Foreign Secretary joined forces with Italy's
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister to spearhead discussions
with top British and Italian energy businesses, banks and
international organisations in Rome today.
The Clean Power for Growth Roundtable took place against the
historic backdrop of the Mattatoio in Rome, to galvanize global
leadership and foster international cooperation on a clean energy
transition, while unlocking clean growth, job opportunities and
build robust clean energy supply chains, including for critical
minerals.
Today's meeting is supporting the government's mission to become
a clean energy superpower, protecting households from unstable
fossil fuel markets and helping keep bills down for good, while
at the same time unlocking job opportunities in the UK's clean
energy sector.
The high-profile event focused on the immense potential within
the energy and financial sector to tackle climate change for the
greater good of all and emphasise the urgent need for innovative
solutions and collaborative efforts.
Senior representatives from the energy industry, finance,
international organisations, and institutions from the UK and
Italy attended the roundtable, including Centrica, Octopus
Energy, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Kings Trust
International, the International Energy Agency, United Nations
Development Programme, Barclays, Italian energy company Eni
Plenitude and Milan based cable manufacturers Prysmian.
Today's talks, moderated by the UK's Special Representative for
Climate, Rachel Kyte, addressed three core themes:
- the need for responsible global clean power leadership
- unlocking clean growth and jobs, particularly for young
people in Africa
- and action to build resilient clean power supply chains.
Foreign Secretary Lammy emphasised that a successful global clean
power transition requires strong political leadership,
international partnerships that deliver, a skilled workforce, and
a robust supply chain.
The roundtable also highlighted the UK-Italy partnership on
climate and energy, support for Italy's G7 Energy for Growth in
Africa Initiative and the UK's leadership of the Global Clean
Power Alliance. This collaboration aims to drive economic growth
and jobs, create new business opportunities within the clean
energy sector and establish energy systems that are more
resilient.
Foreign Secretary said:
The UK and Italy are strengthening our partnership to unlock
growth opportunities, create jobs and accelerate the global
transition to clean, secure, affordable energy, as part of our
government's Plan for Change.
The shift to clean energy is a global challenge that requires us
all – governments, energy businesses and the financial sector –
to work together. Our talks in Rome are a key moment to unlock
clean growth and build robust clean energy supply chains,
including for critical minerals - for the benefit of us all.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister said:
Energy is a key driver of growth for our businesses, our
economies and our societies. Italy and the United Kingdom share
common objectives with regard to the energy transition, which are
also clearly outlined in our 2023 Memorandum of Understanding on
Bilateral Cooperation: technological neutrality, achieving net
zero emissions by 2050, phasing out coal for energy production
and increasing the role of renewables and new technologies for
the production of clean energy.
We actively cooperated for the success of the CoP 26 in Glasgow,
launching a major project at the 2021 pre-CoP in Milan for the
involvement of young people committed to the fight against
climate change. We also share the vision that inspired many
initiatives promoted by Italy during its presidency of the G7,
especially with regard to access to energy in Africa, where we
are actively engaged also through the Mattei Plan.
His Majesty The King and Italian President Mattarella attended
the end of the session and were briefed on the roundtable
discussion on global progress towards clean power.
Today's roundtable comes ahead of the UK hosting the
International Energy Agency Summit on the Future of Energy
Security in London on 24-25 April, bringing together energy
Ministers from across the world, and further highlighting the
UK's commitment to lead global efforts to put the energy
transition at the heart of our approach to energy security.
