Global leaders convened towards an ambitious climate action

On the 23rd of September, UN Secretary-General António Guterres will host the UN Climate Action Summit in New York. It will bring together global leaders and seek to generate more ambitious actions on climate finance, energy transition, industry transition, nature-based solutions, cities, resilience and adaptation.

The UK and Egypt are co-leading the Resilience and Adaptation theme at the Summit, in partnership with Malawi, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, St Lucia and the United Nations Development Programme. It is a critical opportunity to drive an unprecedented shift in the way we approach resilience and adaptation, and to ensure that countries are equipped to respond to the major effects of climate change that we are seeing already. We need to ensure that support is provided to the most vulnerable members of society, and that climate risk is embedded at the centre of governmental and business decision making.

The UK is asking all countries to support the political declaration and associated initiatives under the Resilience and Adaptation theme, including the Risk-informed Early Action Partnership. This aims to enhance disaster risk management with early action financing and increasing capacity to act on early warning systems.

The results of the Summit are expected to shape the upcoming climate talks at COP 25 and COP 26, with the UK receiving international support to host the latter in Glasgow next year. We are looking for a shared commitment to redouble our efforts to tackle climate change. Transformational change could be good for the environment, business, consumers, and the economy, as well as protecting the future of our children.

Climate change is the biggest global challenge that we face today. It calls for collective action from governments, private sector, civil society and international organisations to fulfil the goals set out in the Paris Agreement.

British Ambassador Daniel Pruce said:

The UK is committed to tackle climate change and has shown leadership domestically and globally. This includes, among others, legislating net-zero emission target by 2050 and provision of climate finance – with contribution to the green climate fund that supports building resilience and transition to low carbon economy. Next year, the UK in partnership with Italy will be hosting COP 26 in Glasgow.

For more information contact:

Cecille J. Fontanilla Press and Communications Manager, British Embassy Manila Tel.: +632 858 2203; Mobile: +63 917 581 5964 Cecille.Fontanilla@fco.gov.uk