Launched today in Sydney by the UK’s International Trade Secretary, the UK Government, in partnership with PwC and Tech Nation, is publishing its Net Zero Innovation Handbook. This handbook was developed by the UK’s Digital Trade Network as part of its 2022 Net Zero Innovation Mission.

The Net Zero Mission builds on the Glasgow Climate Pact, by connecting organisations in Australia and New Zealand that have a clear decarbonisation need with UK climate tech companies that have innovative solutions.

To understand how UK tech can help to solve net zero challenges that businesses face, the team engaged with over 600 organisations in Australia and New Zealand. They outlined their decarbonisation plans and shared the toughest parts of their net zero journey.

Key challenges   in the region include digital carbon accounting, emissions capture, and Scope 3 supply chain emissions reporting. The Handbook showcases UK solutions to these challenges and the next phase of the Mission will connect UK, Australian and New Zealand firms to facilitate collaboration across these priorities.

The UK is at the forefront of a global boom in green innovation investment. Tech startups have seen 210% growth in investment year on year and the UK saw more climate technology companies receiving venture funding than any other European country.

UK Secretary of State for International Trade Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

The UK was the first major economy to make achieving net zero emissions by 2050 a legal obligation. There are huge opportunities for businesses to lead the charge and support growth. Indeed, between 1990 and 2019, the UK economy grew by 78% while our emissions decreased by 44%. This is the fastest rate in the G7 and shows that green growth is possible.

This Net Zero Handbook will match UK expertise with net zero challenges faced by Australian and New Zealand businesses – a shining demonstration of green trade acting as a force for good.

British Consul General and Deputy Trade Commissioner Asia Pacific (Australia & New Zealand), Louise Cantillon said:

This handbook is an incredibly informative tool which demonstrates key areas for UK-Australia and UK-New Zealand partnerships and collaborations so together we can greenify our industries and reach our net zero targets.

The UK has innovative solutions across the clean growth economy and an unwavering commitment to the green revolution. Over the next six months we will build on this initiative by facilitating match making opportunities between UK, Australian and New Zealand businesses.

I encourage Australian and New Zealand companies seeking sustainable solutions to speak to the UK in Australia team so we can connect you with UK expertise.

The work follows the UK’s Presidency of COP26, the UN Climate Change Summit held in Glasgow in November 2021. COP26 brought together government and industry through the UK’s ‘Race to Zero’ Campaign where a collection of organisations made new commitments to reach ‘net zero’ emissions and accelerate their decarbonisation.

The UK’s Green Industrial revolution is creating a pathway for green innovation mobilising £12 billion of government investment, and potentially 3 times as much from the private sector.

Further information:

• Statistics from Net Zero Innovation Handbook
• The Net Zero Innovation Mission began work in February 2022.

The Prime Minister will today (Wednesday 31st August) join new police officers working on the frontline to make our streets safer.

After joining on operations, he will speak to officers from one of the 20 Violence Reduction Units set up by this government and see first hand the work they are doing to prevent crime in the community by intervening earlier and working closely with health and education partners.

His visit comes as new Home Office figures will show a 90% satisfaction rate among new recruits brought in under the government’s recruitment drive, with almost 80% reporting that the job met or exceeded their expectations.

So far, over 13,790 extra police officers have been hired across England and Wales as part of the manifesto commitment to put 20,000 additional officers on our streets.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

Making our streets safer has always been central to my mission to level up this country, because everyone should have the security, confidence and opportunity that comes from having a safe street and a safe home, wherever they live.

We are cracking down on vile gangs and putting dangerous offenders behind bars for longer – and at the heart of these efforts are the 20,000 new officers who will be out on the streets providing the firepower for years to come in the fight against crime.

Located in the areas hardest hit by violent crime, Violence Reduction Units bring together key local partners, including health, education and policing organisations, to target the underlying causes of violence and prevent children and young people being exploited by criminal gangs – helping rid communities of the long lasting impacts of violent crime.

Backed by £170m of government funding and combined with targeted enforcement activity, they have prevented over 49,000 violent offences in their first two years, and supported over 260,000 vulnerable young people in their second year alone.

Since 2019 the police have removed over 72,000 knives and dangerous weapons through stop and search, surrender programmes and other targeted police action.

The government has also significantly stepped up action against county lines gangs and launched a first of its kind Drug Strategy – backed by record investment – to deliver a whole system approach to tackling supply and demand. Since November 2019, more than 2,400 drug dealing lines have been shut down, 8,000 arrests made, and supported over 9,500 individuals at risk of exploitation.

The government’s Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, which passed into law last year, equips the police with the powers and tools they need to crack down on crime, including through lifting restrictions on stop and search and introducing new court orders to help target known knife carriers.

The Act has also brought in tougher sentences to keep serious sexual and violent offenders behind bars for longer, so that they pay the full price of their crimes.

A consultation has been launched today (Wednesday 31 August) to invite views from social housing tenants and landlords on a proposed rent cap to understand how best to support households with the cost of living.

Under the proposals, a cap on social housing rent increases would be put in place for the coming financial year, with options at 3%, 5% and 7% being considered.

The move would prevent rents for council and housing association houses from rising significantly, saving tenants an average £300 per year and providing stability as inflation rises.

The government regulates how much social housing rents can increase each year. Currently this is set at up to the consumer price index (CPI) rate plus 1% – meaning potential increases next year of 11% in line with recent Bank of England forecasts.

The proposed new cap will help support the most vulnerable households in the face of cost-of-living pressures. This comes on top of our existing £37 billion support package, which includes a £150 council tax rebate, a £400 energy bill discount to support households over the coming months and the most vulnerable 8 million households receiving support of at least £1,200.

Housing Secretary Greg Clark said:

We must protect the most vulnerable households in these exceptional circumstances during the year ahead. Putting a cap on rent increases for social tenants offers security and stability to families across England.

We know many people are worried about the months ahead. We want to hear from landlords and social tenants on how we can make this work and support the people that need it most.

The rent cap would be temporary and would apply from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. The consultation also seeks views on whether to set a limit for 2024-25. The government understands this will impact social housing landlords and is engaging fully with the sector.

Following the consultation, a final decision will be announced later this year, to make sure social housing landlords have enough time to factor this into their rent decisions for April 2023.

The government is also committing to reviewing social rent policy beyond 2025, via a separate consultation due to be launched next year.

Today’s announcement is part of measures the government has put in place to support the most vulnerable households with the cost of living.

This is in addition to the £11.5 billion investment to build more affordable, quality homes through the Affordable Homes Programme.

• CPI was 10.1% in July 2022. If CPI remains at or above this level in September this will permit social housing rent increases of 11.1% (or more) from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
• The consultation launched today will run for 6 weeks closing on 12 October.
• Following the consultation period, the Secretary of State will direct the Regulator of Social Housing on rent standards, confirming the maximum amount social housing landlords can increase rents by for 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Thank you President.

I would like to thank USG DiCarlo for her briefing, and Raisedon Zenenga and his team in the United Nations Support Mission in Libya for their continued work in difficult circumstances.

I also thank Ambassador Kamboj for her briefing on the 1970 Committee and I welcome the participation of the representative of Libya in our meeting today.

President, I will make three points.

First, the United Kingdom condemns the violence perpetrated by armed groups in Tripoli on 26 and 27 August. The use of violence by armed groups – whether to acquire control of territory or local resources, or to end political stalemate – is unacceptable. As we’ve just heard, the actions of armed groups this weekend resulted only in innocent civilian casualties and the destruction of civil infrastructure. Our condolences go to the victims and their families.

Such violence is a result of the presence of parallel governments and the misappropriation of state resources. The Libyan parties, and the international community, must acknowledge that there is no military solution to Libya’s crisis of legitimacy. Rather, all Libyan parties must engage constructively with a UN-brokered political process, supported by the wider international community, to agree a path towards free, fair and inclusive elections as soon as possible.

We must also ensure that the resources of the Libyan people are managed in a transparent, responsible and accountable manner. The wishes of the Libyan people must be prioritised ahead of narrow self-interests.

Second, I encourage all Council members to agree to the appointment of a Special Representative of the Secretary-General immediately. Increased tension and violence only illustrates the need for the urgent appointment of a Special Representative to lead mediation efforts. I call upon this Council to stand ready to support the Special Representative to deliver an inclusive and comprehensive political process.

Finally, in recent weeks a number of diplomatic missions have faced restrictions on their movements within Libya. The Libyan authorities must allow full freedom of movement and travel within its territory in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We also emphasise the importance of allowing individuals and organisations delivering activity on behalf of embassies freedom to carry out their work.

President, the United Kingdom reaffirms its readiness to work with Libyan stakeholders, the incoming SRSG, and all international partners to work towards a stable, peaceful and prosperous Libya.

Thank you.