Climate Change Adaptation 2024-01-30
2024-01-30
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from the need for climate adaptation support in countries facing extreme weather impacts, with a specific focus on the loss and damage fund established at COP28.
What steps his Department is taking to support developing countries with climate change adaptation. Extreme weather is already causing huge devastation, especially in the poorest communities across the world, who are also the least likely to find investors or to borrow from global financial institutions. At COP28 there was a breakthrough, and a loss and damage fund has finally been established. However, the money for the UK's contribution will come from pre-existing climate finance commitments and the development budget. Should the Government, in the spirit of what the loss and damage fund represents, not establish a new, ringfenced loss and damage budget that is not taken from other budgets?
We did support setting up the loss and damage fund at COP28 and we contributed specifically towards it. However, it is important that loss and damage does not draw from the same donors and the same official development assistance budgets as other development. It was because the UAE, as a non-traditional donor, put in $100 million to that fund that Britain was willing to support it, but we need new and different donors and new and different sources of funds.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask for establishing a ringfenced loss and damage budget separate from existing budgets is not directly addressed with concrete commitments.
Did Support Setting Up The Fund
Need New And Different Donors
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question concerns the Government's £3 billion commitment for biodiversity protection, focusing on vulnerable habitats such as those in Antarctica.
Will the Minister confirm that the £3 billion committed by the Government for saving nature will be used on some of the very vulnerable habitat sites and animals around the world, such as those seen by the Environmental Audit Committee during a recent visit to Antarctica? Will he particularly think about whales, fur seals and of course the emperor penguin?
I will think about all the mammals my hon. Friend has mentioned. I can assure him that our commitment is to biodiversity and to nature. We recognise the great importance of the work being done in the Antarctic, and indeed the contribution that he makes to that.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about using £3 billion on vulnerable habitats is not directly answered with concrete commitments.
Will Think About All Mammals
Great Importance Of Work In Antarctic
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The question stems from the Government's handling of the climate crisis, with Labour criticizing a lack of plan for home and internationally.
From the floods to the fires, from melting ice sheets to ocean heat, the climate crisis is reaching a tipping point. Labour has a plan at home: doubling onshore wind, trebling solar and ending new oil and gas licences in the North sea. Labour has a plan internationally: a clean power alliance of developed and developing countries to drive forward the transition. Is it not the truth that the Government have no plan and have squandered Britain's climate reputation to wage culture wars at home?
The reason the Government were able to reduce the size of electricity bills for hard-working families was precisely because we are meeting our targets and will meet our international commitments. Britain's international targets and commitments are enshrined in law as a result of the activities of this House. Internationally we are committed, as the right hon. Gentleman knows and as was set out to the House towards the end of last year, to spending £11.6 billion on ensuring that we meet our climate targets and produce climate finance. I would argue that that figure will be nearer £16 billion by 2026.
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Assessment & feedback
The specific ask about the lack of a clear plan is not directly answered with concrete commitments.
Reducing Electricity Bills
Meeting Targets
Response accuracy