Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report by Transport and Environment entitled 'Overshoot: How expansion plans break European airports' carbon limits'.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government considers a range of evidence on aviation emissions, including relevant international and European analysis and external reports.
Aviation demand associated with an expanded Heathrow has been factored into successive carbon budget assessments, most recently the impact assessment for the Seventh Carbon Budget. The Government takes an economy-wide approach to meeting carbon budgets, considering the overall package of policies and proposals required across sectors. This supports delivery of net zero through the most practical and cost-effective pathway.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of UK aviation expansion on carbon emissions set in a a) global and b) European context.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government considers a range of evidence on aviation emissions, including relevant international and European analysis and external reports.
Aviation demand associated with an expanded Heathrow has been factored into successive carbon budget assessments, most recently the impact assessment for the Seventh Carbon Budget. The Government takes an economy-wide approach to meeting carbon budgets, considering the overall package of policies and proposals required across sectors. This supports delivery of net zero through the most practical and cost-effective pathway.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will set out which sectors will be required to make savings in carbon emissions in the context of proposals to expand Heathrow Airport.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government considers a range of evidence on aviation emissions, including relevant international and European analysis and external reports.
Aviation demand associated with an expanded Heathrow has been factored into successive carbon budget assessments, most recently the impact assessment for the Seventh Carbon Budget. The Government takes an economy-wide approach to meeting carbon budgets, considering the overall package of policies and proposals required across sectors. This supports delivery of net zero through the most practical and cost-effective pathway.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the UN Environment Programme's report entitled Limiting Overshoot - Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return, published on 2 September 2026.
Answered by Katie White - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The government recognises the important contribution the report makes to the scientific evidence base on the risks associated with exceeding 1.5°C of global warming and the actions needed to minimise those risks.
The Government agrees that every fraction of a degree of warming matters and that the magnitude and duration of any overshoot of 1.5°C should be limited.
That is why the Government remains fully committed to reducing emissions to net zero by 2050 and delivering on our commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, a) what AI training his Department provides, b) how many hours of AI training his Department provides and c) what topics and skills are covered.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero provides AI learning and development through the DESNZ AI Hub, DESNZ Academy and cross-government learning platforms.
Training includes self-paced learning, live sessions, recorded webinars and practical guidance on the safe, responsible and effective use of AI.
Topics covered include AI fundamentals, Microsoft 365 Copilot, prompt writing, Copilot agents, accessibility, productivity, presentation creation, meeting summaries, personal development, AI in government, security and responsible use of AI.
The Department does not centrally prescribe a fixed number of training hours, as staff can access learning resources flexibly according to their role and development needs.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the ICJ opinion on the Obligations of States in Respect of Climate Change, published in July 2025, on the Rosebank Oil Field.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Following last year’s Supreme Court ruling, we published in June supplementary guidance to ensure the full environmental impact of extraction is considered as part of consenting decisions for offshore oil and gas projects.
We have received further information from the Rosebank project developer, which is currently open to public consultation until 20 November to allow stakeholders to make representations. The further information and any representations received will be thoroughly reviewed. A robust decision-making process will be followed, as with onshore planning, which has similarities.
It would be inappropriate to comment on specific aspects of individual cases.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if he will amend the Climate Change Act 2008 to include International Aviation and Shipping in UK carbon budgets.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy
The sixth carbon budget will include the UK’s share of international aviation and shipping (IAS) emissions for the first time, in line with the previous administration’s announcement in April 2021. The sixth carbon budget has already been set at 965 MtCO2e in the Carbon Budget Order 2021, which reflects that this will include IAS.
Including IAS in the carbon budget from a legal perspective means making regulations under s.30 of the Climate Change Act 2008. This Government intends to legislate for IAS inclusion at the earliest possible opportunity, subject to Parliamentary scheduling.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to the Government Office for Science's research entitled What are the technical and policy barriers to increasing EV battery recycling capacity in the UK?, updated on 21 November 2023, what progress he has made in researching (a) water miscible binders, (b) binderless electrodes and (c) methods of recycling polyvinylidene difluoride.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The £610m Faraday Battery Challenge, delivered by Innovate UK, supports mission-led academic research on battery recycling technologies through the Faraday Institution’s (FI’s) ReLiB project. ReLiB researchers at the University of Leicester have recently demonstrated algae-derived water miscible anode blinders that can be fully recovered at the end of the batteries life, and are looking to demonstrate an “all” water-soluble binder system that will simplifying battery recycling by the Summer 2025.
ReLiB researchers at the University of Birmingham have also been collaborating with a leading supplier of polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) binder on the use of “green” solvents for binder recovery from used batteries. They have also recently demonstrated a new process to recover and reuse PVDF binders in new cells.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure a just transition to a renewable energy based economy.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is actively coordinating its efforts to ensure a just transition, enabling workers to benefit from the economic opportunities arising from our shift to net zero. To support this, it has established the Office for Clean Energy Jobs, which aims to assist workers and communities at risk of economic displacement by focusing on skill development and training in the clean energy and net zero sectors. The Government’s primary goal is to create quality jobs in Britain’s industrial heartlands, ensuring a fair transition for industries based in the North Sea.
Asked by: Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat - Twickenham)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps the Government is taking to secure further International Climate Finance commitments from member states at COP29.
Answered by Kerry McCarthy
This Government is committed to restoring the UK’s global leadership on climate and nature. We are honouring the existing commitment on our pledge to spend £11.6bn in International Climate Finance between April 2021 and March 2026 including at least £3bn on nature, from which £1.5bn will be dedicated to protecting and restoring forests. In doing so, we can encourage member states at COP29 to follow our example. Public finance will continue to be key, but we cannot act alone. A concerted and sustained global effort to boost finance from all sources is necessary.