Oral Answers to Questions

Huw Merriman Excerpts

Wednesday 1st May 2019 Commons Chamber

[Craig Tracey (North Warwickshire) (Con)]

3. What support her Department provides to help developing countries tackle climate change.

[Huw Merriman (Bexhill and Battle) (Con)]

12. What support her Department provides to help developing countries tackle climate change.

--- Later in debate ---

[Harriett Baldwin]

I welcome the way in which the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has allocated that money. Of course, it is overseas development assistance money that helps to support and enhance biodiversity in countries that are eligible for overseas development assistance.

[Huw Merriman]

It is very welcome that the Government are doing more to help developing countries with climate change, but the reality, as I have seen for myself, is that the Chinese are leaving a very large carbon footprint in African countries. What more can the Government do to persuade the Chinese to do better in Africa?

[Harriett Baldwin]

I know that my hon. Friend is an aide to the Chancellor and I know that the Chancellor was in China this week emphasising in his remarks the importance of taking into account the sustainable development goals in development projects. I am very pleased to see that 78 countries, including China, have issued green bonds here in the City of London, with eight different currencies raising $24.5 billion towards sustainable development. The UK has really shown leadership on this initiative.