Thank you everybody and welcome to this session on action and solidarity.

I’m going to kick off with giving you my perspective because this is about all of us taking the concrete steps that will actually help the countries around the world that need it most.

When it comes to tackling climate change, words without action, without deeds are absolutely pointless.

And our record on deeds so far is not exactly stellar – we had a brilliant speech from Mia Mottley of Barbados making the point.

Back in Paris, richer nations all signed the paper saying that by 2020 we’d be raising $100 billion of climate finance each year and there was no ambiguity, no wiggle room in that.

But that deadline has come and gone and yet it’s going to be 2023 before we hit the target.

So, that was one of our very first post-Paris tests and we’ve collectively flunked it.

But of course getting there eventually is better than not getting there at all.

But if we are late again with the 1.5 or with the rest of the 1.5c challenge then we will have left it far too late.

And as anybody who was in that session at UNGA will remember, the testimony is of those that are on the front line, the countries that face cataclysmic inundations, the countries that face the hurricanes, they really will not forgive us.

They are looking at what’s happening at this COP, and we need to think about them and take action now to prevent loss and damage on a truly catastrophic scale. We’ve got to take action on their behalf.

So I’ve got to say to everybody who belongs to one of the richer and more developed nations, that as the host country for COP26 and with Alok on my right as the President of COP26…

…If I’m forced to choose between those who speak up and who have spoken up passionately for more support urgently because they need it in the most vulnerable countries in the world…

….if I’m forced to choose between them and countries like my own, I’m backing the first group – I’m backing the most vulnerable.

And I want you to know we have your back and we are going to support you.

Because that is the only way to make the change that we need, and I hope that in the course of the next two weeks, the contributor nations will tell their negotiators to stick to that objective and to get to the conclusion we want.

Finally, if anybody tries to row back on some of the commitments they have made and if we feel things aren’t going fast enough, then it’s a clear fact that I become Foreign Secretary nearly 6 years ago now, and in that time I’ve picked up a lot of mobile phone numbers which is stored in my iPhone…

…And I will not hesitate to use that privilege and get on to you and urge you to do more.

And if we’re going to make a success if the COP, if we’re going to deliver for the countries that need it If we’re going to tackle climate change then we must raise that finance and understand the position they’re in.

Thank you all very much.

Over eight million people have now received their COVID-19 booster jab, the latest figures show today (Monday 1 November 2021), ensuring the protection they’ve secured from their first two doses is maintained over the winter months.

Today’s figures follow hundreds of thousands of vaccinations over the weekend, with more than 820,000 administered since Friday. People who are eligible are also able to get a booster at hundreds of walk-in sites across the country from today, as long as it’s been six months since their second dose.

A total of 8,115,229 people have received their booster jab in the UK. 45,712,351 people have received two doses (79.5%) and 48,790,855 people have received one dose (84.8%).

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said:

More than eight million people across the UK now have the vital protection boosters provide, keeping them and their loved ones safe over the coming months.

It’s never been easier to get your boost with walk-in sites across the country now open for those eligible – if it’s been six months since your second dose, get your booster as soon as you can.

The colder weather traditionally leads to increased transmission of viruses and will be challenging for the NHS.

Vaccines give high levels of protection but immunity reduces over time, particularly for older adults and at-risk groups, so it is vital that vulnerable people come forward to get their COVID-19 booster vaccine to top-up their defences and protect themselves this winter.

The latest evidence from SAGE shows that protection against symptomatic disease falls from 65%, up to 3 months after the second dose, to 45% six months after the second dose for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, and from 90% to 65% for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. Protection against hospitalisation falls from 95% to 75% for Oxford/AstraZeneca and 99% to 90% for Pfizer/BioNTech.

Although the vaccine efficacy against severe disease remains high, a small change can generate a major shift in hospital admissions. For example, a change from 95% to 90% against hospitalisation would lead to doubling of admissions in those vaccinated.

The booster programme is designed to top up this waning immunity. Early results from Pfizer show that a booster following a primary schedule of the same vaccine restores protection back up to 95.6% against symptomatic infection.

Last week, clinical guidance was updated to allow COVID-19 boosters to be given earlier to those at highest risk, where this makes operational sense to do so. This includes care home residents who may have received their second doses at different times to be vaccinated in the same session, as long as it has been five months since their second dose. It may also help with other vulnerable groups, such as housebound patients, so that they can have their flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time.

Vaccines Minister Maggie Throup said:

With over 820,000 boosters administered over the weekend, the programme continues at pace, now providing over eight million vulnerable people with protection.

I encourage everyone eligible to get their booster and flu jab as soon as possible to keep them safe over the winter period.

Vaccine confidence is high with data from the Office for National Statistics showing nearly all (94%) of those aged 50 to 69 say they would be likely to get their COVID-19 booster if offered, with the figure rising to 98% for those over 70.

People will be invited for the COVID-19 booster jab when it’s their turn – if they have not been contacted within a week of reaching six months since their second jab they can call 119, book online or walk into various sites across the country.

Flu is another winter virus that can be serious. To give people the best protection over winter, those eligible for a free flu vaccine should come forward and book an appointment at either their GP practice or their local pharmacy, or take it up when offered by their employer or other healthcare provider.

The government has launched a nationwide advertising campaign, encouraging people to get their booster and flu jabs to protect themselves and their loved ones and help reduce pressures on the NHS. This includes outdoor billboards, broadcast and community radio and TV.

The offer of a first and second COVID-19 vaccine remains open to anyone who is eligible. Vaccines are available free of charge and from thousands of vaccine centres, GP practices and pharmacies. Around 98% of people live within 10 miles of a vaccination centre in England and vaccinations are taking place at sites including mosques, community centres and football stadiums.

There are more than 500 extra vaccination sites now compared to April this year, with 1,697 vaccination centres in operation in April 2021, and over 2,200 vaccination centres in operation now.

Vaccines are also available for those aged 12-15 to offer the best possible protection this winter in schools, as well as over 100 vaccine centres.

Dr Nikki Kanani, deputy lead for the NHS vaccination programme, said:

The NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme continues at pace with eight million booster doses delivered across the UK, including more than 6.8 million in England alone.

Hundreds of thousands of people continue to book in for their vital boosters with a further 1.7 million invites due to land this week and the NHS has now opened up hundreds of walk-in sites across the country so people can get their top-up protection without delay.

The booster is not simply a nice to have – it will provide important extra protection as we go into the winter period. So if you have been invited or a family or friend has been invited – please do come forward.

A UK resolution, which calls for a working group of all nations to identify threatening and irresponsible space behaviours, has been passed by the UN General Assembly’s First Committee.

The work is part of Preventing An Arms Race In Outer Space (PAROS). Last year, the UK tabled a new resolution on ‘reducing space threats through norms, rules and principles of responsible behaviours,’ which galvanised a global discussion on what constitutes responsible space behaviour. Those threats are against the satellites, ground infrastructure and the signals and data that make up our space systems.

This year, we continue to lead these conversations, and have tabled a follow-up resolution calling for the establishment of an Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) which can identify threats in outer space, and how responsible behaviours might help tackle them.

Minister responsible for space security, James Cleverly said:

Space systems are central to global security and prosperity. The prevention of an arms race in outer space is a UK priority.

There is no doubt that there is a growing range of threats to space systems, and a risk that those threats could lead to miscalculation and, in turn, escalation and conflict. Only together can we find solutions to keep space peaceful, sustainable and open to all.

Outer space is important to everybody. All states on earth, whether they are space-faring nations or not, rely on satellites for their security and prosperity. Developments in counterspace weapons in orbit and on Earth mean that it’s far easier to threaten those systems now.

The open international order must extend to outer space, to tackle threats to international peace and security. This resolution contributes to this goal, and recognises the importance of an inclusive conversation about how we tackle these threats to our collective security, and prevent an arms race in outer space.

We will continue this important work as a way to manage and mitigate the perceptions of threat, and avoid conflict. We will also continue to promote a sustainable space environment through our work at the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space and in supporting implementation of the 21 Guidelines on the Long Term Sustainability of Outer Space.

The UK resolution will now be put before the UN General Assembly in December.