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COP27
09 November 2022
Lead MP
Rishi Sunak
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
UkraineEconomyTaxationEmploymentClimateEnergyChildren & Families
Other Contributors: 50
At a Glance
Rishi Sunak raised concerns about cop27 in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
Mr Speaker, I will make a statement on COP27, which I attended in Sharm el-Sheikh. The UK has advanced global commitments to net zero, now covering 90% of the global economy, with pledges reducing emissions equivalent to America's annual output. We aim to cut emissions by at least 68% by 2030. Despite concerns over Ukraine, our focus remains on accelerating renewable energy transition and investing £30 billion in green jobs. The UK is also committed to protecting forests and climate finance, pledging £90 million to the Congo basin and tripling funding for adaptation by 2025. We support developing countries with clean power investments and have engaged with international leaders on various issues including Alaa Abd el-Fattah's case in Egypt.
Mr Speaker
unknown party
unknown constituency
Question
The case of Alaa Abd el-Fattah was raised. What progress did the Prime Minister make on securing his release?
Minister reply
I raised the case with President Sisi, expressing deep concern and pressing for Alaa's swift and safe return home to his family.
Keir Starmer
Lab
Holborn and St Pancras
Question
Questions the Prime Minister's initial reluctance to attend COP27, highlights his failure to secure Alaa Abd el-Fattah’s release, criticises the government for not acting fast enough on renewables despite their speech at COP27. He also points out that the minister reaffirmed the ban on onshore wind and inserted an oil and gas giveaway into a recent windfall tax scheme.
Minister reply
Sunak defends his attendance at COP27, highlighting Labour's record of non-attendance in previous years. He states that 40% of electricity now comes from renewable power, up fourfold since 2010. The minister asserts the need for a realistic plan acknowledging the role of oil and gas in the transition period.
Theresa May
Con
Maidenhead
Question
Welcomes the continued commitment to net zero by 2050 and asks about the Government’s plans on education and training for green skills.
Minister reply
Sunak highlights record investment in apprenticeships and a new lifelong learning entitlement acknowledging that people will need to retrain throughout their lives.
Ian Blackford
SNP
Ross, Skye and Lochaber
Question
Welcomes the Prime Minister's last-minute decision to attend COP27 but criticises his initial reluctance. He also raises concerns about climate finance pledges being met within five years and whether the total aid budget will be slashed further in the autumn statement.
Minister reply
Sunak affirms the UK’s leadership on loss and damage, commitment to deliver international climate finance pledges over the original timeframe, and reiterates the country's ambitious targets.
Philip Dunne
Con
Chesham and Amersham
Question
Congratulates the Prime Minister on his clear commitment to net zero Britain and asks how he intends that his Government will deliver our ambitious nationally determined contribution.
Minister reply
Sunak assures that although the UK is no longer formally the president of COP, leadership internationally will not waver. He commits to driving this through Government, in conjunction with other Ministers.
Jon Trickett
Lab
Normanton and Hemsworth
Question
Asks if the Prime Minister accepts that tackling social justice issues is necessary to resolve climate change problems and whether he was comfortable with one of the worst polluters on the planet, Coca-Cola, sponsoring a recent COP meeting.
Minister reply
Sunak reiterates Britain’s moral obligation to help countries transition to net zero and highlights the recognition from emerging market leaders at COP.
Greg Clark
Con
Isle of Wight
Question
We need to create jobs and prosperity as we transition to net zero. In battery technology, we are world leading in the research, but we need to manufacture batteries here. Given the concerning news about Britishvolt, will the Prime Minister and his colleagues commission an urgent review of how we can deliver the gigafactories that are necessary in this country in the short term to make sure that we have a continuing vibrant car manufacturing industry?
Minister reply
I thank my right hon. Friend for his comments. I think it may have been his idea to create the Faraday battery challenge, but I was pleased to support that, as Chancellor, with £200 million of funding. He is right about the importance of building a domestic gigafactory capability. I was pleased with the announcement from Envision and Nissan in Sunderland. There is more in the pipeline, and we have the automotive transformation fund available to support those projects to build the vibrant ecosystem that he and I both want to see.
Edward Davey
Lib Dem
Kingston and Surbiton
Question
I welcome what the Prime Minister said at COP—that tackling climate change goes hand in hand with lowering energy bills, improving our energy security and hurting Putin in his illegal war in Ukraine. However, I am alarmed that at home the Prime Minister has banned onshore wind, one of the cheapest and most popular forms of renewable energy. Will he confirm whether his priority is cutting people’s energy bills, improving Britain’s energy security and tackling global climate change, or keeping the dinosaurs on his Back Benches happy? Why will he not get rid of the ban on onshore wind?
Minister reply
It started so well. We are committed to reducing people’s bills and to having more forms of renewable energy. Our track record on this is superb: the amount of renewable energy is four times more than in 2010 and zero carbon energy now accounts for half of our electricity needs. We are poised to do more. Offshore wind is the thing we are focusing on, along with nuclear. We are now a world leader in offshore wind, which is providing cheap forms of electricity and energy for households up and down the country. Alongside nuclear, that is how we will transition to a cleaner grid.
Chris Grayling
Con
Epsom and Ewell
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for getting our environmental strategies back on track. We clearly have a major issue not simply about carbon, but about the loss of biodiversity both on land and at sea. I welcome what he says about our support for the Congo basin. We have, in a month’s time, another crucial summit in Montreal—the convention on biological diversity summit—where further decisions will be taken about how we tackle the loss of biodiversity internationally. Can I ask him to ensure that the United Kingdom plays the fullest possible part in those discussions and a leadership role in tackling that issue?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. There were many moving statements from leaders across the globe at COP on that particular topic, and I can confirm to him that it is something we are widely acknowledged around the world to be a leader on: we put it on the agenda last year in Glasgow. The Secretary of State for the Environment will be attending that COP in Montreal. Our world-leading Environment Act 2021 commits us to reducing the decline in biodiversity and species loss, and I look forward to working with him to deliver on it.
Sarah Champion
Lab
Rotherham
Question
Of course, I welcome any investment for the global south to mitigate the horrific damages of climate change, but is this new money, is it coming out of the existing official development assistance budget and what is being cut if it is coming out of the existing ODA budget? As Chancellor, the right hon. Member made savage cuts to climate mitigation programmes. Is he going to replace those?
Minister reply
As Chancellor, yes, I did make difficult decisions to ensure that our public finances were on a sustainable trajectory. That is not something I am going to shy away from, because I think we have all seen what happens when the Government do not command the confidence of international markets when it comes to borrowing and debt issues. I thought, in that context, it was reasonable to temporarily reduce our ODA budget until our public finances are in a better place, and that is a commitment that I stand by, but we remain committed to the £11.6 billion in international climate finance that we committed at the time. Those announcements have come from that budget.
Theresa Villiers
Con
Hyndburn
Question
The Prime Minister has emphasised the very substantial investment being made in climate-related measures both at home and overseas, but does he share my reservations about the idea of spending trillions more pounds on so-called reparations payments, as advocated by the Opposition, at a time when the public finances are already under strain?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. That is not the right approach, and it is worrying to hear Members of the Labour party suggesting that it is. What we are doing is fulfilling our obligations to help those emerging markets transition to a cleaner future, and we are doing that in a way that supports them, but also supports British companies that are able to provide those investments and create jobs at home as well.
Jeremy Corbyn
Ind
Islington North
Question
I am grateful for my continued rent-free tenancy in the Prime Minister’s head, but if in future he could just let me know when he intends to speak about me, that would be helpful. That is the norm in the House. Could I ask the Prime Minister if he would take this opportunity to welcome the election of President Lula in Brazil, and his commitment to both social justice and environmental justice, and to confirm what the previous Prime Minister told this House, which is that no British bank, financial institution or company will henceforth be allowed to invest in fossil fuel extraction anywhere in the world as part of our contribution to bringing about net zero globally?
Minister reply
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question. If he could ask the Leader of the Opposition to give me advance sight of his questions, I would be happy to let him know if I need to bring him up on questions of security. I agree with the right hon. Gentleman on the importance of ending international finance for coal-fired power plants. It was a landmark agreement that the COP President and the UK presidency achieved at COP.
Vicky Ford
Con
Southport
Question
My Essex constituents absolutely get the impact of climate change, because they saw it at first hand in those awful fires last summer. Many of them also get that, unless we help other countries to mitigate and adapt to climate change, we will see even more unsustainable migration, and that will impact us at home. So it is great that my right hon. Friend has reconfirmed our commitment to the investment amounts that we promised in Glasgow and that he has reconfirmed our commitment to deliver those on time. Can he confirm that we will continue to work with other countries to make sure those investments are made on time?
Minister reply
I thank my right hon. Friend for all her work in this area, which she is rightly passionate about and where she has made an enormous difference. I look forward to receiving her continued advice on how we can deliver on our commitments. I am pleased to give her that reassurance.
Caroline Lucas
Green
Brighton Pavilion
Question
The Prime Minister just said how important it is to keep our promises on climate finance, and I agree. Will he explain why he does not seem to agree with himself? His Government have not kept their climate promises. He has not delivered the $300 million that we still owe to the green climate and adaptation funds—when will we see that? Will he ensure that all new climate finance is new and additional and not being raided from an ever diminishing aid budget? Does he recognise that the moral obligation that he talks about must extend beyond mitigation and adaptation to address loss and damage? Will he support the establishment of a finance facility for loss and damage at COP27?
Minister reply
On loss and damage, I have already made the point that we established the Glasgow dialogue to see how best to take forward those discussions. I will not pre-empt the discussions happening at COP, but that is not the same as reparations—I think the hon. Lady understands—that is not what is on the table.
Richard Fuller
Con
North Bedfordshire
Question
At COP26, the Prime Minister was successful in mobilising hundreds of billions in international private capital to support the challenge of net zero, which seems a much better deal than Labour’s plan, which would place a huge burden on British taxpayers. What further steps will my right hon. Friend take to consolidate London’s leadership as a centre for green finance?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend knows this well. Indeed, he was responsible for the retail green sovereign bond that we issued here—we were the first country in the world to do so—and he deserves credit for that. I am pleased that for, I think, the second or third year in a row, London has been named the world’s leading place for green finance.
Nia Griffith
Lab
Llanelli
Question
The Welsh Labour Government are setting up a publicly owned company to accelerate investment in onshore wind and other renewables, thus reducing emissions, increasing energy security and using profit for the public good. Given that onshore wind is the cheapest form of renewable energy, when will the Prime Minister step up to the mark, match the Welsh Government and bring forward an accelerated investment programme for onshore wind across England?
Minister reply
There has been a slightly chequered history of Labour councils and publicly owned energy companies—in Nottingham, from memory—and that is not a model that we want to emulate. However, we are supporting Wales with the transition.
Steve Brine
Con
Sherborne
Question
The MP appreciates the Prime Minister's commitment to sustainable aviation fuels and asks for collaboration with him on sustainable aviation fuel in his constituency which includes part of a freeport.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges the importance of the Solent freeport and invests £200 million to support commercialisation of two sustainable aviation fuel plants.
Rachael Maskell
Lab/Co-op
York Central
Question
Maskell questions the delay in releasing funding for the BioYorkshire project which is a significant green investment.
Minister reply
The minister states that there is a £1 billion net zero innovation portfolio and offers to look into the specific bid if she writes to him.
Tobias Ellwood
Con
Bournemouth East
Question
Ellwood discusses the impact of climate change on global security and questions whether this is the time to cut defence or international aid budgets.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges the devastation caused by climate change in Pakistan and remains committed to supporting armed forces.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Question
Onwurah criticises the government for providing tax breaks to oil companies while neglecting investment in renewable energy infrastructure.
Minister reply
The minister argues that it is impractical to stop using oil and gas immediately, advocating for domestic production as a transition fuel. He also highlights investments in renewables happening in Teesside.
Rehman Chishti
Con
Gillingham and Rainham
Question
Chishti asks the Prime Minister to address Russia’s narrative about UK sanctions impacting food supplies for developing countries.
Minister reply
The minister agrees with Chishti, mentioning disappointment at Russia's removal from the Black sea grain deal but noting progress.
Dwyfor Meirionnydd
Question
Saville-Roberts mentions a report on Wales’s renewable energy potential being threatened by lack of UK Government leadership in grid connectivity.
Minister reply
The minister acknowledges the need for improving grid capacity and is willing to discuss this further with Saville-Roberts.
Guildford
Question
Richardson asks about the Prime Minister’s commitment to clean and sustainable growth, noting UK's progress in emissions reduction while maintaining GDP growth.
Minister reply
The minister confirms the government's enduring commitment to clean and sustainable growth with a 44% reduction in climate emissions alongside 76% GDP growth.
Ben Bradshaw
Lab
Exeter
Question
Bradshaw asks about the Prime Minister’s stance on onshore wind.
Minister reply
The minister emphasises the importance of offshore wind, highlighting its reliability and job creation potential while stressing community engagement.
Manchester Withington
Question
Fletcher asks for commitment to get government out of the way of private industry in EV charging infrastructure roll-out.
Minister reply
The minister supports Fletcher's point, mentioning £2 billion seed funding and one of Europe’s most developed charging infrastructures.
Catherine West
Lab
Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Question
West questions the role of local authorities in climate emergency and seeks clarity on retrofitting efforts.
Minister reply
The minister highlights funding for energy efficiency programmes, including those benefiting low-income private renters.
David Mundell
Con
Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
Question
Mundell discusses the importance of nuclear power in the green economy but expresses disappointment at Scotland’s blockage.
Minister reply
The minister supports nuclear power as a low-carbon future option, mentioning advanced forms like AMRs and SMRs for job creation.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Question
In the relentless and obsessive pursuit of net zero, the Government are now adopting policies that are contradictory and, in some cases, dangerous. We are going to import billions of pounds-worth of natural gas from countries who frack that gas, yet we are turning our back on the natural resources we have in our own country, sacrificing revenue, jobs and energy security. We are going to rely more on wind and solar power, the earth metals for which are in the hands of autocratic regimes, especially China. We are importing wood from America to burn in a power station in the United Kingdom at a cost of billions to electricity consumers. Those policies might be welcomed by the chattering classes, but does the Prime Minister understand the bewilderment, frustration and anger of those who struggle to pay their electricity bills and worry about energy security?
Minister reply
I agree with the right hon. Gentleman about importing liquified natural gas, which is why I am keen to encourage more exploitation of our domestic oil and gas resources in the North sea. He and I are aligned on that. We have conducted a new North sea licensing round, leading to about 100 new licensing applications. That will increase jobs in the UK and our energy security, and that is the right thing to do.
Simon Hoare
Con
North Dorset
Question
The intervention and leadership of the Government is of course welcome, as is the focus on helping developing and climate change-vulnerable countries. What initiatives are being considered, or could be considered, for businesses to share their technologies, intellectual property and so on with expertise to help those countries move forward far more quickly than we have been able to do? It is, after all, business that will need the research and development in this field which will solve the global problem we all face.
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes an excellent point. That is the type of leadership and contribution that Britain can make to solving the problem globally. We are fortunate to have some of the world’s best researchers and companies tackling this problem. On Monday, I was pleased to announce about half a dozen investment opportunities in Kenya, which do exactly what he describes: British expertise helping a country with its transition in areas such as solar and geothermal. That is an exciting template for the future.
Nick Smith
Lab
Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney
Question
Why is the Prime Minister banning onshore wind, the best renewable energy?
Minister reply
We are providing four times as much renewable electricity today as we did in 2010. We have plans to go even further as we roll out offshore wind, which is a competitive strength for the UK. We will complement that energy mix with new nuclear, a source of energy that we all recognise we need, but for which the previous Labour Government said there was no economic case at all.
Nickie Aiken
Con
City of Westminster
Question
I thank the Prime Minister for his statement on COP27 and in particular for highlighting his discussions on migration with other European leaders. Does he agree with me that if we are to sort out the migration crisis, we must all work together to help developing countries with their climate change challenges, so that we can also deal with the migration crisis?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend makes a good point. I was pleased to discuss the migration issue with several European leaders in particular, because we cannot solve this problem alone. As she said, it is far better to solve it at source before it arrives on our shores. That is the approach we are going to take.
Chris Bryant
Lab
Rhondda and Ogmore
Question
The Prime Minister said that he and his party are more trusted by the British public on the economy. Well, there is one way of testing that, isn’t there? It is with a general election and we would be happy to have that. Let me ask the Prime Minister whether he would like to visit the Rhondda to see the problems that climate change is already bringing to one of the poorer constituencies in the land: flooding, run-off from the mountains, housing stock that is very elderly and difficult to insulate, and a local authority that already has £12 million of extra budget next year just to keep the lights on and the schools and leisure facilities running. Will he visit the Rhondda, and try to sort out some of those problems?
Minister reply
One of the things the hon. Gentleman mentioned was energy efficiency. As I said, we have billions of pounds in programmes to support local authorities to improve the energy efficiency of homes, particularly in deprived communities and for those on low incomes. Those adaptations can save them hundreds of pounds on their energy bill. I urge his local authority and others to engage with us to deliver them.
St Ives
Question
As we have heard today, energy security has never been more vital. The journey to net zero is also our journey to energy sovereignty. It will also mean lower bills and more reliable, less volatile prices for our domestic market. Does my right hon. Friend agree that Cornwall will play a vital role, offering lithium, floating offshore wind and deep geothermal energy? Can I extend an invitation to the Prime Minister to visit my businesses and see the work going on in the south-west?
Minister reply
I would be delighted to do so. My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the importance of building resilience in supply chains such as lithium. The Minister for Science and Investment Security, my hon. Friend the Member for Wealden (Ms Ghani) is focused on our critical mineral strategy, which was raised earlier. That is right, and Cornwall can play a key part in improving our resilience and security.
Wera Hobhouse
Lib Dem
Bath
Question
António Guterres said: “We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator”. The Prime Minister’s Government are good at making plans and promises and setting targets, but they are poor at delivery. Will he therefore re-establish the Department of Energy and Climate Change to co-ordinate a whole-Government approach, given that the delivery of net zero is fragmented and not on track?
Minister reply
Actually, we are on track to meet all the climate targets that we have set. Our track record is that we have met them all. They are the most ambitious in the world and I reassure the hon. Lady that this is a whole-Government effort. Every Minister in the Government is committed to doing what they need to do to deliver on our ambitions.
Siobhan Baillie
Con
Stroud
Question
In expertise terms, Stroud is the greenest constituency in the greenest county of Gloucestershire, so I welcome the important challenge about what net zero means to everyday people, because we are providing the solutions. Does my right hon. Friend agree that Government programmes such as Jet Zero and expert green tech businesses such as those in Stroud will be pivotal to the UK’s meeting its targets here affordably for our constituents and to helping other countries with climate challenges?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is absolutely right, and that is why this can be a win-win. There are already hundreds of thousands of jobs in the UK involved in our transition to net zero. Not only is that good for our economy, but that expertise is helping other countries to make the transition. We need to make sure that all our funding and all our policies are geared towards supporting her fantastic businesses in Stroud, because that is the right thing to do not just for us, but for the world.
Rushanara Ali
Lab
Bethnal Green and Stepney
Question
I wrote to the Prime Minister to ask him to make representations to the Egyptian President about the case of my constituent Jessica Kelly’s husband, Karim Ennarah, an Egyptian human rights activist who was imprisoned. We campaigned and managed to get him released, but he is the subject of a travel ban and an asset freeze. First, did the Prime Minister raise that case, along with that of Alaa Abd el-Fattah? Secondly, does the Prime Minister think that it is right that his Government should divert billions of pounds of aid funding away from those who are most vulnerable to climate change and other risks when he has already made aid budget cuts?
Minister reply
We are not diverting funding; we remain committed to the £11.6 billion of climate finance that we outlined last year. I raised in general the topic of human rights with the President. I am keen to see the release of the detainees, as are other countries, and we will continue to press on all those matters.
Richard Graham
Con
Gloucester
Question
Will the Prime Minister join me in thanking Lord Goldsmith for his work at COP27 to persuade Indonesia—home to globally important forests—to play a key role in the new forests and climate leaders’ partnership? When the Prime Minister goes to Indonesia for the G20 summit, will he discuss with President Jokowi opportunities for energy transition finance, marine energy co-operation and our starting to work together on a green-tinted free trade agreement?
Minister reply
Not only will I pay tribute to the work of Lord Goldsmith on that particular issue, but I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for his knowledge of and engagement in the region. He deserves praise and credit for that. He is right about the exciting opportunity to have what is called a “country platform” with Indonesia to bring together public and private finance to help it with its energy transition. I am hopeful that we can play a big part in that.
Clive Efford
Lab
Eltham
Question
Is the Prime Minister’s refusal to approve onshore wind generation the reason why he cannot commit to 100% clean energy by 2030?
Minister reply
I think the Labour party’s plans on climate change were called “incredible” and “unrealistic” at the last election. Our plans are practical and credible and they are the most ambitious in the developed world. I feel very good about them, but we need to do this in a realistic way that actually brings people along with us. That is what our targets do.
Ben Spencer
Con
Runnymede and Weybridge
Question
I thank my right hon. Friend for his statement. Today, Just Stop Oil protesters have been on the M25 causing disruption and misery to my constituents; that includes causing problems with access to my local hospital. Does he agree that rather than engaging in illegal stunts and endangering lives, those protesters should look at our record of delivery on net zero—from renewables to the Glasgow climate pact—and work with us constructively to deliver on our environmental ambitions?
Minister reply
I completely agree, and I sympathise with my hon. Friend’s hard-working constituents who are having to deal with that kind of disruption. That is why we are moving ahead with legislation to give the police the powers that they need to stop that type of extremist protesting disrupting the lives of working people. I very much hope that the Labour party joins us in supporting those changes.
Diana R. Johnson
Lab
Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
Question
Will the Prime Minister urgently press ahead with carbon capture and storage in the Humber, which is the largest industrial emitter of carbon? It is not right that the British taxpayer alone should pay for that. Should multinational companies that emit carbon not also have a role to play in financing carbon capture and storage?
Minister reply
The right hon. Lady is absolutely right about the importance of carbon capture and storage, which is why we have committed to investing £1 billion to develop a couple of clusters over the next several years. She will know about the announcement that has been made on those. She is also right that this cannot be just about what the Government do. Our money is designed to catalyse the investment necessary from private companies, and I hope to see that happen.
Question
I welcome my right hon. Friend’s speech at COP27 and especially his commitment to supporting green private finance projects, but does he agree that we should support private firms who back all sustainable environmental, social and governance principles, not just those exclusively pursuing net zero?
Minister reply
Yes; my hon. Friend makes a very good point. We need a broader approach, and that is what we will take as a Government. The UK is leading on a broad range of things when it comes to sustainability standards, and I look forward to getting his input on how best we can take that agenda forward.
Question
As the Prime Minister will know, 8 million people die every year from air pollution—63,000 die in Britain—and by 2050 there will be as much plastic in the sea as there are fish. First, will he invoke World Health Organisation air quality standards in Britain as legally enforceable and encourage that at COP27? Will he also look at my Plastics (Recycling, Sustainability and Pollution Reduction) Bill, which is on today’s Order Paper?
Minister reply
I am pleased that air pollution has fallen significantly since 2010, which includes about a 40% reduction in nitrogen dioxide. Our Environment Act 2021 has new targets in place and we have supported local authorities with about £800 million in funding for that. On plastics, that Act means that we will ban more single-use plastics, charge for others and have a new enhanced producer responsibility and a deposit return scheme. It is an incredibly ambitious agenda to reduce the amount of plastic in our system.
Florence Eshalomi
Lab Co-op
Vauxhall and Camberwell Green
Question
I am proud that my Vauxhall constituency is leading the way with so many of my constituents concerned about global warming. My local council, Lambeth Council, was the first local authority in London to declare a climate emergency, leading the way on policies to clean up the air. However, this action needs not just local but national and international leadership, so it was sad that the Prime Minister failed to show that through his reluctance to attend COP27. Will he match the commitment from my constituents by showing his commitment and financing to help to address this important issue?
Minister reply
We have given that commitment, including to £11.6 billion for international climate finance. However, as we have discussed, this is not just about what the Government can do; we need the private sector and private finance to help with the transition. That is why all the changes that we are making to the financial system are equally important, because that is where we will unlock the trillions of dollars required.
Question
Across the world, economies are facing huge challenges caused by Putin’s war in Ukraine. Does the Prime Minister agree that tackling climate change and achieving energy security are aligned and that the war in Ukraine has made progress on domestic, sustainable energy production even more urgent?
Minister reply
My hon. Friend is spot on; those two things go hand in hand. Greater energy security will help us to meet our climate ambitions. We want cheaper, safer and cleaner forms of energy here at home, and that is what our plans are delivering.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
I thank the Prime Minister very much for his statement. I welcome the news that climate change remains a priority, but will he further assure the House that heating and eating for our elderly and vulnerable will also be a priority? While the Government seek to be a good steward of the environment—I welcome that—they also need to help our people have the basic quality of life that they deserve in this great nation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Minister reply
I join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to our elderly constituents and citizens. It is right that they get extra help with bills over the winter. That is why I tried to prioritise them with the announcements earlier this year on the cost of living payment, and it is why they receive a winter fuel payment, but they will always be uppermost in our mind because they are particularly vulnerable to cold, and we will make sure that we look after them.
Rachel Hopkins
Lab
Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Question
Nature is declining rapidly, with 1 million species at risk of extinction and with deforestation accelerating in the Amazon and around the globe. If we are to limit global warming to 1.5°C, we must urgently halt and reverse that loss. Will the Prime Minister now support Labour’s call for a net zero and nature test to align all public spending and infrastructure decisions with our climate and nature commitments?
Minister reply
That is why I am so pleased that one of our signature achievements last year was to have countries that account for 90% of the world’s forests agreeing to reverse and halt land loss and degradation by 2030. We are playing our part in that. The announcements on Monday supporting the Congo were warmly welcomed not just in that country, but by other countries in Africa, because they know that we are committed to this agenda.
Question
The Prime Minister is very proud of the £11.5 billion that he keeps talking about and that has been pledged, but where will it actually be disbursed? If the aid budget is being cut, surely it will come at the expense of other equally valid and equally important projects. How on earth does slashing the 0.7% budget commitment demonstrate the United Kingdom’s global soft power?
Minister reply
The £11.6 billion is being spent over the period that was outlined at the beginning. It is right that we invest in quality projects that can make a difference, not rush to get money out of the door and waste it. I make no apology for having had to make some difficult decisions as Chancellor to ensure that our borrowing was on a sustainable trajectory. That is the right thing for this country: it is the right way to make sure that we can restrain the rise in interest rates. This country will always continue to play a leading role around the world, and I am proud that we are doing so.
Question
President Zelensky has proposed an initiative for a global platform to assess the impact of military actions on climate and environment, citing the impact of Russia’s war on Ukraine as an example of war driving deforestation and renewed fossil fuel generation. Will the Prime Minister be supporting Ukraine’s initiative at COP27?
Minister reply
I was pleased to speak to President Zelensky on my first day in office. He and I will remain in regular dialogue; I am sure that we will discuss many ways in which we can support Ukraine, first and foremost in repelling the illegal Russian aggression that it is experiencing.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Question
Given the rapid decarbonisation of the steel industry, there is no business case for the west Cumbria coalmine, a proposal that is on the desk of the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. When it comes to protecting our planet, there was never a case for it. We have to keep our fossil fuels in the ground, not dig them up and burn them. The Prime Minister will be aware that, for the third time now, the Government have delayed the decision whether to approve the west Cumbria coalmine. It was delayed until after COP26 and has now been delayed until after COP27. We have been told that 8 December is the hard and fast date for the decision to be made. Will his Government stick to that promise? Will they do the right thing and say no to a new coalmine?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman knows that these are quasi-judicial processes and it would not be right for me to comment on them.
Shadow Comment
Keir Starmer
Shadow Comment
The Prime Minister was dragged to COP27, sending a message of disinterest in climate leadership. His reluctance is bizarre given the opportunities for economic growth through renewables and job creation. Despite claims at COP27, he remains a roadblock on renewables and an enabler for fossil fuel companies via windfall tax exemptions. Aid budget cuts undermine promises to developing countries. Labour proposes making Britain the first major economy with 100% clean power by 2030 through GB Energy, a publicly-owned energy company, to invest in future technologies.
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