Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her policies on climate change of the Papal encyclical issued on 18 June 2015.

The Papal Encyclical raises a number of important issues, including the protection of the planet

The UK Government recognises the importance of tackling climate change. We were the first country to put in place a legally binding long-term target, and we have established five year carbon budgets for reducing emissions into the late 2020s. We met our first carbon budget last year, and according to our latest projections we are on track to meet the next two carbon budgets. The UK Government is also working hard to secure a global climate deal in Paris later this year.