The Prime Minister is launching an international plan to deliver clean and affordable technology everywhere by 2030 at COP26 today.
More than 40 world leaders have backed and signed up to the new Breakthrough Agenda , including the US, India, EU, China, developing economies and some of the countries most vulnerable to climate change – representing more than 70% of the world’s economy and every region.
It will see countries and businesses coordinate and strengthen their climate action each year to scale and speed up the development and deployment of clean technologies and drive down costs during this decade.
The aim is to make clean technologies the most affordable, accessible and attractive choice in each of the most polluting sectors by 2030, particularly supporting the developing world to access the tools needed to transition to net zero.
The first five goals – the ‘Glasgow Breakthroughs’ – collectively cover more than 50% of global emissions:
- Power: Clean power is the most affordable and reliable option for all countries to meet their power needs efficiently by 2030.
- Road transport: Zero emission vehicles are the new normal and accessible, affordable and sustainable in all regions by 2030.
- Steel: Near-zero emission steel is the preferred choice in global markets, with efficient use and near-zero emission steel production established and growing in every region by 2030.
- Hydrogen: Affordable renewable and low carbon hydrogen is globally available by 2030.
- Agriculture: Climate-resilient, sustainable agriculture is the most attractive and widely adopted option for farmers everywhere by 2030.
The plan will see countries and businesses work closely through a range of international initiatives to accelerate innovation and scale up green industries – including, for example, stimulating green investment through strong signals to industry about the future economy, aligning policies and standards, joining up research and development efforts, coordinating public investments and mobilising private finance particularly for developing nations.
A UK Government statement predicted that delivering the first five breakthroughs could create 20 million new jobs globally and add more than $16trn across both emerging and advanced economies.
Boris Johnson said: “By making clean technology the most affordable, accessible and attractive choice, the default go-to in what are currently the most polluting sectors, we can cut emissions right around the world.
“The Glasgow Breakthroughs will turbocharge this forward, so that by 2030 clean technologies can be enjoyed everywhere, not only reducing emissions but also creating more jobs and greater prosperity.”
The Glasgow Breakthroughs are aimed at driving forward global progress to halving emissions by 2030, which is crucial to keeping the limit to temperatures rises to 1.5C within reach.
Leaders will also commit to discuss global progress every year in each sector starting in 2022 – supported by annual reports led by the International Energy Agency in collaboration with the International Renewable Energy Agency and UN High Level Champions – with annual discussions convened around the Mission Innovation and Clean Energy Ministerials.
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At the event today, world leaders, chief executives and philanthropists are also expected to launch a series of new initiatives in support of the Glasgow Breakthroughs, including:
- The launch of the UK-India led Green Grids Initiative – One Sun One World One Grid, endorsed by more than 80 countries, to mobilise political will, finance and technical assistance needed to interconnect continents, countries and communities to the best renewable sources of power.
- The launch of the Global Energy Alliance for People & Planet, with an initial $10bn of funding from philanthropies and development banks to support energy access and the clean energy transition in the Global South, in partnership with the UK-led Energy Transition Council.
- AIM4C, a new initiative led by US and UAE, with more than 30 supporting countries, committed to accelerating innovation in sustainable agriculture, having already garnered $4bn in increased investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation, including $1bn from the US.
- The Breakthrough Energy Catalyst programme, aiming to raise $3bn in concessional capital to catalyse up to $30bn of investments in bringing down clean technology costs and creating markets for green products for green hydrogen, Direct Air Capture, long-duration energy storage and sustainable aviation fuel; including £200m of UK support.
- The First Movers Coalition, a US-led buyers club of 25 major global companies, making purchasing commitments to help commercialise key emerging clean technologies across sectors like steel, trucking, shipping, aviation, aluminium, concrete, chemicals and direct air capture.
UN High-Level Climate Champions for COP25 and COP26, Gonzalo Munoz and Nigel Topping, stated: “With key private sector actors mobilising behind the breakthroughs necessary to achieve a net-zero world in time and world leaders signing up to the Breakthrough Agenda, governments across the world will help dramatically scale and speed up the race to zero emissions and deliver the promise of the Paris Agreement.
“This is what the future of COP is all about – catalysing an innovative ambition loop between political leadership and the dynamism of the private sector to drive towards a resilient, prosperous zero carbon future.”
The Breakthrough Agenda has been endorsed by: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Cabo Verde, Chile, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Guinea Bissau, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Norway, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Panama, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the UK and US.
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