
At the COP27 summit, Rishi Sunak will address world leaders that the fight against climate change may turn into “a worldwide mission for new jobs and clean growth.”
The prime minister will also stress the importance of countries upholding their end of the bargain at COP26 in Glasgow last year.
He will announce more than £200 million in investment for green technologies and forest protection in underdeveloped countries.
In Egypt, Mr. Sunak is making his first appearance on a global platform since taking office as prime minister last month.
He arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh late on Sunday and will attend the UN meeting among other world leaders like Emmanuel Macron of France and Joe Biden of the United States.
BBC News reported that, In his opening address on Monday, Mr Sunak will urge global leaders to “move further and faster” to avoid the worst impact of climate change by limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.
He will say Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has “reinforced” the importance of ending dependence on fossil fuels, but argue the move can give a boost to new green industries.
“The world came together in Glasgow with one last chance to create a plan that would limit global temperature rises to 1.5C. The question today is: can we summon the collective will to deliver on those promises?” he will say.
“By honouring the pledges we made in Glasgow, we can turn our struggle against climate change into a global mission for new jobs and clean growth. And we can bequeath our children a greener planet and a more prosperous future.”
However, it comes as Petteri Taalas, secretary general of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), has warned that the 1.5C target is “barely within reach”.
And the UN’s weather and climate body has released a report showing that the rate at which sea levels are rising has doubled since 1993.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has described the report as a “chronicle of climate chaos” and urged governments at COP27 to answer the planet’s “distress signal” with “ambitious, credible climate action”.
Downing Street said Mr Sunak will announce a further £65.5m for the clean energy innovation facility which provides grants to researchers and scientists in developing countries working on clean technologies – from biomass-powered refrigeration in India to lithium-ion batteries in Nigeria.
It said the UK will also commit £90m for conservation in the Congo Basin rainforest, and £65m to support indigenous and local communities.
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