In a statement published in The Guardian, singer and AIDS activist Sir Elton John urges UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to honor his and other leaders’ promise to triple contributions to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

At the G8 summit in June, global leaders agreed to triple funding to ensure that HIV/AIDS treatment is available to all who need it by 2010. John, who started the Elton John AIDS Foundation 14 years ago, says that Brown’s leadership in honoring this promise will challenge other countries—such as Canada, France Germany, Japan and the U.S.—to follow.

“These decisions directly affect whether people live or die,” John says. “And I urge the British government to take a lead in ensuring these promises are kept. Honor the pledge.”