To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle (a) climate, (b) workforce and (c) capacity issues in the road haulage sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle (a) climate, (b) workforce and (c) capacity issues in the road haulage sector.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop long-term strategies for preventing wars, both between states and within them; and how they will link any such strategies to (1) defence policy, and (2) the need to limit global warming.

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop long-term strategies for preventing wars, both between states and within them; and how they will link any such strategies to (1) defence policy, and (2) the need to limit global warming.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 6 April 2022 to Question 149218, on Coal Authority: Climate Chang, whether it is his policy that the climate emergency is an exceptional circumstance when considering the powers of the direction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 6 April 2022 to Question 149218, on Coal Authority: Climate Chang, whether it is his policy that the climate emergency is an exceptional circumstance when considering the powers of the direction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Government's announcement on 23 September 2019 to commit £11.6 billion to international climate finance over the next five years, whether the Government still plans to commit that amount to international climate finance; and if...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Government's announcement on 23 September 2019 to commit £11.6 billion to international climate finance over the next five years, whether the Government still plans to commit that amount to international climate finance; and if...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the report entitled Climate Change UK Nuclear Military, published by Dr Paul Dorfman, Nuclear Consulting Group in September 2021, what assessment he has made of the risk of the nuclear submarine base at HMNB Devonport being regularly underwater due...

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the report entitled Climate Change UK Nuclear Military, published by Dr Paul Dorfman, Nuclear Consulting Group in September 2021, what assessment he has made of the risk of the nuclear submarine base at HMNB Devonport being regularly underwater due...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her West African counterparts on tackling (a) terrorism, (b) climate change and (c) piracy in those countries; and what steps the Government is taking to support West African countries to tackle...

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her West African counterparts on tackling (a) terrorism, (b) climate change and (c) piracy in those countries; and what steps the Government is taking to support West African countries to tackle...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what level of greenhouse gas reduction the UK Overseas Territories of Gibraltar, the Cayman Islands and the Falkland Islands have achieved under the UK ratification of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol; and whether they have fulfilled...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what level of greenhouse gas reduction the UK Overseas Territories of Gibraltar, the Cayman Islands and the Falkland Islands have achieved under the UK ratification of the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol; and whether they have fulfilled...

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the total annual greenhouse gas emissions arising from the UK Overseas Territories which are currently not incorporated within the Paris Agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the total annual greenhouse gas emissions arising from the UK Overseas Territories which are currently not incorporated within the Paris Agreement.

In this global week of advocacy for fossil fuel non-proliferation, I call on the Government to deliver on the climate leadership that was promised, while the UK still has the COP26 presidency, by helping to initiate a negotiation process on an international fossil fuel treaty to phase out fossil fuels....

In this global week of advocacy for fossil fuel non-proliferation, I call on the Government to deliver on the climate leadership that was promised, while the UK still has the COP26 presidency, by helping to initiate a negotiation process on an international fossil fuel treaty to phase out fossil fuels....

Does my colleague on the Environmental Audit Committee agree that one problem we face is as a result of her colleagues in Germany forcing the closure of nuclear power plants? The Germans are burning more fossil fuel than before, and if we had a nuclear future, we would be able...

Does my colleague on the Environmental Audit Committee agree that one problem we face is as a result of her colleagues in Germany forcing the closure of nuclear power plants? The Germans are burning more fossil fuel than before, and if we had a nuclear future, we would be able...

I think I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that intervention. The truth is that although mistakes have certainly been made in Germany in the past, the idea that new nuclear now can help the UK get to net zero fast enough is simply misguided; it is too costly and...

I think I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that intervention. The truth is that although mistakes have certainly been made in Germany in the past, the idea that new nuclear now can help the UK get to net zero fast enough is simply misguided; it is too costly and...

We now have an end date to phase out diesel and petrol cars, which has forced the industry to put its mind to it and follow very quickly. People and organisations can then follow suit. If we had an end date for extracting fossil fuels, would that not concentrate minds,...

We now have an end date to phase out diesel and petrol cars, which has forced the industry to put its mind to it and follow very quickly. People and organisations can then follow suit. If we had an end date for extracting fossil fuels, would that not concentrate minds,...

It is a pleasure to take part in this debate and I congratulate the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas) on securing it. Although she will probably be aware that we differ on some points, it is useful even at this late hour to talk about a number of...

It is a pleasure to take part in this debate and I congratulate the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion (Caroline Lucas) on securing it. Although she will probably be aware that we differ on some points, it is useful even at this late hour to talk about a number of...

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

I will make some progress, if I may. That was the inference of the speech by the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion at other points.

Whether we like it or not, gas at the moment is the glue that holds our electricity system together. It provides the flexibility that has underpinned...

I will make some progress, if I may. That was the inference of the speech by the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion at other points.

Whether we like it or not, gas at the moment is the glue that holds our electricity system together. It provides the flexibility that has underpinned...

Will the Minister give way?

Will the Minister give way?

I will not give way, because I do not have a huge amount of time left.

In taking that time and accepting that time will be needed to get there, we must also have confidence in the story we have to tell as a country. We have made significant progress in...

I will not give way, because I do not have a huge amount of time left.

In taking that time and accepting that time will be needed to get there, we must also have confidence in the story we have to tell as a country. We have made significant progress in...

I thank the hon. Lady for her contribution and I completely agree with it; that is exactly what this fossil fuel treaty is all about. It is about countries setting those end dates and then working towards that reduction swiftly but in a coherent and co-ordinated fashion.

The International Energy Agency...

I thank the hon. Lady for her contribution and I completely agree with it; that is exactly what this fossil fuel treaty is all about. It is about countries setting those end dates and then working towards that reduction swiftly but in a coherent and co-ordinated fashion.

The International Energy Agency...

My Lords, I initiate this debate on the recent by-elections acutely aware that Britain’s history in Zimbabwe, from the first days of Cecil Rhodes’ chartered company to the last days of Ian Smith’s white supremacist regime, is a deeply troubled one. Throughout that time, political dissent was violently supressed, political...

My Lords, I initiate this debate on the recent by-elections acutely aware that Britain’s history in Zimbabwe, from the first days of Cecil Rhodes’ chartered company to the last days of Ian Smith’s white supremacist regime, is a deeply troubled one. Throughout that time, political dissent was violently supressed, political...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Oates, deserves all our warm congratulations, not just on this debate but on keeping Zimbabwe on our agenda, considering its past and continuing connections with this country. Nelson Chamisa also deserves our admiration for winning seats for the CCC despite appalling conditions: rallies and...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Oates, deserves all our warm congratulations, not just on this debate but on keeping Zimbabwe on our agenda, considering its past and continuing connections with this country. Nelson Chamisa also deserves our admiration for winning seats for the CCC despite appalling conditions: rallies and...

Like the noble Earl, Lord Sandwich, I thank and congratulate my noble friend Lord Oates on not only obtaining this debate but flying the flag for a better Zimbabwe. He does so not only in the Chamber but in the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe.

My first engagement with the name...

Like the noble Earl, Lord Sandwich, I thank and congratulate my noble friend Lord Oates on not only obtaining this debate but flying the flag for a better Zimbabwe. He does so not only in the Chamber but in the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe.

My first engagement with the name...

My Lords, I welcome this short debate and congratulate my friend the noble Lord, Lord Oates, on his perseverance in getting it and on his excellent speech which outlined practically the whole short history of Zimbabwe. It is vital to raise awareness of what is happening in the deeply entrenched...

My Lords, I welcome this short debate and congratulate my friend the noble Lord, Lord Oates, on his perseverance in getting it and on his excellent speech which outlined practically the whole short history of Zimbabwe. It is vital to raise awareness of what is happening in the deeply entrenched...

My Lords, in this debate it is a real pleasure to follow the noble Baroness and pay tribute to her commitment: her frequent visits, the report she carried out and the work she did in the House of Commons. She wears her commitment to the support of those women in...

My Lords, in this debate it is a real pleasure to follow the noble Baroness and pay tribute to her commitment: her frequent visits, the report she carried out and the work she did in the House of Commons. She wears her commitment to the support of those women in...

My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Lord, Lord Oates, for initiating this debate and for his excellent introduction. As he rightly says, it is for the people of Zimbabwe to determine their own future, but continued violations of human rights, including impediments to free and fair elections, remain a...

My Lords, I, too, thank the noble Lord, Lord Oates, for initiating this debate and for his excellent introduction. As he rightly says, it is for the people of Zimbabwe to determine their own future, but continued violations of human rights, including impediments to free and fair elections, remain a...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Oates, for tabling this debate and for his continued interest and tenacious advocacy as co-chair of the APPG on Zimbabwe, which has been of huge benefit to the House. I thank all noble Lords for their insightful contributions.

The by-elections of 26 March...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Oates, for tabling this debate and for his continued interest and tenacious advocacy as co-chair of the APPG on Zimbabwe, which has been of huge benefit to the House. I thank all noble Lords for their insightful contributions.

The by-elections of 26 March...

Lords question for short debate on what assessment the Government have made of reports of (1) state sanctioned political violence, (2) voter roll irregularities, and (3) the intimidation of voters, ahead of the 26 March parliamentary and local by-elections in Zimbabwe.

Lords question for short debate on what assessment the Government have made of reports of (1) state sanctioned political violence, (2) voter roll irregularities, and (3) the intimidation of voters, ahead of the 26 March parliamentary and local by-elections in Zimbabwe.

Agreed to on question.

Agreed to on question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government has undertaken an assessment of the cost of (a) maintaining and (b) improving the resilience of the Canal and River Trust’s waterway network to safeguard public safety in response to climate change.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government has undertaken an assessment of the cost of (a) maintaining and (b) improving the resilience of the Canal and River Trust’s waterway network to safeguard public safety in response to climate change.

To ask the President of COP26, what discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) relevant stakeholders on integrating divestment in Russian supply of oil and gas with COP26 objectives to cut climate degradation.

To ask the President of COP26, what discussions he has had with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) relevant stakeholders on integrating divestment in Russian supply of oil and gas with COP26 objectives to cut climate degradation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has held discussions with schools on the potential merits of including in the curriculum learning on veganism, fast fashion and climate change.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has held discussions with schools on the potential merits of including in the curriculum learning on veganism, fast fashion and climate change.

Mr Honourable Friend The Minister of State for School Standards (Mr Robin Walker) has made the following statement.

As the House will be aware, at COP26 the Department for Education launched its Draft Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy for the Education and Children’s services systems. Since then, we have engaged widely...

Mr Honourable Friend The Minister of State for School Standards (Mr Robin Walker) has made the following statement.

As the House will be aware, at COP26 the Department for Education launched its Draft Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy for the Education and Children’s services systems. Since then, we have engaged widely...

As the House will be aware, at COP26 the Department for Education launched its Draft Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy for the Education and Children’s services systems. Since then, we have engaged widely with young people, educators, academics, sector leaders, and governing bodies in developing the finalised version of this...

As the House will be aware, at COP26 the Department for Education launched its Draft Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy for the Education and Children’s services systems. Since then, we have engaged widely with young people, educators, academics, sector leaders, and governing bodies in developing the finalised version of this...

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of fracking on delivering the UK's COP26 commitment to tackling climate change.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of fracking on delivering the UK's COP26 commitment to tackling climate change.

What assessment he has made of the effect of the announcements in the Spring Statement 2022 on prospects for meeting COP26 objectives.

What assessment he has made of the effect of the announcements in the Spring Statement 2022 on prospects for meeting COP26 objectives.

If he will hold discussions with his international counterparts on the potential merits of prioritising discussion of food sustainability at COP27.

If he will hold discussions with his international counterparts on the potential merits of prioritising discussion of food sustainability at COP27.

What recent steps he has taken to help coordinate a whole of Government response to tackling the climate and ecological emergency ahead of the COP15 Biodiversity Conference.

What recent steps he has taken to help coordinate a whole of Government response to tackling the climate and ecological emergency ahead of the COP15 Biodiversity Conference.

What assessment he has made of the effect of the recent rise in gas prices on the commitments agreed at COP26.

What assessment he has made of the effect of the recent rise in gas prices on the commitments agreed at COP26.

What assessment he has made of the role of businesses in implementing the Glasgow Climate Pact.

What assessment he has made of the role of businesses in implementing the Glasgow Climate Pact.

What progress he plans to make on tackling climate change in his COP26 Presidency year.

What progress he plans to make on tackling climate change in his COP26 Presidency year.

As the Foreign Secretary writes her international development strategy, what conversations is the COP26 President having about the importance of international climate finance for the very poorest countries in the world?

As the Foreign Secretary writes her international development strategy, what conversations is the COP26 President having about the importance of international climate finance for the very poorest countries in the world?

My hon. Friend raises an important point. We need to make sure that we honour the $100 billion pledge, but, as I said earlier, we are also working with countries to ensure that they have funding for clean energy transition, and I am off to the World Bank meetings shortly to take that work forward.

My hon. Friend raises an important point. We need to make sure that we honour the $100 billion pledge, but, as I said earlier, we are also working with countries to ensure that they have funding for clean energy transition, and I am off to the World Bank meetings shortly to take that work forward.

Local energy companies are often well placed to support small and medium-sized enterprises with the transition to net zero. Local authorities, with their insight into local opportunities for things such as solar, are best placed to help with that. What assessment has the COP26 President made of the opportunities that that model may afford?

Local energy companies are often well placed to support small and medium-sized enterprises with the transition to net zero. Local authorities, with their insight into local opportunities for things such as solar, are best placed to help with that. What assessment has the COP26 President made of the opportunities that that model may afford?

According to the Met Office, my beautiful Eastbourne constituency has held the record for sunshine hours recorded in a month since 1911. Arguably, we should be leading the nation in harnessing solar power. On my right hon. Friend’s earlier point,

we do not have land readily available locally, but we have acres of rooftops, courtesy of three commercial and retail parks. What work is he doing, including with other Departments, to promote feasibility studies to identify untapped potential for solar generation and to promote financial incentives so that local businesses in my town can play their part in tackling climate change?

According to the Met Office, my beautiful Eastbourne constituency has held the record for sunshine hours recorded in a month since 1911. Arguably, we should be leading the nation in harnessing solar power. On my right hon. Friend’s earlier point,

we do not have land readily available locally, but we have acres of rooftops, courtesy of three commercial and retail parks. What work is he doing, including with other Departments, to promote feasibility studies to identify untapped potential for solar generation and to promote financial incentives so that local businesses in my town can play their part in tackling climate change?

Facebook promoted ads containing outright climate falsehoods and scepticism during COP26, and it is reported that fossil fuel companies and lobbying groups spent an estimated $574,000 on Facebook ads during the summit, resulting in more than 22 million impressions. Many of these ads were directly aimed at undermining efforts to achieve climate progress. Does the COP26 President agree that the best way such businesses can help in the fight against climate change is to put the planet before their profits and come down hard on the climate naysayers? What action has he been taking to address that?

Facebook promoted ads containing outright climate falsehoods and scepticism during COP26, and it is reported that fossil fuel companies and lobbying groups spent an estimated $574,000 on Facebook ads during the summit, resulting in more than 22 million impressions. Many of these ads were directly aimed at undermining efforts to achieve climate progress. Does the COP26 President agree that the best way such businesses can help in the fight against climate change is to put the planet before their profits and come down hard on the climate naysayers? What action has he been taking to address that?

COP26 was one of the first such conferences to have a significant private sector presence, as well as key corporate commitments to tackling climate change. For example, more than 7,000 international companies have signed up to the Race to Zero campaign, committing them to reach net zero by 2050 at the latest.

COP26 was one of the first such conferences to have a significant private sector presence, as well as key corporate commitments to tackling climate change. For example, more than 7,000 international companies have signed up to the Race to Zero campaign, committing them to reach net zero by 2050 at the latest.