Speech

PM remarks at the launch of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty: 18 November 2024

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's remarks at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP

Thank you, President Lula 鈥� you know, I鈥檓 a great admirer of Brazil鈥�

It鈥檚 not just the football鈥�

It鈥檚 also your culture and your commitment to working people.

More than just their right to be free from exploitation鈥�

But their right to be lifted up, to enjoy greater opportunities, and to enjoy life.聽聽聽

We share that passion. 聽

It fuels our politics.聽

And it is a great pleasure to be here with you.

This is my first G20.

So I want to take the opportunity to say that under my leadership鈥�

The UK will always be at the table鈥β�

Listening, upholding our values, ready to work with you鈥β�

As a responsible global partner.聽

I want work together on the huge challenges before us鈥β�

Like conflict and climate change鈥�

Because these forces work against everything we want to achieve.聽

They destroy economic growth, undermine security and opportunity, and generate migration at a level that we can鈥檛 sustain.聽

But if we can find solutions to these problems鈥β�

Then there are also real opportunities here鈥�

For growth and for investment鈥�

To cut the cost of living at home and improve the lives of those we are here to represent.聽

So I want to build the partnerships we need to support progress.聽

And that includes in the fight against hunger and poverty鈥β�

I want to thank President Lula for putting this on the agenda.

We look back on a lost decade in the fight against poverty鈥�

Due to Covid, climate change, and rising levels of conflict.

It can鈥檛 go on.聽

We need renewed, resolute global leadership to tackle poverty and hunger.聽

President Lula鈥檚 Global Alliance will help us to meet that challenge.

And I am pleased that the UK is playing its part.聽

We鈥檙e not just joining the Alliance鈥�.

We鈥檙e joining its Board of Champions to help steer this work.

And we鈥檙e delivering practical support for communities to keep food on the table鈥�

Helping to build climate resilience and protect harvests鈥β�

In countries across Africa and Asia.

We鈥檙e also launching聽a new partnership to combat child wasting鈥�

With UNICEF, the World Food Programme and the WHO.

And we are doubling our support for those displaced by the war in Sudan.

The suffering from that conflict is horrendous.聽

And it highlights a聽crucial point鈥�

That famine is man made.聽

The greatest step in the fight against hunger today would come from resolving conflicts.聽

And so we call again for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.聽聽

For the hostages to be released.

We are deeply concerned about the plight of Palestinian civilians鈥β�

Facing catastrophic hunger and starvation 鈥� particularly in northern Gaza.聽

In defending itself, Israel must act in compliance with international humanitarian law鈥�

And do much more to protect civilians and aid workers.

The UK has provided 拢100 million of humanitarian aid鈥�

But we also need to see a massive increase in the amount of aid reaching civilians in Gaza鈥β�

UNRWA must be able to carry out its mandate鈥�

Particularly at the onset of winter.

Finally, it is important in this room that we address Russia鈥檚 illegal war in Ukraine.聽

Tomorrow marks the 1,000th day of their invasion of a peaceful, sovereign state.聽

And they have inflicted damage on the wider world, including on food and energy security.聽

So we call, again, for a just and durable peace, consistent with the UN 颁丑补谤迟别谤.听

Thank you, Chair.

Updates to this page

Published 18 November 2024