PM pledges to make UK a clean energy superpower ahead of COP27

The Prime Minister will urge countries to deliver on the Glasgow Climate Pact and set out his intention to make the UK a clean energy superpower when he travels to COP27 in Egypt today [Sunday 6^th November].

The UK has already cut carbon emissions faster than any other G7 country, with renewable sources like wind and solar now making up more than 40 percent of our energy supply – a four-fold increase on a decade ago.

Addressing COP27 tomorrow, Rishi Sunak will say that in light of the shock to the energy markets caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the UK will work with international allies to go further and faster to transition to cheaper, cleaner and safer sources of energy. We will only be able to ensure households and businesses have reliable, affordable fuel by solving the climate crisis and ensuring renewables are at the heart of our energy security.

There are already around 430,000 jobs in low carbon businesses and their supply chains across the country, supported by £30 billion in government support for the Green Industrial Revolution in the last 18 months. The transition to renewables will create more high wage, high skill jobs across the UK in the industries of the future. 

As the UK hands over the presidency to Egypt, Rishi Sunak will urge leaders gathering in Sharm el-Sheikh not to backslide on the promise of COP26, where countries came together to sign the landmark Glasgow Climate Pact.

The Prime Minister will hold meetings with fellow world leaders to discuss new partnerships on energy security, green technology and environmental protection, and is expected to announce further funding for conservation in threatened tropical rainforests and support for countries on the frontline of climate change.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said:

“When the world came together in Glasgow last year, nations agreed an historic roadmap for preventing catastrophic global warming. As I travel to COP27 in Egypt today, it is more important than ever that we deliver on those pledges.

“Fighting climate change is not just a moral good – is it fundamental to our future prosperity and security. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and contemptible manipulation of energy prices has only reinforced the importance of ending our dependence on fossil fuels.

“We need to move further and faster to transition to renewable energy, and I will ensure the UK is at the forefront of this global movement as a clean energy superpower.”

The Prime Minister is expected to chair a meeting of world leaders on forests and nature, to drive progress on the landmark pledge signed by more than 100 countries last November to halt and reverse deforestation and damaging land use by 2030.

He will also attend a roundtable on energy transition partnerships, which are utilising public and private sector funds to support low and middle-income countries like South Africa to move away from fossil fuels and grow their green economies.

UK COP President Alok Sharma is in Sharm el-Sheikh today for handover ceremony to Egypt, ahead of two weeks of intensive climate negotiations. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will also travel to COP27 with the Prime Minister, and other ministers are expected to attend throughout the summit.

NOTES TO EDITORS

• The UK was the first major economy to commit to a legally binding target of achieving net zero by 2050 – which we fully stand behind.
• We have cut our emissions by over 44% over the past three decades - faster than any other G7 country – and have set into law the world’s most ambitious 2035 climate change target.
• Government support is accelerating production of clean energy like nuclear, wind and solar. Renewables now make up 40% of our electricity supply in 2021, a four-fold increase relative to 2011.
• There are already around 430,000 jobs in low carbon businesses and their supply chains across the country. Nearly 68,000 green jobs across the UK economy having been supported, materialised or secured for the future by Government policies since November 2020.
• In total, over the last 18 months, we have committed £30 billion to support our Green Industrial Revolution.  Alongside wider policies to decarbonise our economy, this is expected to leverage an unprecedented £100 billion of private investment and support almost half a million green jobs by the end of the decade.

• The UK was the first major economy to commit to a legally binding target of achieving net zero by 2050 – which we fully stand behind.
• We have cut our emissions by over 44% over the past three decades - faster than any other G7 country – and have set into law the world’s most ambitious 2035 climate change target.
• Government support is accelerating production of clean energy like nuclear, wind and solar. Renewables now make up 40% of our electricity supply in 2021, a four-fold increase relative to 2011.
• There are already around 430,000 jobs in low carbon businesses and their supply chains across the country. Nearly 68,000 green jobs across the UK economy having been supported, materialised or secured for the future by Government policies since November 2020.
• In total, over the last 18 months, we have committed £30 billion to support our Green Industrial Revolution.  Alongside wider policies to decarbonise our economy, this is expected to leverage an unprecedented £100 billion of private investment and support almost half a million green jobs by the end of the decade.