Oral Answers to Questions

Steve Double Excerpts

Tuesday 20th July 2021 Commons Chamber

[Steve Double (St Austell and Newquay) (Con)]

What diplomatic steps his Department is taking with its counterparts in G7 countries to tackle global climate change challenges.

[Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)]

What diplomatic steps his Department is taking to promote international co-operation on tackling climate change.

--- Later in debate ---

[Steve Double]

The UK should feel rightly proud of the progress we are making to cut our carbon footprint and our commitment to net zero, but with less than 1% of global emissions it is clear that the UK cannot fight climate change on its own. So will the Minister assure me that we will use both our diplomatic and commercial influence to put pressure on not only the G7, but other nations that are the most polluting to take urgent action to address this matter and reduce their emissions?

[James Duddridge]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right: tackling climate change and biodiversity loss will require a global effort. We are asking all countries to agree ambitious nationally determined contributions that align with net zero and to invest in policies that will phase out coal, which will turn these targets into a reality. We have already made great progress, as has been seen by last month’s first ever net zero G7, which I believe he part-hosted.