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In his first visit to Costa Rica as COP26 President-Designate, Alok Sharma congratulated President Alvarado for his commitment to ambitious policies to combat climate change and role in protecting biodiversity to strengthen the country’s resilience to climate impacts.
During a two-day visit, Mr Sharma held high-level discussions with President Carlos Alvarado Quesada; Adriana Bolaños Argueta, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Andrea Meza Murillo, Minister of Energy and the Environment on opportunities for cooperation with Costa Rica on climate issues ahead of the UK hosting the important UN climate change talks, COP26, in Glasgow in November 2021.
He also met with Andrés Valenciano Yamuni, Minister of Foreign Trade; Pilar Garrido Gonzalo, Minister of Planning and Economic Policy and André Garnier Kruse, Private Sector Liaison Minister where they discussed climate financing, as well as Costa Rica’s innovative approaches to addressing climate change. Meetings with members of the business community and representatives of youth climate activist groups focussed on private sector-led initiatives in low carbon growth and involving young people in the planning and hosting of COP26.
The programme included a visit to a coffee plantation to see how Costa Rica has implemented one of the first NAMA (Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action) agricultural projects in the world, having adapted its production processes to make them more climate and disease resistant and respectful of the country’s biodiversity. At a visit to a rapid recharging centre, COP26 President-Designate learned about Costa Rica’s progress in electrifying its transport system.
Costa Rica and the wider Latin American and Caribbean region are already experiencing the impacts of climate change. Extreme weather events like hurricanes and droughts have had devastating effects on people’s livelihoods, food production, water resources and human health, and the region will face even greater challenges in the years to come.
Costa Rica’s recently updated, more ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commits the country to taking actions that would help limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It also promises a further reduction in emissions, aiming for a maximum of 9.11 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2030.
The visit comes as the UK prepares to host a Climate and Development Ministerial on 31 March, in which Costa Rica will participate. The global summit will aim to mobilise action to support countries that are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change on the road to COP26 in Glasgow.
COP26 President-Designate, Alok Sharma, said:
I am delighted to have visited Costa Rica this week to see first hand the action it is taking to fight climate change. It is showing true leadership to slow the pace of climate change and to manage its impacts.
I hope this encourages other countries, whether in the region or further afield. I look forward to Costa Rica joining us to discuss this important issue at the UK-hosted Climate and Development Ministerial meeting later this month.
Alok Sharma also welcomed Costa Rica’s continued engagement through the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature, High Ambition Coalition, Global Oceans Alliance and Convention on Biological Diversity. The UK and Costa Rica will continue to work together to push for ambitious and meaningful climate change action.
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Press release
The Charity Commission has appointed interim managers to Gilbert Deya Ministries, a registered charity based in South London.
The charity’s objects are to advance the Christian religion and provide assistance for persons in condition of need, hardship or distress. It was placed under inquiry in 2016, over concerns about its governance and financial management.
The regulator says that there have been several examples of misconduct and mismanagement by the charity’s trustees during the course of the inquiry, including financial transactions that ran counter to legal orders made by the Commission.
The charity is also in default of reporting requirements. Its accounts for the financial year ended December 2019 are over 140 days overdue. The charity’s previous three sets of annual accounts were filed late.
Geoff Carton-Kelly and Philip Reynolds of FRP Advisory Trading Limited have been appointed as interim managers to review and assess the charity’s financial position and to make recommendations around whether it remains solvent and viable.
The trustees remain otherwise responsible for the charity.
The Charity Commission’s inquiry continues.
Published 22 March 2021
Self Assessment taxpayers have just over a week to pay any outstanding tax liabilities in full or set up an online payment plan for the 2019 to 2020 financial year to avoid incurring penalty charges.
Last month, HMRC said that due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were giving Self Assessment taxpayers more time to pay their tax or set up a payment plan without facing a 5% late payment penalty charge, as long as arrangements were in place by midnight on 1 April 2021.
Those who have yet to settle their liabilities for the 2019 to 2020 financial year can pay their tax bill or set up a monthly payment plan online at GOV.UK. They can pay online, via their bank, or by post. Alternatively, setting up a Time to Pay arrangement allows taxpayers to spread the cost of their Self Assessment tax bill into monthly instalments until January 2022.
Anyone worried about paying their tax and unable to set up a payment plan online should contact HMRC for help and support on 0300 200 3822.
Almost 117,000 taxpayers have set up a self-serve Time to Pay arrangement online, totalling more than £437 million.
There is no change to the payment deadline and other obligations are not affected. This means that:
Self Assessment taxpayers who are required to make Payments on Account and know their 2020 to 2021 tax bill is going to be lower than in 2019 to 2020 – for example due to loss of earnings because of COVID-19 – can reduce their payments. Visit GOV.UK to find out more about Payments on Account and how to reduce them.
Be aware of copycat HMRC websites and phishing scams. Taxpayers should search ‘self assessment’ on GOV.UK to get the correct link for their Self Assessment tax return online securely and free of charge. They also need to be alert if someone calls, emails or texts claiming to be from HMRC, saying that they can claim financial help, are due a tax refund or owe tax. It might be a scam. Check GOV.UK for information on how to recognise genuine HMRC contact.
Visit GOV.UK to find out more about Self Assessment.
The Self-serve Time to Pay data referenced is for online payment plans created between 1 October 2020 and 21 March 2021.
Self-serve Time to Pay allows taxpayers to set up a payment plan online to help them manage the cost of their tax bill up to £30,000. Taxpayers will be able to pay their tax bill in monthly instalments, up to January 2022.
If someone’s Self Assessment debts are more than £30,000, or they need longer to pay a debt in full, they cannot set up a Time to Pay arrangement online. But they may still be able to set up a Time to Pay arrangement by calling the Self Assessment Payment Helpline on 0300 200 3822.
Follow the National Cyber Security Centre’s 6 essential steps to keep yourself and your business secure online by visiting CyberAware.gov.uk.