In his speech to the House yesterday, the Prime Minister Andy Burnham linked the devastating floods in Nepal and the record-breaking heat in the UK this summer to the climate crisis.
Toby Perkins MP for Chesterfield, and Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, rose to ask the Prime Minister about his commitment to tackling climate change.
Toby said: “I welcome his pledge to attend the next international climate conference, COP31 in Turkey in November. His appearance there will be a welcome sign that he understands the value of the UK’s leading the way in fighting climate change.
What will be even more important is what he says when he gets there. As I said to him directly in the Chamber yesterday, I hope he will pledge the UK will join other nations in investing in the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, supercharging efforts around the world to boost biodiversity.
I am also encouraged that he sees his commitment to reducing the cost of living as complementary to decarbonising motoring and heating, and so I’m pleased that he agreed with me about the vital importance of bringing down the high cost of electricity.”
Toby’s full question to the Prime Minister and his response is below.
Toby Perkins MP: I welcome what the Prime Minister has said, and I particularly welcome his commitment to go to COP31. What will be even more important than him going there is what he says when he gets there: we look forward to him showing that the UK will continue to remain committed to fighting climate change here in the UK and to doing our bit overseas. Will he say whether, when he goes to COP31, he will be able to commit to the tropical forests forever facility, which the Government have been looking at? Will his fight on the cost of living continue to encourage people to make choices that support the environment, such as by having an electric vehicle, and will he bring down the cost of electric to support heating choices?
Prime Minister Andy Burnham MP: I strongly support my hon. Friend’s last point. I know from my experience in my previous role that when we electrified bus depots and the bus fleet in Greater Manchester, the running costs of the system came right down, which helped us to sustain the £2 fare cap that had been removed elsewhere. That is proof that action on climate can reduce the cost of living. Those two things should not be pitched as opposites—they can be causal. We can act on climate and we can bring down the cost of living. I will be at COP31, as he said. I recognise the importance of the rain forest, and we continue to provide support in the form of loans to support work to conserve it. I look forward to working with him on these issues and I hope to see him in Turkey.