Backbench Business

The House welcomes the report of Climate Assembly UK, which runs to more than 500 pages. The report highlights public support for offshore wind energy and hydrogen power but raises concerns over its scalability and value for money. There is also a need to reform existing targets in light of recent failures such as BiFab contract collapse.

Welcomes the Climate Assembly report and its recommendations, highlighting the importance of strong leadership from Government. Emphasises the role of carbon capture and storage in nature, particularly through better forest management, restoring wetlands, and enhancing soil carbon storage. Advocates for protecting coastal habitats and seas to tackle climate change by storing blue carbon, which is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas impacts on the atmosphere. Mentions the loss of coastal habitats globally and locally, advocating for projects like Wallasea island that protect against flooding while providing environmental benefits. Discusses seagrasses and their role in sequestering carbon and supporting fisheries.

Highlights the importance of the Climate Assembly UK report, which represents public opinion on climate action rather than political directives. Acknowledges the need for cross-party agreement to achieve net zero emissions and criticises the lack of clarity in government's environmental goals as outlined in the National Audit Office report. Emphasises the need for a Minister with exclusive responsibility for ensuring net zero targets are met and that departments are coordinated, citing 78% public support from the Climate Assembly for such an initiative.

Emphasised the importance of the Climate Assembly report during the health crisis, praised the assembly's representation and comprehensive recommendations, welcomed investment in low-carbon buses and trains but criticised a 15% cut to walking and cycling budget.

Initially sceptical of the Climate Assembly, Jerome Mayhew later recognised its value in providing fair and balanced information. He emphasised that while the assembly's work cannot replace Parliament’s role, it has added valuable insights to climate policy debates. The Prime Minister’s 10-point plan for a green industrial revolution aligns closely with the assembly’s conclusions, reflecting public acceptance of large-scale changes required to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Mayhew noted that the assembly's recommendations on technologies such as carbon capture and storage received less support than expected.

Congratulating both the hon. Member for Bristol North West (Darren Jones) and the members of the climate assembly, Claudia Webbe highlighted that public participation in democratic processes is crucial, especially regarding the urgent issue of climate change. The Climate Assembly's report provides a mandate for decarbonisation across various sectors including travel, food consumption, land use, energy usage, electricity generation, and greenhouse gas removal. She criticised the Government’s green industrial revolution plan as insufficient, noting that only £4 billion out of £12 billion is new funding, which is significantly less than the increased military spending announced recently.

Welcomes the Climate Assembly and its pragmatic approach towards tackling climate change, supporting measures such as electric vehicles ban by 2030, deposit return scheme, more offshore wind energy, planting trees, carbon capture in soil, hydrogen solutions for heating, and carbon neutrality target of 2050.

Noted the time pressure but did not make a contribution to the debate on climate change action based on the Climate Assembly report.

Highly appreciates the Climate Assembly's recommendations and urges the Government to form a response. Questions whether the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is sufficiently senior to co-ordinate climate change policy across various Departments. Recommends appointing a full-time person to oversee UK’s contribution to COP26. Supports banning petrol and diesel cars by 2030, reducing car journeys, increasing public transport investment, upgrading homes with green technologies like heat pumps.

Welcomed the Climate Assembly report, emphasising its focus on fairness, education, public transport, greener homes, leadership from Government, net zero goals for buildings, Agriculture Act 2020, green industrial revolution, Jet Zero Council and electric vehicle ban.

Welcomed the Climate Assembly’s report on aviation, highlighted the impact of covid on her constituency, called for inclusion of emissions from international aviation in the Climate Change Act 2008, criticised the lack of action on sustainable fuels by industry, urged the Government to support walking and cycling.

Welcomed the report but questioned its value given the Government's existing plans, emphasised the economic benefits of new technologies for reducing carbon emissions, suggested hydrogen transport could decarbonise heavy goods vehicles, trains and planes, proposed embedding climate change within every government department.

I congratulate my colleague, neighbour and hon. Friend the Member for Bristol North West on securing this debate. I attended one of the sessions of the Climate Assembly in Birmingham as vice-Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee and was impressed by how assembly members had been selected to represent the general population. Expert witnesses contributed significantly, but there were disadvantages like cost and time delay. The Government’s introduction of a deposit returns scheme and phase-out of petrol and diesel by 2030 could have happened without the Climate Assembly. However, I was won over by seeing a balanced debate with people ranging from those very passionate about climate emergency to complete deniers. Concerns remain that consensus-driven processes may lead to less ambitious outcomes. Assembly members rejected proposals to bring forward the 2050 target date and focused on recommendations like low-carbon farming, food waste reduction and natural climate solutions such as peatlands and forestry.

I welcome the Climate Assembly’s report which was innovative and courageous. My constituency has a long history in energy supply, now transitioning to green renewable energy. However, we are frustrated by lack of Government action on opportunities for wave and tidal power development, which could contribute significantly to future needs. We need an innovation power purchase agreement or similar mechanism to get marine energy technologies to commercial deployment stage. The European Union is moving ahead with its draft marine energy strategy, posing a risk that we will lose the opportunity to develop our own supply chain and green jobs. I hope the Minister will have good news for industry when responding.

Critiques the UK Government's failure to fully align with Climate Assembly recommendations. Praises early adoption of 2030 phase-out for internal combustion engines but calls for more on electric vehicle grants and low-carbon transport investments, including hydrogen buses and electric buses. Advocates for a proper heat decarbonisation strategy addressing home heating issues. Supports wind energy initiatives while criticising the decision to stop onshore wind bids in CfD auctions. Urges reconsideration of nuclear investment and carbon capture and storage policies. Highlights Scotland's progress in reforestation compared to UK Government's lacklustre efforts.

It is a real pleasure to respond on behalf of the Opposition. We are in the midst of a climate and environment emergency, with CO2 concentration rising unabated. The UK needs to transition to a net zero world by making rapid progress in sectors like transport and housing, which will be more difficult to decarbonise and have greater impact on people. The Climate Assembly report emphasises strong leadership from Government and fairness in the transition process. We need certainty, long-term planning, and a phased transition, but the Government is not providing this necessary leadership. There must be consistent approach across different departments and clarity, certainty, and consistency in policy making. Fairness must be at the heart of the transition, with effective green policies designed to mitigate disruption and support people and communities through the change.

Made clear that we are in a climate emergency and there is much progress to be proud of but more needs to happen, particularly in transport and housing. Emphasised the importance of strong leadership from Government.

Stressed that any solution to climate change must address carbon consumption. The UK is not doing enough on production emissions, even with territorial emissions progress made in power sector.

The Minister emphasised the Government's commitment to engaging with the public on climate change policies. He highlighted that many recommendations from the Climate Assembly report were reflected in the Prime Minister’s 10-point plan, including increased investment in wind and solar power, low-carbon hydrogen production, zero emissions vehicles, public transport improvements, sustainable aviation fuels, green building initiatives, and natural environment restoration.

The hon. Member for Brent West called on the Government to address transparency issues in the relationship between big energy companies and the government, citing 94% support from the Climate Assembly for more transparency due to concerns over lobbying and influence.