Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News Now 20240918

Sea. Switching on great british energy to crowd investment into clean power projects. Launching a rapid review of the environmental improvement plan for completion before the end of this year. So that we can clean our rivers, plus millions more trees, improve Air Quality and halt the decline in species. And with over 90 of the uks biodiversity within our overseas territories looking to expand, the Bluebell Programme to increase marine protection. This domestic programme is notjust essential to our economy but to restoring our international credibility. We are bringing an end to our Climate Diplomacy of being do as i say not as i do. But this domestic programme of this domestic programme of this domestic ambition on its own is not enough. That is why this issue has been on the agenda for nearly every meeting that ive had with another minister in my early weeks. From our closest friends in the g7 to the worlds biggest emitter by the worlds biggest emitter by the largest Renewables Producer in china. To india, to members of azzi and with whom i announced a Newjoint Cream Transition fund in the first few weeks in office. With Ed Miliband and Steve Reed leading negotiations on climate and nature we have a pair of experienced, determined negotiators. And with Anneliese Dodds as minister for dodds as Ministerfor Development we will be united government team, all drawing on the diplomatic and Development Heft to push the ambition needed to keep 1. 5 degrees alive. To drive forward this Cross Government Reset even further. I am announcing today that we will appoint new uk Special Representatives For Climate Change and for nature. These will support me together with Ed Miliband and Steve Reed respectively as we reboot internationally, showing that whether you are from the Global North or the global south we want to forge genuine partnerships to tackle this crisis together and i want this diplomatic effort focused particularly on three priorities. First, we will build a global, clean Power Alliance. This government has set a Landmark Goal to be the first major economy to deliver clean power by 2030. We will leverage the ambition to build an alliance committed to accelerating the clean Energy Transition and today we are firing the starting gun on forming the snow coalition. The international Energy Agency Forecast Consumption Notjust Forecast consumption not just of Forecast Consumption Notjust of oil but of all Fossil Fuels will peak this decade. We are rapidly discovering more efficient ways to reduce emissions. Global investment in clean energy is now almost double the investment in Fossil Fuels. But while some countries are moving ahead in this transition, many are getting left behind. Without clean power it will be impossible to decarbonise fast sectors of the economy such as transport. We therefore need to accelerate therefore need to accelerate the Roll Out of renewables across the globe in a way this government is doing at home. Of course there are different obstacles from different countries but despite several other valuable initiatives pushing forward the Energy Transition there is no equivalent grouping of countries at the vanguard of the transition. Reaching across the transition. Reaching across the Global North and the global south together, dedicated to overcoming these barriers. So the alliance needs to focus on scaling up global investment, emerging market and developing economies outside china accounts forjust economies outside china accounts for just 15 of economies outside china accounts forjust 15 of global Energy Investment at the moment. The cost of capital in the global south is often triple that in the Global North. And almost 700 Million people have no access to electricity at all. We must unlock global finance on a far larger scale so we can back ambitious plans from those moving away from Fossil Fuels as Anneliese Dodds hasjust been Doing Injakarta been doing in jakarta discussing been Doing Injakarta discussing in thejust been Doing Injakarta discussing in the just energy partnership. And close and clean Power Gap by helping more countries to leapfrog Fossil Fuels to renewable power systems. The alliance should also focus on diversifying the Production And Supply of critical minerals. Copper, cobalt, lithium, nickel, the lifeboat of the new economy. We need to bring these commodities to market faster while avoiding the mistakes of the past. By helping developing countries to secure economic benefits while promoting the highest environmental standards for mineral extraction. The alliance could inject impetus into expanding grids and storage as well. The iea excesses that the world needs to add or refurbish the equivalent of the entire existing grid by 2040. We are working on a global Energy Storage Pledge at Cop 29. We have to plug the gaps in meeting these targets. Finally the alliance can increase upon the alliance can increase upon the nativity of clean energy. There is a huge demand for affordable clean technologies from green hydrogen to sustainable cooking and cooling. We have got to progress commercialisation, the tech with the greatest potential. We will take a phased and inclusive approach to building the alliance, listening to those leading the way in clean power and those who share our ambitions. But the shared goal is clear. Making Net Zero power a reality everywhere. Second we must unlock much more climate and Nature Finance. This is critical to my progressive Realist Approach to the crisis. Tackling the crisis requires will build consensus that is the principal at the heart of the principal at the heart of the Copy Process and we can only reach a consensus by heeding others concerns as well as our own. As i know all too well countries of the global south suffered great injustices in the past. But ive heard repeatedly our partners frustrations at the unfairness of the global system today. Particularly how difficult it is for them to get international Climate Finance. My international Climate Finance. My good friend argue powerfully that the problem is systemic. And for example in africa which is clearly on the climate Front Line on any analysis natural disasters are alone have affected 400 Million africans this century and yet africa receives just over 3 of Climate Finance flows and Debt Servicing alone averages 10 of the whole continents gdp. Change is critical if we are serious. There is no pathway to countries developing aspirations without climate resilience. Action on the Nature Crisis and access to clean energy and no pathway to a sustainable future without development that leaves no one behind. I applaud the brazilians for leading on this agenda. The agreement on Loss Damage at the last cop was an inspiring example of what the world can achieve by working together. That was the same spirit in which developed countries committed in 2009 to 100 Billion a year in international Climate Finance but the reality is that the british contribution to this target was a promise which the tories casually made but for which they did not have a plan. In contrast, my focus is on how we can actually deliver that promise given the dire financial inheritance from the last government. Ahead of the Spending Review we are carefully reviewing our plans to do so. And at the same time we are pushing for an ambitious new climate Finance Goal focused on developing countries at Cop 29 in november because thatis at Cop 29 in november because that is the right thing to do. But especially in times of fiscal constraint we need to become more creative in unlocking private sector flows for the green transition and especially adaption across the global south. London is the leading Green Global Financial Centre and i have been delighted to learn how Uk Experts have been developing more effective financing models. For Example Britain helped established the caribbean Risk Insurance Facility back in 2007. The first such fund pays out after the specific triggers such as earthquakes or tropical cyclones. And after Hurricane Bedell it once again proved its worth, paying over 76 Million as the region began to rebuild. I am determined to restore Britains Reputation for Commitment And Innovation in a world of development finance. This starts with the multilateral develop in banks and that is why subject to reforms we support a Capital Increase for the ibrd. The worlds largest Development Bank and a key source of Climate Finance. That is why next month i will lay before parliament a Uk Guarantee for the asian Development Bank which will unlock 1. 2 billion in Climate Finance for developing countries in the region. But is not simply a question of more creativity. To tackle systemic problems we also need to reform the system itself. So for example we are co chairing with the Dominican Republic The Green Climate Fund this year and driving forward reforms to speed up developing Countries Access to it. But ive also heard our partners calling for international tax rules to work better for developing countries, for sustainable debt to be tackled more radically. You are watching Bbc News and at this point we say goodbye to our viewers on bbc two. My ambition is clear, for the uk to lead the G7 Debate on international institutional reform. Third, we must notjust halt but reverse the decline in biodiversity. Sometimes we become numb to the scale of the Nature Crisis. 1 Million species facing extinction including one third of both marine mammals and coral reefs. And wildlife populations falling by 69 since 1970. Mostly due to a staggering 83 collapse in freshwater species. Biodiversity loss is as much a threat as changes to our climate and with Nature Loss undermining progress towards the sustainable Development Goal Action on nature is also pivotal to genuine partnerships with the global south. We need to bolster the global effect to protect at least 30 of the Planets Land and ocean by 2030. So we are completely committed to ratifying the high Seas Treaty and to securing agreement on a Plastics Treaty and there i pay tribute to the predecessor, zac goldsmith, during his period in government. And i have been looking hard at the successes of our development programmes on nature. 0ne Programme has mobilised well over £1 billion to protect and restore forests across nearly 9 Million hectares of land and in the future we plan to expand this programme in the congo basin rainforest, the second largest on the planet. Some of our funding has been used for incredible research. They would believe that thanks to the S Video a South African Business is trialling new biodegradable nets that if lost with no toxins or micro plastics behind. I want many more examples like this. The sco spends around 5 of its Development Budget on search and i am announcing today we are starting development of research into Nature And Water specifically. With over 100 researchers and officials having just met in kenyan to begin this agenda. I am also looking at how we deliver development programmes on the ground. Indigenous communities particularly are important in this regard. Like the incredible female sustainable business owners i met in the amazon last year. Natures best custodians. Nature has been declining. 30 less and 30 more slowly on indigenous lands than in the world as a whole. Evidence shows that putting local communities at the centre of Decision Making leads to better outcomes for the natural world. This is the model of development i believe in. Modernised approach to development this government will be implement in. Spirit and partnership not paternalism in action. For me, this is deeply personal. Farfrom here in guyanas rainforests ly Sophia Point. I established the small Conservation Centre five years ago with my wife in one of the last unspoiled Biodiversity Hotspots in the world. It was fascinating and a huge privilege for me to discuss this with Sir David Attenborough last week. And here his reminiscence of Visiting Guyana and the same rainforest as a young man. I told sir david his first book, Zoo Quest for guyana, which came out in 1956 which was the year that my father emigrated here to britain. In fact, my father used to bring me to Kew Gardens. He is now not alive so i cant ask him, but i now realise the reason he brought me here was to somehow be in touch with guyana and those rainforests. And we discussed house sue davids work and that of Sophia Point is rooted in a concept common to indigenous people of that part of south america. Many farmers and others in britain and around the Globe Stewardship of the natural world. We have both an Interest And Responsibility to maintain a livable planet for ourselves and for future generations. That is our goal. Ultimately, they will be no global stability without Climate Stability. And they will be no Climate Stability without a more equal partnership between the Global North and the global south. For britain to play its part, we must reset your at home and we must reset your at home and we must reconnect abroad. That is what this government will deliver so that together we can build a better future for all. Thank you very much indeed. That was foreign Secretary David Lambie in the picturesque setting of Kew Gardens in West London laying out how he intends to put climate and nature at the heart of british Foreign Policy. We talked about how he believes that climate is embedded in all areas of Foreign Policy, affecting security, Food Security and migration. Lets listen to the questions. What levers can you pull bearing in mind that since the Paris Agreement was signed, 3 Trillion have flowed from private banks into Fossil Fuels, more than 300 Billion into unsustainable agriculture projects around the world. You are right to raise the issue. We have a 22 Billion black hole. ,. ,. , hole. This is a tough Fiscal Environment hole. This is a tough Fiscal Environment and hole. This is a tough Fiscal Environment and in hole. This is a tough Fiscal Environment and in this i hole. This is a tough Fiscal Environment and in this country you can see it with the sale of our public services particularly in the health service. We set out five important missions and its clear that growth is a central mission and its also clear that on climate with gb energy, with the national wealth fund, that that is also a mission. The transition we are talking about, both for our country and as we partner with friends and colleagues in countries around the world, particularly in the global south, has got to be part of the story. We cannot have a situation in which the global North Advance and leave the global south behind. So yes it is a tough environment and Climate Finances is going to be integral to that. But meeting the 11. 6 billion remains our ambition as we undertake the Spending Review and we will consider all of those spending plans and its important that i and others within government continue to make the case and make those difficult choices about what our priorities are in a tough Fiscal Environment. But i think its important to remember that this agenda is fundamental to Uk Growth and therefore we should keep hope alive. Second question is from professor myles allen. You ri. Htl professor myles allen. You rightly emphasise professor myles allen. You rightly emphasise the professor myles allen. You rightly emphasise the role. But we rightly emphasise the role. But we Cant Turn rocks into trees but we Cant Turn Rocks Into Trees Forever sol but we Cant Turn Rocks Into Trees Forever so i would like to Ask Trees Forever so i would like to ask you about one thing you havent to ask you about one thing you havent talked about which is geological Net Zero. In the scenarios that meet the goals of the scenarios that meet the goals of the Paris Agreement we are putting of the Paris Agreement we are putting things back into the earths putting things back into the Earths Crust at the same time we generated. As a physical reality we generated. As a physical reality of we generated. As a physical reality of the world needs to geological Net Zero but permanent safe disposal of carbon permanent safe disposal of Carbon Dioxide back into the earths Carbon Dioxide back into the Earths Crust. There is a piece of history for the first there is a piece of history for the first country to commit to geological Net Zero. Are we going geological Net Zero. Are we going to geological Net Zero. Are we going to take it . | geological Net Zero. Are we going to take it . Geological Net Zero. Are we going to take it . I think there is a debate going to take it . I think there is a debate there. Going to take it . I think there is a debate there. My going to take it . I think there is a debate there. My own going to take it . I think there l is a debate there. My own view is a debate there. My own view is to focus on the fact it is a transition. I think against that transition there is a role for Carbon Capture alongside all that we want to do on renewables, particularly hydrogen. So we have to get the balance right. You are transitioning away, thats the point. I hear what you are saying about geological Net Zero, that was not in my speech, i will reflect on it but i am conscious that we are in the transition and thats important to hold onto. We are going to leave it there. David lambie talking in Kew Gardens and giving a speech in which he declared his intention to put climate and nature at the heart of british Foreign Policy and laying out that he has and britain and the new government has to build a global clean Power Alliance and the Uk Government to be the first major power to have clean energy by 2030. Second to unlock much more climate and Nature Finance in his words. And three, notjust to halt but to reverse the decline in biodiversity. We will be talking about this more on Bbc News but the new foreign secretary, hes been in a Job Forjust secretary, hes been in a job for just over two secretary, hes been in a Job Forjust over two months, talking for the last half an hour on plans to put climate at the heart of britains Foreign Policy. Just in the last hour orso policy. Just in the last hour or so the head of the bbc has said he cant see Huw Edwards looking at the corporation again after the presenter was given a six month suspended Prison Sentence for making indecent images of children. Edwards will also be placed on the Sex Offenders register for seven years. Injuly the the Sex Offenders register for seven years. In july the former seven years. Injuly the former newsreader admitted having 41 images which were sent to him on whatsapp including some showing a victim between seven and nine years old. I can give you more detail on what the Director General has been saying. Its a royal Television Society Event in Central London at which she has been speaking. He said i can see Huw Edwards working up a corporation again. I cant see it happening for obvious reasons. He went on to see the Man Hasjust Obvious reasons. He went on to see the man has just been convicted of appalling crimes and its pretty straightforward in my mind, i can see him working here again. He also went on to say that discussions are ongoing about getting the £200,000 back from Huw Edwards that he earned and continued doing after he had been arrested and after word of his arrested and after word of his arrest had been known to some of his bosses. Tim davey said we want the money back, we have asked for it back, there is discussion between legal teams and that is as far as i can go. And a few more words from tim davey, the Director General, he said there was Shock And Upset at Huw Edwards and he said a lot of people across the bbc feel deeply let down but he insisted it wasnt about the corporation but rather about the victims and their families. Sojust in the the victims and their families. So just in the context of what happened this time yesterday, former Bbc News presenter Huw Edwards has been given a suspended six Month Sentence for Child Abuse image offences and that means he avoids jail and that means he avoids jail and we have just been hearing from tim davey, the bbc Director General, where he has been speaking at the rts. Thats it from me now. Lets get the weather forecast. The finance required Weather Conditions continue in the uk at the moment and at least for at the moment and at least for a few days yet. We started on a chilly note and with thicker cloud in the North And West of scotland but in the bigger picture we are seeing residual flooding across Eastern Europe for the next few days but the focus of heavy rains pushed sash which to italy. High pressure here which keeps things generally dry. We did see the cloud to the North And West of scotland and that will break up as we go through the afternoon so some sunny spells that cloud through East Anglia and more breeze compared to yesterdays low temperatures here down a little bit on yesterday but a warmer day for Northern Scotland and western northern ireland. Into this evening, The Cloud In Northern Scotland continues to thin and break but across East Wales, central Eastern England we will see more in the way of low cloud and that means it wont be cold tonight across southern areas compared to last night. Lots of sunshine in these areas to start tomorrow. A few Mist And Fog patches clearing. The low cloud we have an East Wales in central Eastern England will break out through the morning and one or two patches remaining around the coast but the most sunny afternoon for wednesday. And an even warmer when, after around 24 degrees potentially in the north of scotland. 25 and warmer as well across southern counties. Its across southern counties. Its a thursday, more low cloud and a thursday, more low cloud and a bit more extensively across the country. It will linger a bit more across Eastern Parts Per Thursday Afternoon but come west of that sunshine developing, not as warm in scotland but still 22 in the west. 20 degrees in northern ireland. 2425 in the South East of england. But its from Thursday Night and into friday on the weekend where things that the area of low pressure in drifting its way northwards. Slow progress for most on friday and it will still be a dry day with sunny spells around. A few showers breaking out across england and will slater. Into the weekend, showers and thunderstorms will break out slightly more widely in temperatures will start to drop just in temperatures will start to dropjust a in temperatures will start to drop just a little in temperatures will start to dropjust a little bit. This is Bbc News, the headlines. Floods caused by a powerful storm in central Europe Kill at least 18 people, and leave thousands homeless. The bbc� s Director General Tim Davie says he � can� t see Huw Edwards working at the corporation again. The former Bbc News presenter was given a suspended Prison Sentence after he admitted charges of making indecent images of children. The uks liberal Democrat Party conference closes later today with a key Note Speech from its Leader Sir Ed davey. The Facebook Owner Meta says it is banning the russian state Media Outlet from its platforms, along with a host of other networks