Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
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Wednesday Volume 692 14 April 2021 No. 200 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 14 April 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/. 301 14 APRIL 2021 302 The total impact, by the Government’s own admission, House of Commons is that they will not meet the fourth and fifth carbon budgets. When we pull back the curtain, there is not Wednesday 14 April 2021 much to look at, and we are running out of time. He has just said, in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Fleur Anderson), that there will be a net zero The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock strategy. We need it before the summer recess to make the Government’s word credible ahead of COP26. Does he agree with that, and if so, what is he doing about it? PRAYERS Alok Sharma: As someone who was partly responsible [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] for preparing the 10-point plan, may I suggest that the Virtual participation in proceedings commenced (Orders, hon. Gentleman actually reads the detail of it? I have 4 June and 30 December 2020). discussed the sector-specific points in it with individuals [NB: [V] denotes a Member participating virtually.] in different sectors of industry, who have found it quite compelling. Of course I agree that we need to be doing more, and that is why I have committed to publishing Oral Answers to Questions the comprehensive net zero strategy ahead of COP26. Philip Dunne (Ludlow) (Con) [V]: What steps is my right hon. Friend taking, in his extensive discussions with leaders around the world on making progress at COP26 COP26, to develop a global standard or taxonomy of climate change impact in financial reporting and in green The President of COP26 was asked— labelling investment products? Covid-19: Green Recovery Alok Sharma: As my right hon. Friend will know, the UK has taken a leading role in climate-related disclosures FleurAnderson(Putney)(Lab):WhatstepstheGovernment by implementing a green taxonomy and, very importantly, are taking to promote climate action and a green recovery by making TCFD-aligned disclosures—recommended by from the covid-19 pandemic ahead of COP26. [914039] the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures —mandatory across the economy by 2025. In the Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab): What steps conversations that I have with Governments around the the Government are taking to promote climate action world, I am urging other countries to follow a similar and a green recovery from the covid-19 pandemic ahead approach on financial disclosures. My right hon. Friend of COP26. [914040] talks about asset owners in the financial services sector, and we are also encouraging asset owners and asset TheCOP26President(AlokSharma):ThePrimeMinister’s managers to make net zero commitments. 10-point plan sets out our blueprint for a green industrial revolution—a plan to invest in green technologies and Tackling Climate Change: International Ambition industries, leveraging in billions of pounds of private sector investment, supporting up to a quarter of a million green jobs and levelling up across the UK. It is a clear plan to Ruth Edwards (Rushcliffe) (Con): What progress the build back greener from the covid pandemic. Government have made on raising international ambition to tackle climate change as part of preparations for Fleur Anderson: The UK’s credibility as COP President COP26. [914041] rests on demonstrable climate action at home. The Government have set legally binding net zero targets The COP26 President (Alok Sharma): When the UK but they are currently off track to meet their fourth and took on the role of the incoming COP26 presidency, fifth carbon budgets, which are calibrated for previous, under 30% of the global economy was covered by a net more lenient targets. Scrapping the green homes grant zero commitment. The good news is that that figure has two weeks ago puts us into reverse. How will the right now increased to 70% and of course I am pressing all hon. Gentleman seek to progress local, national and countries to come forward with net zero commitments. international progress on energy efficiency and specifically However, as colleagues in this House have acknowledged on green homes in the run-up to and during COP26? previously, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s initial “NDC Synthesis Report”, Alok Sharma: The UK has decarbonised its economy published in February, showed that we have much more faster than any other G20 nation since 2000. We have met progress to make on the 2030 emissions reduction target, carbonbudgetsCB1andCB2,weareontracktomeetCB3, and I am pressing countries on that as well. and of course we are pursuing plans to ensure that we meet CB4 and CB5. Ahead of COP26, we will publish a Ruth Edwards [V]: The UK is a global leader in comprehensive net zero strategy. protecting the ocean, as shown by the success of its Blue Belt and 30x30 programmes, but as my right hon. Andrew Gwynne [V]: The COP President has talked Friend will know,only 1% of international waters currently confidentlyaboutBritishleadership,butthePrimeMinister’s have effective protection. Will he commit the UK to 10-point plan is full of big words and no real detail. taking the lead in pushing for a strong global oceans 303 Oral Answers 14 APRIL 2021 Oral Answers 304 treaty at the United Nations, to establish an international Alok Sharma: The hon. Gentleman raises an important frameworkforprotectingmarinebiodiversityininternational point. I have said on a number of occasions that I want waters? this to be the most inclusive COP ever. Absolutely, we are looking at how we can expand our digital programmes Alok Sharma: My hon. Friend raises a vital issue, and to allow for more virtualisation. I hope that, at the she will be pleased to hear that the UK is working hard appropriate time, I will be able to update the House to see negotiations concluded this year on a new UN further. convention for the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdictions. Darren Jones (Bristol North West) (Lab): A diplomatic That will enable the establishment of marine protected source in the British Government is reported in the areas and help to deliver on the 30x30 target. papers today as saying about the conference: “No one in Europe thinks it’s going to happen and the US is Matthew Pennycook (Greenwich and Woolwich) (Lab): increasingly sceptical that it can happen without a delay.” In a letter to all UNFCCC—United Nations framework convention on climate change—parties this week, the I support the COP26 President’s aim for a physical COP President rightly argued that we must halve global conference of national delegations but, of course, many emissions by 2030 if we are to keep the goal of limiting stakeholders are politicians, business leaders, NGOs global warming to 1.5° within reach, yet he will know and others. When will the Cabinet Office produce a that recent UN analysis makes it clear that current contingency plan to give clarity to stakeholders about national pledges will reduce emissions by just 1% by the how engagement can take place in November? end of this critical decade. We need the major emitters to do much more if we are to close the gap. That means Alok Sharma: The hon. Gentleman, again, raises an a need for deep cuts in American emissions and for important point. He will have seen the letter I wrote to Chinese emissions to peak by 2025, but it also means a UNFCCC members on the progress we want to make need for tangible progress on the part of India. With the over the coming months. COP26 has already been Prime Minister meeting President Modi later this month, postponed by one year, and the urgency of the climate will the COP President tell the House what the UK is crisis has not abated. I do not sense any desire among willing to put on the table, particularly in terms of parties for a further postponement, and we are working climate finance and technological support, to help to very hard to ensure that we have an in-person, physical ensure that India feels able to increase its ambition COP, taking into account, of course, any covid-related markedly ahead of the summit? contingencies. Alok Sharma: I agree entirely with the hon. Gentleman UN Sustainable Development Goals but, of course, all countries need to make much more progress when it comes to ambitious, nationally determined contributions to the 2030 near-term emission reduction Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): What targets. I have spoken with large economies around the steps he is taking to encourage towns,cities and communities world. As he knows, I met Prime Minister Modi a few to deliver the UN sustainable development goals at local weeks ago and, of course, we are working on a number level in the run-up to COP26. [914043] of initiatives with the Indian Government. When the Prime Minister goes to India, I am sure there will be Mr Speaker: Vice-president? further announcements. Virtual Participation in COP26 The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth (Anne-Marie Trevelyan): Thank you, Mr Speaker. That is a new title. I was happy with international champion, Martyn Day (Linlithgow and East Falkirk) (SNP): but I am sure vice-president is acceptable, too. What plans he has to arrange for remote virtual participation in COP26 in the event of ongoing restrictions The actions we are taking to tackle climate change due to the covid-19 pandemic.