Thank you for contacting me about COP26, which is being held in Glasgow in November this year, and about the Great Big Green Week.
I am delighted that the United Kingdom will be hosting this conference as it provides an opportunity to further drive our ambitious environmental targets, including our COP26 Energy Transition Campaign and co-leadership of the Powering Past Coal Alliance. It also allows us to further our international ambition to unite the world by agreeing to coordinated action to tackle climate change.
The UK has a proud record on climate action, being the first major economy to legislate to achieve net zero by 2050. The Prime Minister has set the world’s most ambitious climate change target into law of reducing emissions by 78 per cent by 2035, compared to 1990 levels. This builds on the existing interim target of reducing emissions by 68 per cent by 2030. The Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution lays the blueprint for how the UK can forge ahead in eradicating our contribution to climate change and achieving net zero.
While the UK is taking world-leading steps to combat global warming, it is an issue that requires global attention and international action. That is why we will bring together world leaders, climate experts, business leaders and citizens from across the globe to agree ambitious action to tackle climate change. Further, we will use our Presidency to work to four clear objectives:
- To ask countries to commit to net zero by mid-century, with more ambitious nationally determined contribution targets for 2030;
- To urgently protect and help adapt our communities and natural habitats from the destructive effects of climate change;
- To increase funding to support these aims, making good on the $100 billion annual climate finance goal affirmed through the Paris Agreement; and
- To close off the outstanding elements of the Paris Rulebook, and accelerate delivery of the Paris Goals through collaboration between Governments, Businesses and Civil Society.
Encouraging progress has already been made, for example, when the UK accepted the Presidency, under 30 per cent of the global economy had signed up to a net zero commitment and I am delighted that that figure has now increased to 70 per cent. Around 120 countries are committed to or are developing long-term climate neutral plans. We are dedicated to working with all countries to inspire action ahead of and during the conference, including pressing for more countries to set net zero targets.
Thank you also to constituents who have brought to my attention the Great Big Green Week which is taking place this year from 18-26 September. I am pleased that this is taking place before COP26 to encourage further awareness of the key issues surrounding climate change. I can assure you that I will continue to closely monitor the Government's work in the run up to COP26.
I note your concerns about global temperatures. As you may know, the landmark Paris Agreement of 2015 aims to halt global warming at well below 2°C, while pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. I was delighted that when we hosted the G7 in June 2021, world leaders committed to accelerating efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and keep the 1.5°C global warming threshold within reach. In addition, they committed to protect the planet by supporting a green revolution that creates jobs and cuts emissions. I hope that further global action is achieved at COP26.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.