I entirely share concerns about climate change. I have long said (and long before I entered Parliament) that global heating is one of the most serious challenges that our country, and indeed the world, faces.
My concern about climate change is why I introduced on Cheltenham’s behalf (before Extinction Rebellion had come into existence by the way) the Net Zero Bill which commits the UK to net zero emissions by 2050. That is the measure which I am proudest of in my time in Parliament. You can watch me introducing the Bill (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGiuJoPOouk) here - do have a quick look, even if just for thirty seconds. I chose that date because it was the view of the IPCC in 2018 that that was the deadline by which the world must reach net zero if we are to meet the Paris climate target of 1.5 degree heating.
As I said in the above speech in Parliament, global heating is not some future, theoretical possibility - it is a present, practical reality. The five warmest years in recorded history have been since 2010, glaciers are retreating around the world, and the Ross ice shelf in Antarctica is melting ten times faster than expected.
I was grateful to the Climate Coalition for judging me the winner of their ‘MP Climate Action’ award at the Green Heart Hero Awards in 2020, for being the MP who took more action than any other to tackle climate change in that year. I also try to lead by example, travelling to the overwhelming majority of my appointments by bike, making me the first Cheltenham MP to do so.
Here in the UK, we have already reduced our emissions by around 45% on 1990 levels (the strongest emissions reduction record of any country in the G7). Over the Bank Holiday Easter weekend earlier this year, around 80% of our energy production came from renewables.
Equally, much is being done right now to make a difference, and by way of example, I would point to the following:
- Our country is removing dirty, polluting coal from the energy mix by 2025 – at a time when other European countries continue to rely heavily on coal for thermal power stations
- We set the world’s most ambitious climate change target into law of reducing emissions by 78 per cent by 2035, compared to 1990 levels
- We have set out a Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution lays the blueprint for how the UK can forge ahead in eradicating our contribution to climate change and achieving net zero.
Cambo Oil Field
I don’t want to see any fossil fuels being taken out of the ground. But I have to accept that even as we remove the most polluting hydrocarbons like coal, there will inevitably be some role for natural gas in the medium term. The overwhelming majority of Cheltenham homes will be heated by gas this winter for example.
The critical priority is to speed up the transition to greener alternatives – ground source heat pumps for example – so that the period of ‘bridging gas’ is as short as possible. You’ll be aware that the Government plans to announce a home heating strategy later this year (see press comment here) which will provide suppliers with the direction they need to scale up the rollout of electric-powered fossil fuel alternatives.
In addition, the Government will incentivise oil and gas companies to repurpose their operations away from unabated fossil fuels to abatement technologies such as Carbon Capture Usage and Storage (CCUS), or clean energy production such as hydrogen.
The original licensing consent for the Cambo oil field dates back to 2001 and the project is going through normal regulatory processes. The decision on whether to grant consent to Cambo oil field will be taken by the Oil and Gas Authority, who are ultimately responsible.
As a Minister I am precluded from submitting questions at PMQs, however what I will do is make sure my ministerial colleagues - within the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy - are aware of the strength of feeling on this.