To mark Science and Innovation Day at COP26 will see the announcement of new initiatives backed by global coalitions of nations, businesses and scientists as we build back better to mitigate the effects of climate change across the world.
Investment in science and innovation will support the implementation of the climate goals announced during the World Leaders Summit and other country’s commitments to tackle the effects of climate change.
That is why, Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance will underline the critical role of science and innovation in enabling every country to access the tools it needs to immediately reduce emissions in line with Paris temperature targets. These initiatives include:
- New commitments to accelerate innovation and low carbon transitions in industry and cities.
- New global Adaptation Research Alliance to increase the resilience of vulnerable communities on the frontline of climate change.
- Independent experts to track progress against the Breakthrough Agenda, announced by world leaders on 2 November 2021, advising on action and collaboration.
- The global scientific research community to produce annual climate risk assessment to ensure the dangers are fully understood by world leaders and their communities.
Working together with our international partners and allies to create smart and innovative methods to track and mitigate the effects of climate change not only tackles the effects of climate change but ensures we build back better – creating high-skilled, green jobs in the process.
Today at COP26, we announced £165 million of new funding to advance gender equality in climate action – addressing the disparities that make women and girls more vulnerable to climate change while working to reduce global emissions.
Women and children – who make up a large majority of the world’s poor – are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change, so we must take action to support those at risk as we work to reduce global emissions.
That is why we have announced £165 million of new funding to address gender inequality as we tackle climate change – including investing up to £45 million to help grassroots women's groups in Asia and the Pacific, and £120 million for the Bangladesh Climate and Environment Programme to combine supporting women’s leadership with addressing environmental concerns.
This will support women and children to build longer term climate resilience while providing them with the opportunity to further economic and social equality.
Today we announced further details of our trailblazing new technology that helps tackle the effects of climate change – targeting and supporting those most at risk from the effects of climate change.
The UK is continuing to lead the way on tackling climate change, using innovative technologies and resources to better understand the impacts of climate change – and where support is needed the most.
That is why eleven UK organisations, backed by £7 million of Government investment, will put into action the latest innovations in space innovations – meaning satellites in space are helping us solve some of the most significant climate challenges we face.
Using trailblazing technology to better understand the risks and challenges presented by climate change will help combat the effects and protect those most at risk as we continue to lead the way on tackling climate change.
Today all four UK health services have united to commit to net zero, ensuring that our health community continues to build back greener from the pandemic and is aligned to our 2050 goal of cutting emissions.
Health services across the world account for 4.6 per cent of global emissions, therefore aligning our public services to net zero is key to achieving our 2050 goal.
That is why all four health services in the UK have already pledged to build back greener and cut emissions, backed by £280 million to decarbonise our NHS – and under the UK COP26 Presidency’s Health Programme we are encouraging other countries increase resilience in their own health systems.
Our health community cannot sit on the side lines – it must adapt and respond to climate change in the way that other industries and sectors do – these pledges and funding will be key in cut emissions across all sectors.
Today we announced new initiatives, backed by global coalitions of nations, businesses and scientists, to implement the goals announced during the World Leaders Summit – ensuring no time is wasted as we work to reduce global emissions.
Combatting climate change cannot happen without new ideas, innovation and research, and it is clear that no country acting alone can deliver the change that is needed.
That is why we have announced new initiatives – backed by global coalitions – to implement the agreements reach so far, including Mission Innovation to accelerate investment in clean technology, the Adaption Research Alliance to increase the resilience of vulnerable communities, and the Global Checkpoint Process to strengthen cooperation on reducing emissions.
These initiatives will provide the means of implementing the ground-breaking work achieved at COP26 so far, helping to build a cleaner, greener and more prosperous world.