Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 19 September 2023 to Question 199520 on Luton Airport: Construction, when he plans to respond to the Climate Change Committee's recommendations; and if he will respond to the recommendation on not expanding the airport until a capacity management framework is in place before announcing a decision on expansion of the airport.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government responded to the Climate Change Committee’s recommendations on 26 October 2023. The published response “Responding to the Climate Change Committee’s (CCC) 2023 Annual Progress Report to Parliament” is available in the Libraries of the House.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to following the example set in the Australia–Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty by recognising publicly that the formal statehood and sovereignty of small island states will not lapse under international law even in the event of catastrophic sea level rise.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Sea level rise is a matter of critical concern particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), who are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. We have taken careful note of the Pacific Islands Forum 2023 Declaration on the continuity of statehood in the face of sea level rise and are considering its content in detail. The UK also welcomes the International Law Commission's ongoing work on these issues. We also continue to work with SIDS to drive global ambition of emissions reductions, and support adaptation and resilience in SIDS including through programmes such as the global £500 million Blue Planet.
Asked by: Lord Naseby (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to work with other countries on ways to formally recognise the legal continuity of small island developing states under international law, notwithstanding the existential threat posed by human-caused sea level rise.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Sea level rise is a matter of critical concern particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), who are uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. We have taken careful note of the Pacific Islands Forum 2023 Declaration on the continuity of statehood in the face of sea level rise and are considering its content in detail. The UK also welcomes the International Law Commission's ongoing work on these issues. We also continue to work with SIDS to drive global ambition of emissions reductions, and support adaptation and resilience in SIDS including through programmes such as the global £500 million Blue Planet.
Asked by: Andrea Jenkyns (Conservative - Morley and Outwood)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether members of (a) the Climate Change Committee and (b) its Adaptation Subcommittee may (i) hold remunerated positions in businesses that are likely to benefit from energy transition and (ii) have other financial interests that benefit from energy transition.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The CCC’s conflict of interest policy and register of interests for its Committee Members and the Chief Executive are available on its website: https://www.theccc.org.uk/about/transparency.
All Committee Members and staff are required to recognise and disclose activities that might give rise to actual or perceived conflicts of interest. This includes both financial and non-financial personal and professional interests.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she (a) has taken and (b) plans to take with the devolved Administrations to integrate (i) climate and (ii) nature plans.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DESNZ works closely with the Devolved Administrations on climate and net zero issues, including through the Interministerial Group for Net Zero, Energy and Climate Change which supports effective engagement and collaboration in areas of shared interest between the UK administrations. The group last met on 13 March.
Many UK Government departments play a vital role in delivering carbon budgets, with DEFRA ensuring that nature-based solutions are a core part of Government action to tackle climate change. Integration of climate and nature plans is a matter for my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Asked by: Matthew Offord (Conservative - Hendon)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what outcomes her Department has achieved as part of the UK's 2050 net zero target.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The UK is the first major economy to halve its emissions having cut them by around 53% between 1990 and 2023, more than any other major economy – while also growing the economy by around 80% and recently becoming the fourth largest exporter in the world. Government policy and spending ambitions will support up to 480,000 green jobs in 2030.
This is an enormous achievement by itself but also because we have done this in a pragmatic way - growing our economy and at the same time protecting family finances.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on policy priorities in advance of COP 29.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State continues to have ongoing discussions with colleagues concerning Departmental business.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will continue to lead on international climate policy across Government, working closely with other Departments to raise ambition and drive forward action to deliver on the Paris Agreement at COP29 and at other key international meetings, including the G7 and G20.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take in response to the ruling of the High Court on 3 May regarding their carbon budget delivery plan.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is immensely proud of its record on climate change. The Carbon Budget Delivery Plan remains Government policy and sets out over 300 policies and proposals that the Government has in place to reach its ambitious carbon budgets.
The judgment contains no criticism of these detailed plans nor the policies themselves, which will keep the UK on track to meet net zero by 2050.
Officials are now considering the best approach to comply with the court order and the Government will publish a new report within 12 months.
Asked by: Catherine West (Labour - Hornsey and Wood Green)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the report by Mahon, M.B. et al. entitled A meta-analysis on global change drivers and the risk of infectious disease, published in Nature on 8 May 2024.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
In December 2023 the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published the Health Effects of Climate Change report, which is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/climate-change-health-effects-in-the-uk
This report details the potential risks and impacts of climate change on human health. The UKHSA will continue to work closely with other departments and agencies, to assess emerging evidence on drivers of infectious diseases, to inform future health policies.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she (a) has taken and (b) plans to take with the devolved Administrations to achieve the (i) mission, (ii) goal and (iii) targets of the Paris Agreement 2015.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DESNZ works closely with the devolved administrations (DAs) on international climate obligations and reporting to the UNFCCC. DESNZ worked with the DAs on the development of the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), and this year will be seeking their views for the 2035 NDC. This reflects the role the DAs play in the UK-wide drive to decarbonise the economy. DESNZ accredited 20 delegates from DAs to attend COP28 and will accredit DAs delegates to attend COP29.