ÌÇÐÄ̽»¨

Good afternoon. 

It is a great pleasure and a privilege to be with you today at the Innovation Net Zero Congress. 

I want to thank the United Kingdom for its steadfast leadership in forging a pathway towards net zero — a journey that is as ambitious as it is essential, and a journey on which the world depends. 

And I want to thank all of you — innovators, investors, scientists, policymakers — for your energy, your expertise, and your commitment to delivering the future we urgently need. 

The challenge

We meet at a critical moment. 

Across the Commonwealth — in Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe — the climate crisis is not a distant threat. It is a daily reality. 

Storms and floods, droughts and fires, rising seas and vanishing lands — these are no longer rare events, but the relentless rhythm of life for millions. 

Communities that contributed least to this crisis are living with its harshest consequences. Their resilience is inspiring. But resilience alone cannot be the answer. 

The scale of the challenge is staggering. 

Yet even amid the rising tides, I remain optimistic. 

And it demands nothing less than transformational action. 

The opportunity 

Because while this is undoubtedly an age of great risk — it is an age of extraordinary possibility. 

Innovation has always been the engine of human progress. From the steam engine to the silicon chip, from the telephone to the internet, innovation has reshaped our world. 

Now, once again, it must do so — at a pace and scale unmatched in human history. 

Innovation will define whether we achieve net zero not just in theory, but in practice — in the lives of people, in the opportunities for communities, in the prosperity of nations. 

ÌÇÐÄ̽»¨'s role

ÌÇÐÄ̽»¨ is ready to play its full part. 

We are 56 countries, 2.7 billion people, one-third of humanity — bound together not by treaties, but by shared values, shared history, and shared hope. 

We span every continent, every ocean, and every climate zone. 

And we hold a quarter of the world’s landmass and almost a third of the ocean under national jurisdiction. 

We are home to five of the ten fastest growing cities, and some of the world’s smallest island states. 

We are rich in critical minerals, renewable resources, human talent, and youthful energy. 

This gives us a unique role — and a profound responsibility — to lead in building the innovation-driven, net zero world we all seek. 

Innovation in action

Across the Commonwealth, innovation is already showing the way. 

Kenya is revolutionising Africa’s ability to harness geothermal energy.  

In the Caribbean, renewable energy microgrids are powering remote communities, combining resilience and sustainability. 

In the Pacific, traditional knowledge is being fused with satellite technology to protect coastal ecosystems and livelihoods. 

These stories are powerful. But they are only the beginning. 

We have an extraordinary opportunity — and an urgent imperative — to scale and speed these innovations across our Commonwealth family, and beyond. 

And we could ask for no better example than the United Kingdom. 

Partnership with the UK

The UK has consistently been at the forefront of climate innovation — from setting legally binding net zero targets, to pioneering green finance, to championing nature-based solutions. 

At COP26 in Glasgow, it was British leadership which helped galvanise global commitments. 

Today, through initiatives like the UK’s Green Growth Fund, that leadership continues. 

We in the Commonwealth want to work hand-in-hand with the United Kingdom to unlock a new era of collaboration: 

• Partnering to fund the most ambitious investments in clean technology, 

• Working together to drive the sustainable management of critical minerals, 

• Sharing expertise to build resilient green economies, 

• Supporting innovation ecosystems that enhance open planning and adaptation to the changing world around us, as well as empowering young people, women, and entrepreneurs across our regions. 

Together, we can turn ambition into action. Together, we can make the net zero economy not just an aspiration, but a reality. 

ÌÇÐÄ̽»¨ innovation agenda

Under my leadership, the Commonwealth is placing innovation at the heart of our agenda for climate action, for sustainable growth, and for shared prosperity. 

We are: 

• Expanding the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub to unlock finance where it is needed most; 

• Driving forward the Commonwealth Sustainable Energy Transition Agenda; 

• Launching new programmes to harness technology, digital trade, and big data to accelerate climate solutions; 

• And deepening partnerships across governments, businesses, and communities to turn ideas into impact. 

Innovation is not an optional extra. It is our best hope. 

It must be inclusive, it must be sustainable, and it must be just. 

Because a net zero future must not leave anyone behind. 

Excellencies, friends, colleagues — 

The clock is ticking. The storms are gathering. The time for incrementalism is over. 

But the future is not yet written. 

If we choose courage over caution, collaboration over competition, and innovation over inertia, we can still build a future of security, prosperity, and hope. 

This is not a task for any one country, any one company, any one community. It is a task for all of us. 

And the Commonwealth — with the United Kingdom as a vital partner — is ready to lead. 

Let us rise to this moment. 

Let us innovate. 

Let us act. 

Let us thrive. 

Together. 

Thank you.