Few gatherings have the chance to be as consequential and important as this World Health Assembly. The UK is committed to working with all so the World Health Organization becomes the organisation we all need it to be.

Not just a powerful partner in world health, but a dynamic force that drives our preparations for pandemics and our responses to them.

But they can only do that if we back them to do it. So I call on fellow member states to look at their WHO funding, to make sure that it is flexible and to scale it up. And to make sure all play their part in the reforms that are needed.

Because this is a mandatory mission – we can’t afford not to do it, none of us can – and collective action is the only way.

The UK believes that a pandemic treaty could provide the overarching framework for collective action, but we must not wait for it, we must act now – strengthening funding, strengthening transparency, strengthening our coordination of pandemic response.

All of these are urgent.

For example, we must collectively embrace the revolution in genomic surveillance. And as G7 Presidents, we’re working on a proposal for worldwide networks of surveillance centres.

An important step forward to a truly global early warning system.

It’s essential we’re always drawing on expertise and experience where we find it. Pandemics, after all, affect all of humanity. So all the world must be engaged in this mission.

We believe Taiwan should be allowed to observe the WHA just as it has in the past. And we believe that fair access to life-saving vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics is vital.

As a leading donor to the ACT-Accelerator, to COVAX and to GAVI, we encourage all others to redouble their efforts to support these organisations but much more than this, we need to see vaccines made available at cost.

The UK government funded the research for the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, which is available at cost to the whole world. We believe that is the best way to vaccinate all.

Already, this support has allowed 400 million doses to be deployed – two-thirds in low- and middle-income countries.

We call upon other vaccine suppliers to follow the UK approach.

After all, today is a decisive moment. It’s a moment when we can use our unity of purpose to take the steps that we can really together bring about a healthier, safer and fairer world.

Thank you.

Friends, excellencies, it is a pleasure to join you today.

And I would like to congratulate the Korean Government and President Moon for organising the P4G and to thank Deputy Prime Minister Hong and the Green Climate Fund for organising this event.

And, indeed, to everyone here today who gave me such a warm welcome in South Korea earlier this year.

Friends, we are at a critical juncture in the fight against climate change.

And the decisions we take today will shape the future of our planet.

If we are to keep the goals of the Paris Agreement within reach, and keep alive the ambition of limiting global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees, we must halve global emissions by 2030.

And that means taking action today to drive down global emissions over the next ten years.

And it means investing in clean recoveries from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Recoveries that we know are not just better for the planet, but better for our economies.

Because if we do not take this chance, 1.5 degrees will slip from our grasp.

And that will mean hundreds of millions more people affected by the devastating impact of climate change.

So we must make the next UN climate conference, COP26, the moment that the world comes together, to tackle the climate crisis and keeps 1.5 degrees alive.

And as COP26 President, I have four key aims to get it to do so.

Firstly, to put the world on a path to driving down emissions, until they reach net zero by the middle of this century.

Here, action from countries is absolutely vital. And the big emitters, the major economies need to lead the way.

Ahead of COP26 in November, we need all governments to commit to net zero targets, as Korea and many others have done.

And we need near term targets to put us on a path to get there.

To translate remote targets into immediate action.

So we urge every country to come forward with nationally determined contributions that align with net zero commitments.

Crucially, we also need immediate action to make those targets a reality.

Action like phasing out polluting vehicles.

And ending coal power and coal financing.

This is a personal priority for me, and I welcome President Moon’s recent commitment to put a stop to overseas coal financing.

Following the G7 Climate and Environment Ministerial, I am delighted that we are the first net zero G7.

And to deliver on this we have all agreed to accelerate the transition away from dirty coal capacity to an overwhelmingly decarbonised power system in the 2030s.

The G7 has also committed to phasing out international fossil fuel finance, beginning with an end to all direct government support for international coal power by the end of 2021.

I believe that this commitment sends a clear message to the world that coal is on the way out.

In most of the world, wind and solar are now cheaper than new coal and gas.

And a recent report published by Oxford University highlights that investing in renewables infrastructure can create more than twice as many jobs as the equivalent in fossil fuels.

Coal is old technology, rapidly receding into the past.

And investing in it today creates the very real risk of stranded assets,

$630billion worth if the existing coal pipeline goes ahead, according to Carbon Tracker.

So let’s make COP26 the moment we leave it in the past where it belongs; whilst supporting countries to make a just transition to a cleaner, greener future.

Our second goal is to protect people and nature from the effects of climate change, by boosting adaptation, and responding to the risk of loss and damage.

Increasing funds for adaptation, is a vital part of that work, and brings me on to our third goal, finance, without which, the task ahead is near impossible.

Donor countries must honour our commitment to mobilise $100billion a year to support developing countries.

And we are urging development banks to align with the Paris Agreement, to set ambitious targets for climate financing and to support green recoveries.

And we are also working to increase private finance. And to make climate a consideration in each and every financial decision.

Governments around the world can support these efforts by making climate related financial disclosures mandatory across the economy. As we, indeed, in the UK have done.

Our fourth goal is working together.

Forging consensus, so that the negotiations in Glasgow are a success.

Building international collaboration to drive action in critical sectors.

And bringing businesses and civil society together around our aims for COP26.

We are asking every business and financial institution to join the Race to Zero campaign, for example.

This is the United Nations campaign that commits you to reach net zero by 2050 and to science based targets to take you there.

I really welcome this P4G Summit, creating partnerships between governments, business and civil society to drive action on climate change.

Working together in this way, we can build back better from Covid-19 and put the world on a path to a resilient, net zero future, and keep 1.5 degrees alive.

Protecting our planet for future generations.

Thank you.

Biodiversity is the variety of all life on Earth and biodiversity data plays an important part in managing its conservation, informing us of the state of our natural resources, how we plan our land use and how we maintain habitats that are resilient and support our environmental goals.

Species data is a core part of biodiversity data, covering all types of marine, freshwater and land species. The independent report published today details the current species data model in England, and provides some recommendations for improved data collection, access and use.

The report identifies the immense value society gets from species data, and ways to improve its management. Reflecting the variety of UK wildlife, and the wide range of uses of species data, the report was authored by a multi-disciplinary team, led by eftec (Economics for the Environment) and eCountability, with support from a consortium of species data experts.This report drew heavily on the Scottish Biodiversity Information Forum (SBIF) Review that was published in 2018. 

Ellen Wilson, the lead author of the SBIF Review, said:

We are very pleased that the SBIF Review Recommendations have been of value to inform consideration of the challenges and opportunities in England; we look forward to the publication of the report and to joining forces wherever we can.

The findings will help inform the Geospatial Commission’s work on how to improve data that supports decisions about land use, and work on environmental policy development being led by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Thalia Baldwin, Director at the Geospatial Commission said:

I welcome this independent report about the current state of species data in England, building on the good work that has already happened in Scotland to map its biological recording infrastructure. The Geospatial Commission is committed to identifying how improved access to better location data can support decisions about land use and help achieve the UK’s environmental outcomes, and understanding the relevant components of the full data landscape is a key first step.

Report co-author, Jo Treweek of eCountability, said:

The majority of species data in England is collected by volunteers, providing an immensely valuable resource that is fundamental to how we manage the natural environment. We welcome the priority given to development of high-quality species data at a time when they are so desperately needed to underpin policy and conservation action.

Ian Dickie, Director at eftec, who led work on the report said:

Without species data, we would have less knowledge of how the quality of our environment was changing, and be less well equipped to invest in improving the environment and to respond to the pressures of climate change.

David Askew, Natural England science and evidence director, said:

As the government’s advisor for the natural environment in England, we welcome the work on this report which has highlighted the wealth of biodiversity data collected by volunteers and the importance of ensuring it is available so we can be informed by it.

The focus now needs to be on the common tools and functions that help communities detect and record species. We look forward to working with our investment partners and the wider recording community to make the storage and use of species data even more innovative.

We have also published a blog to accompany the report.