Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether a minister will attend the High-Level Segment of the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels from 28 to 29 April.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. I will correspond directly with the right reverend Prelate.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what their policy priorities are in enacting the transition away from fossil fuels.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. I will correspond directly with the right reverend Prelate.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need to increase investment in renewable energy produced in the UK, following the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas carrying vessels.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. I will correspond directly with the right reverend Prelate.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they intend to support the COP29 Collective Quantified Goal of at least $300 billion per year from the developed world by 2035.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
COP29 agreed a collective goal to provide at least $300bn from a broad range of public and private sources, with developed countries taking the lead.
The UK is committed to providing International Climate Finance now and in the future, and to playing our part alongside other developed countries and climate finance providers to deliver our international commitments. The UK is on track to deliver £11.6bn in International Climate Finance by the end of this financial year. Future spending plans will be set out following the completion of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) allocation process.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards mandating UK-regulated financial institutions and FTSE 100 companies to implement transition plans aligned with the Paris Agreement; and what timetable they intend to set for introducing such requirements.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government ran a consultation from June to September 2025 seeking views on how to implement transition plan requirements. We received extensive feedback from a wide range of stakeholders and are currently reviewing responses. The Government will set out next steps, including any decisions on the introduction and timing of future requirements, in due course.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government how the proposed extension of existing gas and oil drilling in the North Sea aligns with calls arising from the Global Stocktake to accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, as recommended by the Climate Change Committee.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The North Sea Future Plan sets out the Government’s globally standard setting, 1.5°C and climate science aligned approach to future oil and gas production, including how we will deliver our commitment not to issue new licences to explore new fields.
The Government is also introducing new Transitional Energy Certificates to enable some oil and gas production in areas adjacent to already licensed fields, to ensure existing fields can be managed for their lifespan. Developers will not be permitted to carry out new exploration on these areas.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made on their stated ambition to deliver £11.6 billion of International Climate Finance between April 2021 and March 2026, of which £1.5 billion should be adaptation and resilience finance for 2025.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is on track to deliver £11.6 billion in International Climate Finance by the end of the financial year 2025/26. To support the most vulnerable who are experiencing the worst impacts of climate change, the Government is also on track to triple funding for adaptation from £500m in 2019 to £1.5 billion in 2025.
The UK’s International Climate Finance has helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change, provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy, and helped to mobilise billions in private investment.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to support global initiatives to reduce deforestation, following the announcement that they will not be investing in the Tropical Forest Forever Facility launched at COP30.
Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Reducing deforestation globally underpins UK security and growth and is vital to delivering our global goals on climate and nature. Tropical forests in particular safeguard regional rainfall and agriculture, underpinning UK food security. The UK will continue to drive progress in support of global efforts to reduce deforestation. We co-chair the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership and work with forest countries and communities to improve forest governance, sustainable trade and mobilise finance for forest protection and restoration. We continue to provide technical assistance in support of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility and have just announced additional support for the Accelerating Innovative Monitoring for Forests programme, which makes use of technical innovations such as space data, to help forest countries monitor and reduce deforestation.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support will be available to schools to decarbonise following the closure of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
More than £1 billion in public sector decarbonisation funding is still being invested through the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme (PSDS) and Integrated Settlements with Greater Manchester and West Midlands Combined Authorities through to 2028. Additionally, the government and Great British Energy committed approximately £80 million to support around 200 schools in England to install rooftop solar panels and complementary technologies. Each school on average could save up to an estimated £25 000 per year.
11 schools have already installed solar panels which is estimated to save £175 000 on their total energy bills. Great British Energy also awarded £10 million in grant funding to mayoral strategic authorities to roll out clean energy projects at the centre of communities. A significant proportion of this will be used for solar panels for schools across England.
Asked by: Lord Bishop of Norwich (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of decoupling electricity and gas prices.
Answered by Lord Wilson of Sedgefield - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As unabated gas generation is displaced and transitions to a reserve role, wholesale electricity prices will increasingly decouple from the price of gas. Accelerating the deployment of renewable generation, as we are through our Clean Power 2030 Mission, will reduce the frequency with which gas sets the marginal price, helping to rapidly decouple electricity from gas prices without the need for more complex arrangements. This will in turn reduce consumer exposure to volatile international gas prices.