Boris Johnson will call for countries to do more to tackle the “devastating” effects of climate change, as he launches a new partnership with five other countries and the United Nations.
The prime minister is due to announce the creation of the Adaptation Action Coalition formed with Egypt, Bangladesh, Malawi, the Netherlands and Saint Lucia.
It will work to turn international political commitments made through the UN into on-the-ground support for vulnerable communities.
The PM will say he wants ‘real change’ and global leaders to act quickly
And the body will act as a forum for developed and developing countries to share suggestions on solutions to deal with climate change.
Mr Johnson is expected to say later today it is “undeniable” that climate change is “upon us” and “devastating lives and economies”, urging global political leaders to act quickly.
“I’ll be making the need for a resilient recovery a priority of the UK’s G7 presidency this year,” he will add.
“To make sure we get not just warm words but real change, I am today launching an all-new Adaptation Action Coalition to set the agenda ahead of COP26.”
COP26 is the annual climate change forum attended by world leaders being held in Glasgow later this year, after it was postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Alok Sharma, the former business secretary who is now in charge of organising COP26 from within government, said he wanted “all countries to come forward with ambitious adaptation plans”.
And he said: “This important new coalition will crucially focus minds around the world to accelerate adaptation delivery in the areas most in need.”
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Despite the warm words, the government has come under some criticism recently for giving the go-ahead to a new coal mine opening in Cumbria.
Two teenagers and climate activists were on hunger strike for more than a week over the issue.
In his virtual party conference leader’s speech last October, Mr Johnson talked up the future of wind power – and took a dig at himself for once writing it “wouldn’t pull the skin off a rice pudding”.
