Brazil at COP28 and draw on our combined strengths to develop alternative fuels like hydrogen, advance green technologies and drive global action to cut emissions.

    The first agreement with Brazil will boost efforts to cut carbon emissions from heavy industries including steel, cement and chemicals – which are set to become responsible for the largest share of global emissions in the 2030s. Measures to do this will include implementing new technologies, piloting the use of alternative fuels and enhancing energy efficiency.

    The second will see the UK support Brazil’s National Hydrogen Programme, which is aiming for a sevenfold increase in research and development in clean hydrogen-related technologies between 2020 and 2025. This could support multiple sector transitions to net zero including heavy industry and maritime.

    The COP28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber is also expected to launch a 12-month Action Plan under the UK’s COP26-initiated Breakthrough Agenda – which has become an established part of the international COP framework.

    Alongside a coalition of 56 governments, led by the United Arab Emirates, the UK, the US, India, Morocco, Canada, Germany, Egypt and France, the global Action Plan is designed to accelerate international collaborative action to lower the cost of clean technologies in the power, road transport, steel, hydrogen, and agriculture sectors – and ensure the world is on track to halve emissions by 2030.

  • PRESS RELEASE : International Maritime Organisation Council elections: FCDO statement [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : International Maritime Organisation Council elections: FCDO statement [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 December 2023.

    A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson gave a statement following Russia’s failure to gain election to the IMO Council.

    In the last few weeks, Russia has failed to be elected to the International Court of Justice, Human Rights Council, UNESCO Executive Board, and the Executive Council of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.  Yesterday, it failed to be elected to the International Maritime Organisation Council.

    This pattern of failure is no coincidence – any state that illegally invades another, commits a litany of human rights violations, attacks civilian ships, fires missiles at World Heritage sites, and contravenes the Chemical Weapons Convention, is manifestly unworthy of a role within these organisations.

    The implications are clear: if Russia wishes to contribute to global governance, it must respect its international obligations.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UN and international community’s support for Sudan remains crucial: UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UN and international community’s support for Sudan remains crucial: UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 December 2023.

    Explanation of vote by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Sudan.

    Thank you President, the United Kingdom welcomes adoption of the resolution and thanks Council members for their engagement.

    Let me be clear, the United Kingdom would not have chosen to close UNITAMS at this moment.  We commend the work done by the mission both before and since the outbreak of conflict. But given the unequivocal demand of the Sudanese authorities for the immediate termination of UNITAMS we have worked tirelessly as penholder to agree a compromise of an orderly transition and liquidation.

    We reiterate that the Sudanese authorities remain responsible for the safety and security of UNITAMS staff and assets during this transition and call for their full cooperation in allowing an orderly withdrawal and the transfer of relevant tasks, including by granting necessary visas in a timely manner.

    President, conflict in Sudan has derailed the political transition UNITAMS was created to support.  It has caused immense human suffering, atrocities against civilians and reports of ethnic cleansing in Darfur.  There can be no military solution to this conflict and that the two warring parties should engage in meaningful talks towards a permanent ceasefire and transfer of power to a civilian administration.

    And though the UN mission to assist the democratic transition in Sudan will close, the need for the UN and international community to support the Sudanese people has not reduced. We welcome the appointment of Ramtane Lamamra as the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Sudan and we encourage all parties to engage with him constructively.

    The United Kingdom looks forward to continuing its close cooperation with Council members, UN, the Sudanese authorities, and other stakeholders to support the Sudanese people in realising their aspirations for a peaceful, stable, democratic, and prosperous future.

  • PRESS RELEASE : The UK has demonstrated its commitment to supporting Somalia in building a freer and more secure country: UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : The UK has demonstrated its commitment to supporting Somalia in building a freer and more secure country: UK statement at the UN Security Council [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 December 2023.

    Explanation of vote by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Somalia.

    Thank you, President, let me begin by congratulating China on their Presidency on the month of November, and in particular, welcoming you President to the Council. Wishing you all the best for your Presidency for the month of December, you have our full support.

    President, the United Kingdom is pleased to table today two resolutions which together impose strong sanctions, including an arms embargo, on Al-Shabaab and lift the legacy arms embargo on Somalia.

    The UK worked closely with Somalia in preparing these two texts, and is grateful for their constructive engagement throughout. The UK is also grateful to Council Members for their cooperation throughout the negotiation process and especially to African Members of the Council, and regional stakeholders, with whom we have consulted closely throughout.

    President, we recognise these texts represent compromises for many delegations, we nevertheless urge all Council Members to vote for both texts, in solidarity with Somalia and against Al-Shabaab.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan [December 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 December 2023.

    The Prime Minister met with His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan at the COP28 summit in Dubai.

    The Prime Minister recognised the vital role Jordan has played addressing the crisis in Gaza and the generosity they have shown in providing significant humanitarian support to Palestinian civilians, including the provision of military field hospitals.

    He reassured King Abdullah that the UK continues to press Israel on the need to adhere to International Humanitarian Law and contain settler violence in the West Bank.

    The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s commitment to working towards a lasting resolution to the conflict which delivers dignity, peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians.

    The leaders also confirmed the continued importance of close UK-Jordan cooperation, including on trade, defence and clean technology.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi [December 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 December 2023.

    The Prime Minister met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi at the COP28 Summit in the UAE today.

    He thanked President Sisi for Egypt’s continued efforts to get much-needed aid into Gaza and secure the release of hostages, as well as their support for the evacuation of British nationals from Gaza.

    The Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s support for the humanitarian response in Gaza, with planeloads of UK aid, including warehouse facilities and forklift trucks, sent to Egypt to preposition on the border with Gaza.

    He said the UK stands ready to provide further support, recognising that there must be no forcible displacement from Gaza and that aid must be able to reach people across the Gaza Strip.

    The Prime Minister enquired about progress in the case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah and reiterated the UK’s call for his release.

  • PRESS RELEASE : Illegal pornography, abuse and exploitation to be investigated by new reviewer [November 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Illegal pornography, abuse and exploitation to be investigated by new reviewer [November 2023]

    The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 1 December 2023.

    Porn industry to be scrutinised to assess the damage it causes individuals and society.

    • Pornography review will advise government on ways to tackle harmful impact of pornography on viewers and how abuse and exploitation is addressed in the modern industry.
    • review will also assess law enforcement for online porn and whether more needs to be done to tackle illegal pornography.
    • Baroness Gabby Bertin appointed as independent lead reviewer, bringing expertise in tackling violence against women and girls to government review.

    The porn industry will be scrutinised by a dedicated reviewer who has been appointed to assess the damage it causes individuals and society.

    Baroness Bertin will look at abuse, exploitation and trafficking in the pornography industry, pornography’s impact on viewers, and ways to bolster law enforcement to help tackle illegal pornographic content will also be examined in the Pornography Review, as part of new objectives published today (Friday 1 December).

    The review will build on the government’s work to take the long-term decisions for a better future for our children and grandchildren through the Online Safety Act, by stopping children from accessing pornography online by requiring services to establish the age of their users, including through age verification and age estimation tools.

    It will review how viewing pornography impacts users of all ages, including emerging challenges from AI generated pornography. It will also review both the current rules placed upon the pornography industry and other services that host pornographic content, and whether law enforcers have the tools they need to identify and tackle illegal pornographic content.

    The review will examine how we can help the police identify exploitation and abuse in the industry, as well as identifying what barriers there are to enforcing the law and punishing those committing offences.

    In particular, the review has been tasked to consider the links between the pornography industry and the prevalence of human trafficking and exploitation and users’ attitudes towards women and girls. It will then recommend what can be done to tackle this, including improving reporting and identification.

    The review will then recommend to government what more could be done to address these challenges and provide support and guidance to those who need it on the potentially harmful impacts of pornography.

    To lead the review, Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan has today appointed Baroness Bertin, who has worked consistently to tackle violence against women and girls, now sitting as Vice Chair of the All-Parliamentary Party Group on Domestic Violence and Abuse.

    The review will also draw on expertise from law enforcement, the criminal justice system, external experts and the pornography industry to look at the existing regulation and whether the existing criminal offences are adequately enforced online as they are offline.

    Secretary of State for Innovation, Technology and Science, Michelle Donelan said:

    We’re already making the UK the safest place to be online with our world-leading Online Safety Act and are building on that with an unrelenting focus on safety and education by launching the Pornography Review.

    Baroness Bertin will bring valuable experience to the process, leading on investigating how exploitation and abuse is tackled in the industry, and to examine the potentially harmful impact of pornography.

    Pornography Review lead reviewer, Baroness Bertin said:

    I am delighted to have been asked to lead this review. The damaging impact that extreme pornography is having on society cannot be allowed to continue unchecked. We owe it to our children and indeed to the whole of society to put the guard rails back in place.

    The past two decades have seen a dramatic change in the way we consume media and interact with content online. Pornography regulation now needs to reflect this change.  The ease with which people can access harmful and illegal pornography is having a devastating impact on many areas of our lives but It is particularly damaging and degrading to women and girls.  A key aspect of the review will be assessing the links between pornography, exploitation and a culture of violence towards women and girls.

    I am determined that this review will ensure laws and regulations governing a dramatically changed pornography industry are once again fit for purpose.

    Notes to editors

    The objectives for the review as set out in the terms of reference are to:

    1. Understand the prevalence and harmful impact of illegal pornography online, and the impact of other forms of legal pornography including emerging themes like AI-generated pornography, its impact on users, and on viewer’s attitudes to violence against women and girls.
    2. Assess the public’s awareness and understanding of existing regulation and legislation of pornography.
    3. Consider the current rules in place to regulate the pornography industry, comparing online and offline laws.
    4. Determine if law enforcers and the justice system are responding to illegal pornography sufficiently, and if change is needed.
    5. Find out how prevalent human trafficking and exploitation is in the industry, before recommending how to identify and tackle this.
    6. Use this knowledge to set out what more can be done to provide those who need it with guidance on the potential harmful impact of pornography.

    Read the Review’s Terms of Reference in full (PDF, 161KB).

  • PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak to call for ‘era of action’ at COP28 climate summit [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Rishi Sunak to call for ‘era of action’ at COP28 climate summit [December 2023]

    The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 1 December 2023.

    The Prime Minister will stress the need for ambitious, innovative and pragmatic climate action to meet the challenge of rising global temperatures at the COP28 Summit in the United Arab Emirates today.

    • Prime Minister will announce £1.6 billion in UK funding for climate projects as he arrives for the first day of COP28
    • UK will back efforts to end deforestation and speed up the transition to renewable energy as part of a solutions-focused approach to tackling climate change
    • Rishi Sunak will also use his visit for high level talks on the crisis in Gaza and de-escalation in the wider Middle East

    The Prime Minister will stress the need for ambitious, innovative and pragmatic climate action to meet the challenge of rising global temperatures at the COP28 Summit in the United Arab Emirates today [Friday 1st Dec].

    Attending the first day of the World Leaders Summit at COP, the Prime Minister will announce major funding for effective projects aimed at stopping and reversing deforestation, protecting the natural environment, and accelerating the global transition to clean and renewable energy. The projects will support urgent efforts to get the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees on track.

    He will also set out his ambition to turbocharge the role of the private sector, given the UK’s role as the pre-eminent global centre for green finance. Overall, the UK Government will commit £1.6 billion for international climate finance (ICF) projects over the course of COP28 – delivering on our commitment to spend £11.6 billion of ICF over five years and taking it further with new funding.

    Today’s announcements build on the UK’s leading record at home, with the fastest decarbonisation in the G7 and record investment in renewables, and help to deliver on the legacy of the successful COP26 Summit in Glasgow.

    The Prime Minister will also use his travel to the Middle East to push for progress on alleviating the humanitarian crisis on Gaza and finding a long-term solution to the crisis. In talks with key regional and international leaders, he will discuss efforts to free remaining hostages and ensure Hamas can never again launch terror attacks from Gaza, as well as concrete proposals to step up the delivery of aid and secure a lasting peace for both Palestinians and Israelis.

    Ahead of COP28, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

    “The world made ambitious pledges at previous COP summits to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. But the time for pledges is now over – this is the era for action.

    “We know that the technologies and innovations we need to protect the planet are at our fingertips, from the mighty offshore wind farms powering the UK to the solar energy transforming electricity in Africa.

    “The transition to net zero should make us all safer and better off. It must benefit, not burden ordinary families. The UK has led the way in taking pragmatic, long-term decisions at home – and at COP28 we will lead international efforts to protect the world’s forests, turbocharge renewable energy and leverage the full weight of private finance.”

    The UK put nature at the heart of climate summits for the first time at COP26, securing the agreement of the landmark ‘Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use’ which saw more than 140 countries commit to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. And this week, we took further action at home to protect the UK’s rich natural heritage, announcing 34 new landscape recovery projects, new community forests and funding to help more children get outdoors and into the great British countryside.

    New funding announced by the Prime Minister today builds on that record, providing up to £500 million for the ‘Investment in Forests and Sustainable Land Use’ programme which works with the private sector to tackle the causes of deforestation and increase investment in sustainable forest and land management. We expect the programme to mobilise £2 billion in private investment, directly benefit small farmers and poor rural communities, and restore vital forests across 10m hectares. A further £30 million will also be provided to the REDD Early Movers programme, which provides results-based payments to key forest countries to reduce deforestation and reinvest the money into indigenous and local communities.

    The UK will also commit £316 million for exciting energy innovation projects around the world, to help speed up the global transition to renewables. The funding includes up to £185 million from the Ayrton Fund for a planned UK-led Climate Innovation Pull Facility, which will use market incentives to signal demand for a particular innovation in developing countries and rapidly advance new green technology. There will also be £40 million from the Ayrton Fund via the Energy Catalyst for 64 clean energy projects across Africa, South Asia and the Indo-Pacific, investing in partnerships which are developing critical technologies like energy storage, smart grids and next-generation solar.

    British International Investment – the UK’s development finance institution – will invest £44 million in climate projects in Africa and Asia. The funding includes an £8 million investment into Planet Solar in Sierra Leone and £1.7 million for SunCulture in Kenya, respectively using solar power to increase Sierra Leone’s power supply by 30% and supporting thousands of smallholder farms in Kenya with irrigation. £4.1 million will go towards the delivery of 100 electric buses in Kenya and £5.7 million will be invested into the Circulate Capital Ocean Fund, which aims to prevent 5 million tonnes of plastic pollution from entering the environment.

    The UK will also contribute up to £60 million of funding for loss and damage, including up to £40 million for a new fund announced by the COP Presidency yesterday [Thursday] and a further £20 million for funding arrangements, including for early warning systems and disaster risk finance.  The funding will help address the real and growing impact of climate change on countries, including many developing and small island states – from rising seas to flooding and desertification. It is intended to kickstart efforts to leverage broader sources of finance to enable the fund to scale.

    Further announcements will be made by UK ministers throughout COP28, bringing the total UK ICF commitment for the Summit to more than £1.6 billion. Of that, £887.8 million – including £465 million for forests – is new funding, outside of the £11.6 billion ICF spending target agreed for 2021/22 – 2025/26.

    The Prime Minister is expected to attend the Opening Ceremony at COP28, which will be addressed by His Majesty The King, as well as events on climate finance, climate adaptation and a new Just Energy TransitionPartnership with Vietnam. He will also hold a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders.

    Further information:

    • Up to £185m Climate Innovation Pull Facility (CIPF), first-of-a-kind UK-led ICF facility that will pioneer the use of pull incentives for climate mitigation solutions in developing countries.
    • £40m worth of Ayrton Fund support to 64 clean energy innovation projects across Africa, South Asia and the Indo-Pacific, in critical technology areas such as energy storage, smart green grids, next generation solar and more.
    • A £40m extension to the Transforming Energy Access (TEA) platform, funding R&D on energy access in low income countries.
    • A £36m increase for the Market Accelerator for Green Construction, driving uptake of green construction practices and accelerating investments in energy efficient buildings in over 20 emerging and developing economies.
    • A £15m extension to the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme, enabling demonstrators of e-Cooking innovations in countries currently relying on firewood and charcoal.

    Full list of BII investments [in USD]:

    • A $9.8m investment into Planet Solar, Sierra Leone’s first large-scale independent solar power producer.   The project will increase the country’s power supply by approximately 30%. Currently only 23% of the population in Sierra Leone have access to electricity.
    • $25m commitment to GEF South Asia Growth Fund III, investing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and waste generation as well as boost water use-efficiency and sustainable food production. Following BII’s investment, the fund is aiming to raise $400m to support climate goals across the region.
    • A $2.1m investment into SunCulture in Kenya to provide 9,000 more smallholder farmers with solar-powered irrigation systems to improve their climate resilience and incomes.
    • A $6m investment into Wavemaker Impact (WMI) a Fund investing in high-impact food and agriculture start-ups that have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions in South East Asia.
    • A $5m investment into BasiGo for delivery of 100 Electric Buses in Kenya. Funding will be used to scale local assembly of electric buses in Kenya, establishing a new electric vehicle manufacturing sector.
    • A $7m investment into Circulate Capital Disrupt Fund, investing in circular economy with a focus on plastic waste recycling in South and South East Asia, with the aim of preventing 5 million tonnes of plastic pollution from entering the environment.
  • PRESS RELEASE : Viet Nam Just Energy Transition Partnership: joint statement [December 2023]

    PRESS RELEASE : Viet Nam Just Energy Transition Partnership: joint statement [December 2023]

    The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 1 December 2023.

    The International Partners Group (IPG) co-led by the UK and EU, and also comprising Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway and the US, welcome and endorse the Resource Mobilisation Plan for the Just Energy Transition Partnership with Viet Nam.

    Today, the International Partners Group, comprised of the United Kingdom (UK), the European Union (EU), Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway and the United States of America, and co-led by the EU and the UK, welcomes and endorses Viet Nam’s Just Energy Transition Partnership Resource Mobilisation Plan (RMP). The RMP is part of the Just Energy Transition Partnership, which was agreed between Viet Nam and the International Partners Group in December 2022 and will help the country deliver on its climate targets.

    During the World Leaders Summit at COP28 on 1 December 2023, Vietnamese Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính launched the Resource Mobilisation Plan (RMP). The launch of the RMP represents a key milestone towards the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), which was agreed between Viet Nam and the International Partners Group (IPG) in December 2022 at the EU-ASEAN summit in Brussels and outlined in the JETP Political Declaration.

    The Partnership supports Viet Nam to deliver on its net zero 2050 goal and 2030 targets to accelerate and reduce the peaking of its greenhouse gas emissions and transition away from fossil fuels to clean energy.

    The RMP is an important first step towards the implementation of the JETP and will by nature be a living document, updated regularly as implementation progresses. It includes an assessment of priority investments, which will help Viet Nam deliver on its pathway to net-zero emissions and identify a set of priority policy actions and regulatory reforms to develop an enabling environment for investment, to boost renewables and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The plan also identifies priority investment projects in JETP-related areas, and includes building blocks for a framework to analyse and monitor the just aspect of the energy transition with the ultimate objective to leave no one behind in the green transition.

    Moving forwards, strong partnership will be required to implement the policy actions outlined in the RMP, particularly on improving the regulatory framework in order to facilitate the flows of necessary public and private investments.

    The RMP provides further details on USD 15.8 billion of finance that has been committed to the JETP, USD 8.08 billion being provided by IPG and USD 7.75 billion by the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ).

    The IPG public funds will be channelled via various financial instruments and mechanisms, such as grants, concessional loans and risk-sharing instruments over a period of 3 to 5 years. These funds will help to mobilise the much larger volume of private finance for the just energy transition.

    With the release of this plan, Viet Nam makes an additional step to work toward achieving the JETP targets agreed to in the Political Declaration:

    • bringing forward the projected peaking date for all greenhouse gas emissions in Viet Nam from 2035 to 2030
    • reaching peak annual power sector emissions of 170 megatons CO2e by 2030
    • limiting Viet Nam’s peak coal-fired generation capacity to 30.2 gigawatts
    • accelerating the adoption of renewables so that renewable energy accounts for at least 47 percent of electricity generation by 2030

    The Government of Viet Nam and the IPG will continue to work together to implement the RMP. The JETP Secretariat and 4 Working Groups (WGs) have been set up to progress on the implementation. As part of these WGs, the IPG will support technical analytic work to guide future investment and policy actions in view of achieving JETP ambitions. These combined efforts are designed to help catalyse additional investments in Viet Nam’s energy transition to enable the achievement of Viet Nam JETP targets.

    Civil society also plays a crucial role for the advancement and acceptance of measures and impacts related to the energy transition. As stated in the Political Declaration, it is vital that civil society is actively involved in a transparent manner at all stages of the JETP to make sure the necessary transition will be just and inclusive.

    The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, said:

    The Resource Mobilisation Plan will unlock the vital finance needed to accelerate Viet Nam’s transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. It will help meet Viet Nam’s ambitious climate and economic goals while ensuring working people and communities are not left behind – delivering a just and fair transition to net zero. The UK is proud to be a partner in helping to deliver it.

    The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said:

    The launch of the Resource Mobilisation Plan is a great milestone for the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership. It demonstrates Viet Nam’s leadership in paving the way for a clean energy future. The EU is proud to be part of this Partnership and we remain committed to working with Viet Nam to support the necessary reforms for speeding up crucial investment into renewable energy and a green economy.

    The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, said:

    The Vietnam Just Energy Transition Partnership Resource Mobilisation Plan demonstrates Viet Nam’s commitment to building the clean energy economy of the 21st century. Canada continues to support cleaner energy and coal phase-out in Viet Nam and looks to the future where the JETP will contribute to a global legacy of responsible energy practices and shared prosperity. Together, we lay the foundation for a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow.

    The Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen, said:

    Congratulations to Prime Minister Chính and the government of Vietnam on today’s important step towards implementing the Just Energy Transition Partnership. At this critical moment in Vietnam’s transition, Denmark and IPG stand ready to support Vietnam to get on track to deliver on its ambitious Net Zero 2050 goal. Denmark has more than 40 years of experience with green transition and we have shown that the green transition can be a driver for jobs and green economic growth. We are committed to sharing our experiences and knowhow to support Vietnam’s just energy transition.

    The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, said:

    The launch of the Resource Mobilisation Plan is a key milestone that paves the way for a just energy transition that leaves no one behind. It symbolizes our collective efforts to enable Viet Nam to achieve its ambitious climate goals and accelerate its transition away from fossil fuels. France is pleased to be part of this just energy transition partnership that guarantees a resilient and prosperous future for the Vietnamese people, by reducing the consequences of pollution and promoting economic growth and job creation, and encapsulates the principle enshrined in the Paris Pact for People and the Planet, that no country should have to choose between fighting poverty and fighting for the planet.

    The Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Olaf Scholz, said:

    Today’s launch of the Resource Mobilisation Plan for a Just Energy Transition Partnership marks an important step towards a green and just energy transition in Viet Nam. Germany highly appreciates Viet Nam’s ambitious climate targets and the commitment to increase renewable energies by 2030. We will work together to create a favourable framework and to implement the Plan swiftly. Germany is committed to provide substantial financing for implementing the Just Energy Transition Partnership with Viet Nam. We look forward to working hand-in-hand with the government, civil society and the private sector to ensure a transparent and equitable process to achieve our joint goals.

    The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, said:

    The launch of the Resource Mobilisation Plan for the Just Energy Transition Partnership  marks an important step forward in our collective efforts to support and accelerate Vietnam’s energy transition towards a sustainable future.  Italy is proud to be part of this ambitious initiative and is committed to continue working with the Partnership.

    The Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Ghar Støre, said:

    We welcome the finalization of the Resource Mobilistion Plan for the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) with Vietnam. Now we can focus on implementation. Norway stands ready to contribute through investments and sharing of expertise and experiences.

    The United States Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, said:

    Today’s launch of the Resource Mobilisation Plan (RMP) marks an important milestone in Viet Nam’s clean energy transition and commitment to accelerating efforts to reduce emissions and achieve ambitious climate targets. The United States will continue to support Vietnam in this important endeavour to create the foundation and investment environment for a dynamic and just green economy and cleaner future for the Vietnamese people.