The UK will continue to play a leading role in tacking climate change while maximising the opportunities for economic growth, Climate Change Minister Claire Perry will say tomorrow (Monday 18 September).

The minister will be speaking at the opening ceremony of Climate Week in New York on Monday 18 September, one of the key international climate summits that brings together national governments, businesses and global citizens to build on the collective action on climate change. The summit takes place alongside the UN General Assembly and supports the implementation of the Paris Agreement, as well as the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The UK is a global leader in tackling climate change, played a vital role in negotiating the Paris Agreement and was the first country to introduce domestic legally binding emission reduction targets. Since the Climate Change Act, 2008 the government has made strong progress in achieving these targets, with emissions decreasing by over 40 per cent since 1990 – more than any other G7 country.

Claire Perry, Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry said:

The UK is decarbonising faster than any other G20 nation – since 1990 we have cut emissions by more than a third while growing the economy by two thirds, and the Government is determined to drive up the pace of decarbonisation while maximising the opportunities for growth from the global transition to a clean economy.

A global challenge needs a global response and Climate Week is the perfect opportunity for governments and the private sector to come together, commit to clean growth and seize the opportunities it brings.

Recent analysis conducted by PwC shows that the UK is decarbonising at the fastest rate among G20 countries with the carbon intensity of the UK economy falling by 7.7% in 2016 as a result of a decline in coal consumption, improved energy efficiency and economic growth. The UK outperformed China, the US and other EU countries, in reducing carbon intensity since 2000.

Investment in low carbon growth has been a catalyst for innovation in renewable technologies. New clean energy projects announced last week are set to power 3.6 million homes with technologies like offshore wind at 50 per cent less cost than two years ago. The UK is making the most of its natural resources by having the largest installed capacity of offshore wind in the world.

The UK government is also supporting clean jobs through its Industrial Strategy and working to foster the skills of the next generation of workers in new industries through a new world-leading technical education system.

During a visit to the Gulf state today, Sir Michael Fallon and his Qatari counterpart, Khalid bin Mohammed al Attiyah, signed a Statement of Intent concerning Qatar’s proposed purchase of 24 Typhoon aircraft.

The UK and Qatar share a close and longstanding Defence relationship, and today’s Statement of Intent further reinforces this, deepening military cooperation between the two, and the opportunity to further enhance the security of all partners in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:

After a number of years of negotiations between our two countries, I am delighted to have been able to sign today with Qatar’s Defence Minister, this Statement of Intent on the purchase of 24 Typhoon aircraft by Qatar.

This will be the first major defence contract with Qatar, one of the UK’s strategic partners. This is an important moment in our defence relationship and the basis for even closer defence co-operation between our two countries. We also hope that this will help enhance security within the region across all Gulf allies and enhance Typhoon interoperability across the GCC.

The security of the GCC, of all Gulf countries, is critical to the UK’s own security.

The UK and Qatar share mutual Defence interests, including countering violent extremism, and ensuring peace and stability in the region.

Not only will the purchase of Typhoon aircraft further strengthen this strong bilateral relationship, it will benefit Qatar’s military capability, and increase security co-operation and interoperability between the UK and Qatar and other GCC Typhoon partners.

The Typhoon is a multi-role combat aircraft that has long-term potential to be at the forefront of air power for many years, and today’s Statement of Intent demonstrates continued confidence in Typhoon and British manufacturing.

In addition to supporting Royal Air Force operations protecting the UK in the skies above Britain and globally, the Typhoon has already been purchased by eight nations around the world.