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The government has declared that it will end direct support for overseas fossil fuel projects, as the UK plays host to a key climate summit.
The Climate Ambition Summit, set to get underway later this afternoon, will mark five years since the adoption of the Paris Climate agreement and will platform leaders who are ready to make new commitments to deliver on the goals set out in 2015.
Boris Johnson’s pledge to stop supporting overseas fossil fuel projects through export finance, aid funding and trade promotion will form part of the government’s commitments.
Other world leaders expected to address the conference include French president Emmanuel Macron, Pope Francis, the secretary general of the United Nations António Guterres and president Xi Jinping of China.
EU leaders pledge to cut emissions by 55% by 2030
EU leaders have agreed to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, ahead of the Climate Ambition summit.
The new promise is a key step towards the trading bloc’s goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, tweeted: “Europe will reduce emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030. It puts us on a clear path towards climate neutrality in 2050.”
The decision came after tense deliberation between lower-income countries in central and eastern Europe who have historically relied on coal, and richer EU states with bolder climate ambitions.
The final document of the deal vows to offer financial aid to the lower-income EU member nations so that they can “modernise their energy systems and improve energy efficiency”.
Katie Anderson12 December 2020 10:12
Good morning and welcome to the Independent’s live coverage of the Climate Ambition summit 2020. The virtual event, held later on today, will bring together world leaders to make new commitments to tackle the climate crisis.
Katie Anderson12 December 2020 09:52