Climate Change: Government Action

Baroness Curran Excerpts

Tuesday 19th May 2026 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Baroness Curran]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to tackle climate change.

[The Minister of State, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (Lord Whitehead) (Lab)]

Since coming to office, the Government have taken decisive action to tackle climate change by accelerating the transition from volatile fossil fuels to homegrown clean energy. Indeed, as we face the second fossil fuel shock in less than five years, every solar panel we have put up, every heat pump we have installed and every electric car on the road has made our country more secure and has helped us to tackle climate change while protecting bill payers and creating good jobs.

[Baroness Curran (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Will he join me in sending warmest wishes to Sir David Attenborough on his 100th birthday? I am sure that all in this House would pay tribute to the extraordinary contribution of Sir David to our understanding of the natural world, but he also tells us what we stand to lose if we do not take urgent action to address the threat of climate change, and he is absolutely clear about the devastating consequences. Does my noble friend agree that the energy independence Bill in the King’s Speech is of critical and central importance, not only to the energy security that he references but to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, which is essential in combating the consequences of climate change?

[Lord Whitehead (Lab)]

First, I am delighted to join my noble friend in paying tribute to Sir David Attenborough, not only for being 100 years old but for the increasing work he has done in recent years not only in talking about the natural world but in bringing public consciousness to bear on the costs of not doing anything about climate change and on how our natural world will change irrevocably if we do not. The energy Bill in the King’s Speech is a crucial part of the next stage of countering climate change in this country, and, in conjunction with the carbon budget and growth delivery plan, it will enable us to meet our next carbon budgets coming up.

King’s Speech

Baroness Curran Excerpts

Tuesday 19th May 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Curran (Lab)]

My Lords, I must admit that when I saw my name so far down the speakers’ list, I hesitated and thought, “I’ll have so many speeches I have to listen to”, but I am so glad that I have spent the afternoon and early evening here, because as an ordinary but avid consumer of the arts, I have a whole new level of motivation. My learning has increased, especially listening to the impressive maiden speeches of the noble Lords, Lord Hobby and Lord Blackwater, and the noble Baroness, Lady Leaman. I anticipate that my learning will continue further.

I want to focus my remarks this evening on energy policy. I would argue that the starting point for energy policy has to be the stark realities of climate change, as has been mentioned much earlier in this debate. The Climate Change Committee confirms that we are already experiencing more frequent heatwaves, heavier rainfall and conditions conducive to wildfires. These are not distant risks; they are happening now, and the UK, we have to be honest, is not adequately prepared. We see the consequences immediately, at first hand. As my noble friend Lord Harris said earlier at Questions, in 2022, extreme heat contributed to over 3,000 deaths and disrupted vital infrastructure. In 2024, the UK faced 50 consecutive days of rain and a number of named storms. Across the globe, extreme weather is intensifying, with enormous consequences. The evidence is all around us and the science is clear: we face not isolated incidents but cascading and compounding shocks across sectors, with threats to national infrastructure and global supply chains’ disruption and fragility. I do not have time to begin to list all the consequences that we face, but let us listen, as of course we should, to Sir David Attenborough, who reminds us that what happens over the next 50 years will determine the fate of all on the planet.

We know what we need to do, and what happens next is up to us. That is why the legislation in the King’s Speech is so important and makes it clear that it is time to get off the fossil fuel rollercoaster and accelerate our transition to clean energy. The energy independence Bill is central to the ambition of change. It will strengthen our energy security at a time of global instability. We have experienced two major energy shocks in just five years, and in fact we have been experiencing energy shocks since the 1970s, with increasing costs to families and businesses. It will help build national resilience—and I too sit on the National Resilience Committee. We need to reform markets, improve planning and produce better regulatory frameworks.

I also welcome the nuclear regulation Bill, because it will play a vital role in delivering reliable, low-carbon power. We must acknowledge the challenges in delivering nuclear power. Delivery is too slow and costs remain too high.

But all in all, we need absolutely to accept the need for urgent action. Energy policy has rightly been a central focus of government action and it must remain so. We stand at a defining moment. The Government must keep their nerve and focus with these measures in the King’s Speech. We must act to protect lives, livelihoods and the foundations of our economy. Inaction is the costliest choice. Now is the time for leadership, ambition and enduring commitment. We must not back off.

Low-carbon Heat Networks

Baroness Curran Excerpts

Wednesday 22nd April 2026 Lords Chamber

Tabled by

[Baroness Curran]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to support the rollout of low carbon heat networks.

[Baroness Griffin of Princethorpe (Lab)]

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lady Curran, and with her permission, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in her name on the Order Paper.

Scotland: New Nuclear Power Generation

Baroness Curran Excerpts

Tuesday 18th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)]

My Lords, I do not think it is the case that we should reopen the devolution settlement, and the noble Lord would not really expect me from the Dispatch Box to say that we should. I think it is clear that, overall, new nuclear has a huge role to play, in the baseload that it can provide and in clean power. The move towards the final investment decision on Sizewell, progress on Hinkley Point C, the SMR programme and the potential of advanced modular reactors will give us a hugely important foundation for clean power for Great Britain as a whole.

[Baroness Curran (Lab)]

My Lords, I speak as a former planning Minister in the Scottish Government. Does the Minister agree that the best way to address this case is not more conflict with the Scottish Government but promoting the argument for nuclear power in a positive way—and, perhaps, working hard so that Anas Sarwar becomes First Minister of Scotland and we can resolve this problem?

[Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Lab)]

My Lords, those are very wise words from my noble friend.