Oral Answers to Questions

Holly Lynch Excerpts

Wednesday 28th October 2015 Commons Chamber

The Secretary of State was asked—

[Holly Lynch (Halifax) (Lab)]

1. What progress her Department has made on its work on the effects of climate change in developing countries.

[The Secretary of State for International Development (Justine Greening)]

We are doing climate-smart development. Through the international climate fund, the UK has helped over 15 million people cope with the effects of climate change and given 2.6 million people access to clean energy. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister recently announced that over the next five years the UK’s climate funding will increase by at least 50%.

[Holly Lynch]

In 2015 we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make progress on both international development and climate change. In countries such as Bangladesh and in regions of Africa, the connection between climate change and child marriage is stark. Desperate families faced with failing crops, flooding and extreme weather impacting on their livelihoods and homes are deciding to see their daughters married earlier and earlier, in the hope that they will at least have a roof over their heads and food to eat. Too often that gamble is leaving girls at risk—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. We need a question.

[Holly Lynch]

I hope that we will look to resolve climate change in order to deal with international development.

[Justine Greening]

The hon. Lady is right to point out that climate change has a number of different impacts that go well beyond the environment. She will know that last year we held the Girl summit, because it is all about increasing momentum to tackle child marriage worldwide. The UK now has a flagship programme in place to do just that.