Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Climate Change Committee: 2023 Progress Report

Tuesday 19 September 2023 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Liz Twist asked about the implications of the Climate Change Committee's 2023 report on the Department's policies.
  • The Minister acknowledged the Climate Change Committee's work and noted the Government's progress in reducing emissions and transitioning to renewable energy.
  • Christopher Chope questioned whether the Climate Change Committee report would increase reliance on Chinese technology and raw materials for achieving net zero goals.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Climate
Context

The Climate Change Committee published its 2023 Progress Report in June, assessing the UK Government's policies on climate change.

Question

What assessment has been made of the implications for her Department's policies of the Climate Change Committee's 2023 Progress Report to Parliament?

Answer from Graham Stuart

I am grateful for the work of the Climate Change Committee, and I pay tribute in particular to the commitment of its outgoing chair, Lord Deben. The Government will respond to the committee's report in October.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The response avoids specifics about the implications on departmental policies and actions requested by the MP, instead mentioning a future planned response without details.

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Q2 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
Climate
Context

The Climate Change Committee's latest report highlighted that only nine out of fifty key indicators showed the UK was on track with its climate policies, while Energy UK forecasted slower growth in low-carbon electricity generation compared to other major economies.

Question

According to the latest Climate Change Committee report, just nine out of 50 key indicators were on track. Energy UK also forecast slow growth in low-carbon electricity generation before the offshore wind auction. Does the Minister recognise that this failure has cost every family £180 in higher bills?

Answer from Graham Stuart

Our climate leadership is measurable and real. We have reduced emissions by more than any other major economy since 1990. We were the first to legislate for net zero, eliminating coal, which produced nearly 40% of electricity supply in 2012, and we lifted renewables from 7% to 48%. We are leading on this issue internationally and domestically.

Not addressed: The minister does not acknowledge the financial impact or recognise the failure mentioned by the MP; instead focuses on past achievements.

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Q3 Christopher Chope Con Christchurch
Climate
Context

The Climate Change Committee report highlighted a potential increase in UK's reliance on foreign technology and materials, specifically mentioning China.

Question

Does my right hon. Friend accept that one consequence of the Climate Change Committee report is to increase our country's reliance on Chinese technology and raw materials?

Answer from Graham Stuart

China has even greater offshore wind capacity than ourselves—it has the largest wind and largest solar capacity in the world—and it has a significant level of production. We recognise that we will need technology from all over the world, including China, if we are to meet our net zero aspirations.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q4 Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East
Climate
Context

The Climate Change Committee highlighted weak policy signals, uncertainty, and investment barriers. UK investors representing £1.5 trillion in assets warned about potential job losses if these issues are not addressed.

Question

According to the report, private sector progress on climate change is hindered by policy weaknesses, uncertainty, and investment hurdles. Investors wrote to the Prime Minister warning of 1.7 million job losses due to this. Will the Government listen to investors and advisers, look at US interventions, and bring forward a UK version of the Inflation Reduction Act?

Answer from Graham Stuart

Yet another unfunded spending commitment from the Labour party—the party that left us with less than 7% of our electricity coming from renewables and reliant on coal; a party that wants to nationalise the industry, driving out companies transforming the North Sea basin. The Labour party is the biggest enemy of net zero.

Not addressed: null

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