Oral Answers to Questions

Matt Western Excerpts

Wednesday 9th June 2021 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Gwynne (Denton and Reddish) (Lab)]

What steps the Government are taking to promote climate action and a green recovery from the covid-19 pandemic ahead of COP26.

[Matt Western (Warwick and Leamington) (Lab)]

What steps the Government are taking to promote climate action and a green recovery from the covid-19 pandemic ahead of COP26.

[The COP26 President (Alok Sharma)]

The Prime Minister’s 10-point plan sets out our blueprint for a green industrial revolution. The plan invests in green technologies and industries. It leverages billions of pounds of private sector investment to create and support up to 250,000 highly skilled green jobs and level up across the UK.

--- Later in debate ---

[Alok Sharma]

I would just say to the hon. Member that when the UK took on the COP26 presidency, less than 30% of the global economy was covered by a net zero target; that is now 70%. All the G7 countries have committed to 2030 NDCs that are aligned with net zero by 2050. Of course, he is right that we want all countries, particularly the big emitters, to come forward with ambitious emissions reduction targets.

[Matt Western]

The credibility of the COP presidency rests on demonstrable climate change action at home. However, the decision by the Government back in 2015 to scrap the Labour Government’s zero carbon homes legislation has meant that we have lost 1 million zero carbon homes in the past five years. It is a simple question: why do this Government seem to want to allow non-zero carbon homes to continue to be built?

[Alok Sharma]

I would point out to the hon. Member that the UK is the country in the G20 that has decarbonised its economy fastest since the year 2000. He will know that the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is working on a heat and housing decarbonisation strategy as well. That will come forward, and of course we will set out our net zero strategy ahead of COP26.