Wednesday Volume 699 14 July 2021 No. 34 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 14 July 2021 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2021 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 351 14 JULY 2021 352 The COP26 President (Alok Sharma): We are pressing House of Commons all countries to come forward with mid-century net-zero commitments, and aligned ambitious 2030 emissions Wednesday 14 July 2021 reduction targets. We have seen some progress. When the UK took on the COP26 presidency, less than 30% of the global economy was covered by a net-zero emissions The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock target, and that figure is now 70%. PRAYERS Sarah Olney: The Government claim that the UK has reduced its emissions footprint by 42% since 1990, which is a commendable feat. That has been achieved in part [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] by offshoring manufacturing and outsourcing many Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Orders, emissions to countries such as China that produce the 4 June and 30 December 2020). goods we consume. If we factor in those emissions, the [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] UK emissions reduction is possibly as little as 10% to 15%. Ahead of COP26, what steps will the Minister take to include the full scope of our emissions in the accounting, including those arising from UK consumption, supply Oral Answers to Questions chains, and international aviation and shipping? Alok Sharma: The hon. Lady talks about aviation COP26 and shipping, and we have included those in the sixth carbon budget. The role of the UK COP presidency is to ensure climate action and ambition across the whole The President of COP26 was asked— UK, and that is what we are working to deliver. Civil Society and Youth Groups Matthew Pennycook (Greenwich and Woolwich) (Lab): Andy Carter (Warrington South) (Con): What steps Keeping the 1.5°C limit alive is now, quite rightly, one he is taking to consult with (a) civil society and (b) youth of the Government’s stated aims of COP26. Although groups in preparation for COP26. [902685] we do not doubt the COP President’spersonal commitment to delivering on that objective, the Government as a The COP26 President (Alok Sharma): I have established whole are patently still not doing enough. If we are to a civil society and youth advisory council, which is the markedly increase the global ambition for 2030 targets, first of its kind at any COP. It is working with the UK forge a coalition with vulnerable nations to hold the presidency to deliver a successful summit. The co-chairs major emitters to account, and mobilise the climate are youth climate activists, one from the global north finance that is essential to unlocking any agreement, we and one from the global south. I also meet civil society need sustained engagement and focus from the Prime and youth groups on my international visits, to ensure Minister, the Foreign Secretary and the Chancellor, and that their voices are heard. we need it now. With just over 100 days until this critical summit, does the COP26 President recognise that if Andy Carter: I thank my right hon. Friend for his senior members of the Government do not raise their answer. Does he agree that children in our schools can game quickly, there is a real risk of failure in Glasgow play a crucial part in helping us to get to net zero by in November? becoming young climate leaders? In my constituency there are groups such as Warrington Youth Voice, which Alok Sharma: There is a concerted effort across the last month organised its first green schools conference, whole of Government to ensure that we press other and pupils at Penketh Primary School have come together countries to come forward with ambition. Weare,of course, to take steps to reduce energy use in their homes. Will seen around the world as a leader on climate action, my right hon. Friend encourage Members of the House in terms of both the actions we have taken and the to reach out to schools in their constituencies, and build commitments we have made. The Prime Minister has greater understanding of the work of COP26? regular dialogue with world leaders, as do the Chancellor and the Foreign Secretary with their counterparts. Alok Sharma: What an excellent question. I commend my hon. Friend for the work he is doing to encourage youth climate activists in his constituency, such as those Deidre Brock (Edinburgh North and Leith) (SNP) in Warrington Youth Voice and at Penketh Primary [V]: Current carbon budgets will see the world miss the School. As he knows, last month we sent a COP26 1.5°C target, with all the disastrous consequences that schools pack, designed to engage students with climate will have. The UK’s portion of that carbon budget is up action, to schools across the UK. In May, MPs also to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 higher than is proportional received a UK engagement pack. to its population. France put in the effort for global improvement in the Paris agreement, but we have seen Limiting Global Temperature Rise nothing comparable from the UK Government. When will we see that change? What conversations is the right Sarah Olney (Richmond Park) (LD): What steps he is hon. Gentleman having with his Cabinet colleagues taking to help ensure that COP26 outcomes commit to about the immediate actions their Departments should limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C. [902686] be taking to reduce the UK’s carbon contribution? 353 Oral Answers 14 JULY 2021 Oral Answers 354 Alok Sharma: I respectfully disagree with the hon. Member Engagement with COP26 Lady. Since 2000 the UK has decarbonised faster than any other G20 nation, and our national determined Elliot Colburn (Carshalton and Wallington) (Con): contribution of at least 68% reduction in emissions on a What plans he has made for hon. Members to (a) engage 1990 base year by 2030 is world leading, as is the with and (b) attend COP26. [902688] commitment in our carbon budget. We are doing our bit but, of course, there is always room for all of us to The COP26 President (Alok Sharma): As I said in do more. response to an earlier question, all Members of Parliament were sent a COP26 pack in May, which provides ideas Darren Jones (Bristol North West) (Lab): Has Britain for engagement on climate issues with their constituents. lost her credibility when asking developing nations to With regard to attendance at COP26, we will set out pay to decarbonise, following the Government’saffirmation more details very shortly on how parliamentarians can yesterday of their cut to UK international aid spending? register their interest to attend. Alok Sharma: I have seen at first hand, when I was Elliot Colburn [V]: Reducing greenhouse emissions Secretary of State for International Development and, and tackling air pollution is a priority for many Carshalton indeed, in other roles, that UK support continues to and Wallington residents, not least because we have the transform millions of lives for the better across the Beddington incinerator in my constituency. In the spirit world. The hon. Gentleman will know that we will continue of engagement, I hope to host a local COP26 event later to spend over £10 billion this year in aid, and of course this year to discuss how we can work together to reduce we now have certainty that we will be returning to the greenhouse gas emissions. What steps is the COP26 0.7% target. President taking to ensure that the public can engage with COP26 and play their part in this important event? Emerging Markets Exports: Energy and Renewables Alok Sharma: I commend my hon. Friend for the work he is doing in hosting a local climate event in his Richard Graham (Gloucester) (Con): What assessment constituency, and I would urge all hon. and right hon. he has made of the opportunities through COP26 for Members to consider doing the same. We are today also potential exports in energy and renewables to emerging launching the local authorities and mayors COP26 markets. [R] [902687] engagement pack. Of course, we want everyone to play their part in taking climate action; I have always said The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth that we want this to be the most inclusive COP ever. (Anne-Marie Trevelyan): For COP26, we want clean power to be the most attractive option for new power generation Ethics and Human Rights: Climate Change for any country. This presents economic opportunities for every country choosing clean energy. The UK Steven Bonnar (Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill) Government will showcase a variety of organisations (SNP): What preparations he has made for discussion and technologies at COP26 in the blue and green zones, at COP26 of (a) ethics and (b) human rights matters including innovative energy solutions, green technologies relating to climate change. [902689] and services that can help fight climate change and support resilience. The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth (Anne-Marie Trevelyan): The UK recognises the serious Richard Graham: Does my right hon. Friend agree and unequivocal threat that climate change poses to our that the contracts for difference auction that is happening planet, and that it can indeed undermine the enjoyment in November, shortly before COP26, is a wonderful of human rights. The Paris agreement preamble states that opportunity to ensure that there is a separate pot for respecting and promoting our human rights is fundamental marine energy, which can give opportunities for some of to effective climate implementation.