Lords motion to take note of the United Kingdom's position on foreign affairs. (Part 1 of 2).

Lords motion to take note of the United Kingdom's position on foreign affairs. (Part 1 of 2).

Lords motion to take note of the United Kingdom's position on foreign affairs. Agreed to on question. (Part 2 of 2).

Lords motion to take note of the United Kingdom's position on foreign affairs. Agreed to on question. (Part 2 of 2).

To ask the Prime Minister, what plans he has to appoint a new envoy on climate change.

To ask the Prime Minister, what plans he has to appoint a new envoy on climate change.

I know how important it is that we all work on behalf of Teesside, not least because of the difficulties there have been in Redcar. That is why we have the taskforce and why the additional resources are going in. I am very happy to look at the project the hon. Gentleman talks about. It may be best for him to meet the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, because we have to make important decisions about all these technologies in the run-up to the Paris conference and beyond.

I know how important it is that we all work on behalf of Teesside, not least because of the difficulties there have been in Redcar. That is why we have the taskforce and why the additional resources are going in. I am very happy to look at the project the hon. Gentleman talks about. It may be best for him to meet the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, because we have to make important decisions about all these technologies in the run-up to the Paris conference and beyond.

I have not checked all my Christmas cards, but I do not think I have so far had the one the hon. Lady suggests. I spent an hour and three-quarters in front of the Liaison Committee yesterday discussing issues of climate change. The legislation we have in place is delivering cuts in carbon emissions. Under this Government, we have seen the world’s first green investment bank—beating the rest of the world in doing that—and we have doubled the amount of investment going into renewable energy compared with the previous two Parliaments. That is what is happening under our Government.

I have not checked all my Christmas cards, but I do not think I have so far had the one the hon. Lady suggests. I spent an hour and three-quarters in front of the Liaison Committee yesterday discussing issues of climate change. The legislation we have in place is delivering cuts in carbon emissions. Under this Government, we have seen the world’s first green investment bank—beating the rest of the world in doing that—and we have doubled the amount of investment going into renewable energy compared with the previous two Parliaments. That is what is happening under our Government.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will attend (a) Ban Ki Moon's Climate Summit in September 2014 in New York and (b) the European Council meeting in October 2014 to finalise the EU's climate and energy goals for 2030.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will attend (a) Ban Ki Moon's Climate Summit in September 2014 in New York and (b) the European Council meeting in October 2014 to finalise the EU's climate and energy goals for 2030.

(2) if he will discuss climate change with his Chinese counterpart during his visit to the UK;

Kerry McCarthy:

(2) if he will discuss climate change with his Chinese counterpart during his visit to the UK;

Kerry McCarthy:

To ask the Prime Minister if he will attend the global leaders Climate Summit in September 2014 in New York; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will attend the global leaders Climate Summit in September 2014 in New York; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with his Australian counterpart on (a) climate change and (b) the agenda for the G20 Leaders' Summit to be held in Brisbane in November 2014.

To ask the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with his Australian counterpart on (a) climate change and (b) the agenda for the G20 Leaders' Summit to be held in Brisbane in November 2014.

The truth about climate change is that this Government have a programme to reduce carbon right across our economy. We started with the Government themselves: compared with the Government the right hon. Gentleman left in 2010, when he was Energy and Climate Change Secretary, the Government’s own carbon emissions are down 14%.

Let me just return to the issue of flood defence spending, because I think the people of this country will want to know this. The right hon. Gentleman is committed to a zero-based spending review. [ Interruption. ] “Yes, we are,” says the shadow Chancellor in an unusually helpful intervention. A zero-based spending review means that the Opposition cannot pledge to match the flood spending we are making in 2016, 2017, 2018 and all the way to 2020. The people of this country have absolutely no guarantee that they will take either climate change seriously or flood defences seriously.

The truth about climate change is that this Government have a programme to reduce carbon right across our economy. We started with the Government themselves: compared with the Government the right hon. Gentleman left in 2010, when he was Energy and Climate Change Secretary, the Government’s own carbon emissions are down 14%.

Let me just return to the issue of flood defence spending, because I think the people of this country will want to know this. The right hon. Gentleman is committed to a zero-based spending review. [ Interruption. ] “Yes, we are,” says the shadow Chancellor in an unusually helpful intervention. A zero-based spending review means that the Opposition cannot pledge to match the flood spending we are making in 2016, 2017, 2018 and all the way to 2020. The people of this country have absolutely no guarantee that they will take either climate change seriously or flood defences seriously.

I believe that man-made climate change is one of the most serious threats that this country and this world face. That is why we have the world’s first green investment bank here in Britain. That is why, unlike in the 13 wasted years of Labour, we are building the first nuclear power station for 30 years in this country. That is why we have cut the carbon that is emitted by the Government by 14% since coming to office. That is why we have set out, year after year, carbon budgets for this country. The Opposition talk a good game, but it takes people to come in and govern effectively to deal with it.

I believe that man-made climate change is one of the most serious threats that this country and this world face. That is why we have the world’s first green investment bank here in Britain. That is why, unlike in the 13 wasted years of Labour, we are building the first nuclear power station for 30 years in this country. That is why we have cut the carbon that is emitted by the Government by 14% since coming to office. That is why we have set out, year after year, carbon budgets for this country. The Opposition talk a good game, but it takes people to come in and govern effectively to deal with it.

This is obviously the new approach to Prime Minister’s questions: the right hon. Gentleman comes to the House and praises the Prime Minister for his commitment on climate change and the environment. I like the new style. I thought that I might miss Punch and Judy, but this is much more refreshing.

The Government have a solid track record of cutting carbon, negotiating internationally and investing in nuclear. We have the biggest renewable energy programme in our country’s history. For the first time in a long time, we are on track to meet our renewables targets. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would like to get up again and congratulate me on that excellent record on the environment.

This is obviously the new approach to Prime Minister’s questions: the right hon. Gentleman comes to the House and praises the Prime Minister for his commitment on climate change and the environment. I like the new style. I thought that I might miss Punch and Judy, but this is much more refreshing.

The Government have a solid track record of cutting carbon, negotiating internationally and investing in nuclear. We have the biggest renewable energy programme in our country’s history. For the first time in a long time, we are on track to meet our renewables targets. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman would like to get up again and congratulate me on that excellent record on the environment.

People can measure the courage of my convictions by my acts in government: the green investment bank, the cuts in carbon, the investment in renewables and the investment in nuclear. The right hon. Gentleman talks a good game, but he did not achieve anything in office. The most serious form of denial in British politics today comes from the reality deniers of the Labour party. What is their plan for the deficit? Nothing. What is their plan for welfare reform? Nothing. What is their plan for long-term investment, because that is what is required in respect of climate change? It requires long-term investment like high-speed

rail, long-term investment like nuclear power and long-term investment like fixing our economy. That is what this Government are doing. All he does is get up and deliver a lot of hot air.

People can measure the courage of my convictions by my acts in government: the green investment bank, the cuts in carbon, the investment in renewables and the investment in nuclear. The right hon. Gentleman talks a good game, but he did not achieve anything in office. The most serious form of denial in British politics today comes from the reality deniers of the Labour party. What is their plan for the deficit? Nothing. What is their plan for welfare reform? Nothing. What is their plan for long-term investment, because that is what is required in respect of climate change? It requires long-term investment like high-speed

rail, long-term investment like nuclear power and long-term investment like fixing our economy. That is what this Government are doing. All he does is get up and deliver a lot of hot air.

I agree with my hon. Friend that we are seeing more abnormal weather events. Colleagues across the House can argue about whether that is linked to climate change or not; I very much suspect that it is. The point is that, whatever one’s view, it makes sense to invest in flood defences and mitigation and to get information out better, and we should do all of those things. As for carbon reduction targets, this Government are committed to them and we worked with the last Government to put the Climate Change Act 2008 into place. That would not have happened without our support. We also have the green investment bank up and running in Edinburgh, and we are going to be investing billions of pounds in important green projects.

I agree with my hon. Friend that we are seeing more abnormal weather events. Colleagues across the House can argue about whether that is linked to climate change or not; I very much suspect that it is. The point is that, whatever one’s view, it makes sense to invest in flood defences and mitigation and to get information out better, and we should do all of those things. As for carbon reduction targets, this Government are committed to them and we worked with the last Government to put the Climate Change Act 2008 into place. That would not have happened without our support. We also have the green investment bank up and running in Edinburgh, and we are going to be investing billions of pounds in important green projects.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make climate change one of the main priorities of the upcoming G8 summit in Northern Ireland.

[148526]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make climate change one of the main priorities of the upcoming G8 summit in Northern Ireland.

[148526]

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has during the UK’s chairmanship of the G8 in 2013 to follow up the commitment G8 leaders made in 2012 to support comprehensive action to reduce short-lived climate pollutants.

[140416]

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has during the UK’s chairmanship of the G8 in 2013 to follow up the commitment G8 leaders made in 2012 to support comprehensive action to reduce short-lived climate pollutants.

[140416]

To ask the Prime Minister when he has discussed the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban with his (a) US, (b) German, (c) Chinese and (d) Indian counterpart.

To ask the Prime Minister when he has discussed the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban with his (a) US, (b) German, (c) Chinese and (d) Indian counterpart.

To ask the Prime Minister whether he plans to attend the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban.

To ask the Prime Minister whether he plans to attend the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Durban.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish a Cabinet committee or sub-committee on climate change, the environment and policy on renewable energy.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will establish a Cabinet committee or sub-committee on climate change, the environment and policy on renewable energy.