Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Clive Efford Excerpts
Wednesday 1st December 2021

(3 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Sharma Portrait Alok Sharma
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That is a very fair question, and as I said, in due course I will set out for the House in a written statement precisely what we will do in our presidency year. As the hon. Gentleman knows, a significant number of commitments were made by countries at COP26, and our intention is to ensure that they deliver on the commitments they have made.

Clive Efford Portrait Clive Efford (Eltham) (Lab)
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No one doubts the Secretary of State’s commitment to delivering on climate change, but can he say what he intends to do over the next 12 months? The pledges that were made at COP26 must have been alarming to him, because with current pledges we are way off delivering on 1.5°, and the achievements that countries will make by 2030 will be way off target. What will he do to step up his activities as president for the next year to ensure that we get back on target to keep 1.5° alive?

Lord Sharma Portrait Alok Sharma
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As I said, I will set that out in writing. If we consider all the commitments made by countries, including the net zero commitments and long-term strategies, there are credible reports that suggest we are heading to below 2°. Of course this is the start of a decade of action, which is why we need to push forward during this year.