House of Commons · General Debate
10 September 2020 · 11 other contributors
Opened by Darren Jones Lab Bristol North West
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Darren Jones raised concerns about climate assembly uk in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
Key points
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Launched the Climate Assembly UK's report on achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Emphasised the need for detailed scrutiny and mainstreaming of assembly proposals within existing inquiries, such as those related to COP26 and post-pandemic economic growth. Highlighted the importance of public engagement, fairness across regions, and cross-party collaboration in implementing the recommendations.
Commended Darren Jones for his statement and highlighted two key aspects that made the project powerful: the representative nature of assembly attendees and the proportionate nature of their recommendations. He suggested these traits should serve as an example to others in climate change debates.
Responded to Mel Stride, emphasising that the citizens' assembly report demonstrates pragmatic and evidence-based support for action on climate change from across the UK's population. He encouraged Ministers to act with confidence based on these recommendations and expressed readiness to hold the Government accountable.
Highlighted the importance of consumer fairness in achieving net zero, advocating for direct government investment in heat decarbonisation and energy efficiency as well as stronger consumer protections. He referenced past mistakes like the green deal mis-selling scandal to underscore the need for learning and improvement.
Acknowledged Alan Brown's concerns about consumer fairness, stating that consensus in the report supports taking these actions with strong leadership from government. He mentioned the TrustMark programme introduced by the Government for energy efficiency and expressed a commitment to ensuring fair treatment of consumers.
Complimented Darren Jones on his presentation of the report and emphasised the importance of balancing environmental goals with economic management, especially considering the financial impact of covid on businesses. She suggested that additional support for businesses would be necessary to achieve net zero.
To meet net zero targets, we need substantial power from various sources. The Government must plan for all low-carbon generation, including nuclear, to provide high-skilled jobs and support the necessary transition.
The fairness aspect of the report is crucial as it addresses concerns about lifestyle changes that may not be feasible for everyone. There needs to be a broader understanding and recognition of these challenges.
Protecting and restoring the natural world is vital, especially given international reports like the Living Planet report. International cooperation and adherence to laws are essential for tackling climate change effectively.
Citizens assemblies can play a significant role in policy-making by bringing diverse views together and offering well-rounded proposals. They should be utilised more widely, both at Westminster and in local government.
Cross-party support is necessary for long-term climate action. The Government must take immediate steps to ensure that key policies like the energy White Paper are progressive and meet the scale of the challenge.
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) remains a critical technology, especially given past committee recommendations. However, concerns about robustness should be addressed to ensure it can support our transition to net zero effectively.