Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between David Mackintosh and Amber Rudd

Thursday 7th January 2016 Commons Chamber

[David Mackintosh (Northampton South) (Con)]

13. What the outcomes for the UK were of the COP 21 climate conference in Paris.

[The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Amber Rudd)]

My hon. Friends will be aware that the agreement reached in Paris in December was an historic step forward. Almost 200 countries committed to climate action, which, for the first time ever, they all agreed to review every five years and to be held accountable for. There will now be follow-up work in the UN to agree the detailed rules and prepare for the five-year reviews.

[Amber Rudd]

My hon. Friend is right. The UK can take pride in the structure that was put together in Paris because it mimics in some ways the Climate Change Act that we put in place so many years ago. The five-year review, the transparency and the need to come back all the time with an improved offer are the right way to go, and I am confident that we will be able to deliver on that. I am excited about the prospect of talking further to my international partners to make sure that we have in place the right system for delivering that over the next few years.

[David Mackintosh]

Does my right hon. Friend agree that ensuring that all countries which have signed up to the agreements submit regular and full updates, and that data on progress are crucial so that we can see which countries are sticking to the agreement?