FCDO Spokesperson:

” The UK welcomes the important step towards peace taken by the Ethiopian Government and Tigray People’s Liberation Front in signing a cessation of hostilities on 2 November, and commends their choice to end the devastating two-year-long conflict.

“We are grateful to the leadership shown in brokering this critical agreement by African Union Commission Chairperson Faki, African Union High Representative to the Horn of Africa Obasanjo, former South African Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Kenyan President Kenyatta, and the South African Government in hosting the talks.

“It is now crucial that all parties in Ethiopia, with support from its friends in the international community, move to implement the agreement. Most critically, humanitarian aid must be urgently delivered to all those in conflict-affected areas.

“Peace creates opportunities for justice, reconciliation and reconstruction. The UK, as a longstanding friend and partner of Ethiopia, stands ready to work alongside the Ethiopian Government and others to support the recovery of conflict affected areas. We look forward to seeing the benefits of peace for the people of Ethiopia.”

The Prime Minister has reappointed Lord Stewart of Dirleton KC as Advocate General for Scotland.

The Advocate General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown and advises the government on Scots law matters.

Commenting on his reappointment, Lord Stewart said:

“I am honoured to have been reappointed as Advocate General for Scotland.”

“I look forward to working with the Attorney General, the Solicitor General for England and Wales, Government lawyers and the Civil Service to play my part in making the law and politics work together at the heart of the UK constitution.”

Lord Stewart was appointed Advocate General in October 2020. He was reappointed as Advocate General on 27 October 2022.

He was called to the Bar in 1993 and took silk in 2011. He specialises in criminal law, and has advised on other matters including defamation and intellectual property.

The event brought together generators, traders, verifiers, and other professionals to review and improve the current climate finance regulations, the market, and understand new and existing ways to support the growth of new networks to make the climate finance market successful in Ghana.

Speaking ahead of the workshop, Mrs Thompson said:

The benefits of carbon markets are two-fold: they bring finance and they bring protection. Ghana’s beautiful forests and green spaces put the country in prime position to benefit from a well-functioning carbon market.

Our event today has brought together the right people from across industry, civil society, government, and business to focus on getting Ghana access to the world’s growing carbon markets. Together we are making sure that Ghana gets the right investment now to protect the country’s vital natural resources for generations to come.

Attendees at the Carbon Market Development event spent time discussing and interrogating information and policies to support the growth of Ghana’s carbon market. Discussions were followed by a networking event hosted by the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson, and key policy officials from the High Commission.

Ghana has already taken important steps towards developing carbon markets as a climate finance opportunity. The country’s Environmental Protection Agency has drafted a new National Framework to govern and support carbon markets, while projects to generate carbon credits in Ghana are under development. The UK government recognises the importance of these developments and is working hard, in the run-up to COP27, to bring the right people together to help this market grow.

Organisers hope that the discussion and ideas generated at the event will now help to grow the understanding and support for Ghana’s own carbon market. As well as supporting the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Framework.