Sarah Newton's debate on carbon neutrality

Sarah Newton's debate on the government's plan to become carbon neutral by 2050 took place this morning.

This is what she said in her opening speech: "The UK leads the world on tackling climate change.

"We have decarbonised faster than any major economy, reducing our emissions by 38 per cent since 1990. Yet we know we need to go further and faster, which is why Parliament supported the world-leading net zero target.

"Now the Government must outline a strategy, concrete policies and a road map on how we are going to get there.

"Climate change and decline of our nature is the most serious threat we face. Unchecked, it will lead to more extreme weather events such as floods and droughts, damage precious natural habitats, and cause sea levels to rise. The impacts could be irreversible. The response must therefore be similarly comprehensive and action must be taken across our whole economy.

"I am confident that we can do this. Why? Because there is comprehensive concern and support for action. We are an imaginative, creative, innovative nation and have what it takes to rise to this challenge.

"It’s an opportunity to grow our economy more sustainably. What’s good for nature is good for human health and wellbeing. Every week I have meetings with people from a wide range of organisations, local councils, students at school, local businesses, environmental activists, all fully invested in seeing us succeed in meeting our net zero target.

"In every meeting, there is agreement on what the challenge is and why we need to take action and the conversation moves onto the how and when they can play their part. If we are to harness this enthusiasm and expertise, we will first and foremost need to provide more information about the Government’s plans.

"In this debate we will hear lots of good ideas for new policies to help us reach net zero that I hope the Minister will take onboard.

"I want to highlight just one, my recent 10 Minute Rule Bill that sets out the compelling case for the government to set out a plan to retrofit energy efficiency measures into homes across the country.

"My bill asks the Government to publish a plan for meeting the domestic energy efficiency targets in the clean growth strategy, to make provision for monitoring performance against the milestones in the plan and to establish an advisory body for the implementation of the plan.

"As we prorogue tonight, this bill will fall so I ask the Minister to take forward the contents of the Bill into the next session.

"The Committee on Climate Change has said this action should be a priority. And the National Infrastructure Commission have also made this a priority.

"The technologies required to enable decarbonisation of the building stock and energy systems are largely available today. Industry representative bodies such as IREGG, BEAMA and EEIG have set out a clear plans of action as have leading fuel poverty charity NEA.

"Taking action on energy efficiency has the dual benefit of reducing carbon emissions and saving people money. Tackling fuel poverty will end preventable human misery and saves the NHS and social care and DWP money. Evidence shows that when people are able to live in warm homes their health improves, children do better at school and people are more likely to go to work.

"Cornwall would love to be the area of the country to pilot whole home retrofit.

"Mr Speaker, I will now focus my remarks on the main theme this debate. Easily available and digestible information on what we are doing to reach net zero is really important.

"Not everyone will read the 277 page Committee on Climate Change (CCC) net zero report - or even the 630 page Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report on the impacts of 1.5 degrees of global warming - or the daily announcements on action to reach net zero coming from different government departments.

"It’s hard for businesses, public sector organisations or individuals to find impartial, accurate information about how they can make an impact by making changes. In going for net zero, we need to bring people with us, and that means empowering them to make different choices.

"The Government can provide that information by sharing its data and expertise on, for example, the smartest way to get to work or school, what local British food is in season and sustainably grown, and the suppliers of the cleanest forms of electricity and heating.

"This should be provided in one place, where any individual, councillor, business or student can find out all they need to know to reduce their carbon footprint. Information for business and public sector organisations about how to access support to innovate too.

"We have world leading universities and tech companies and I would like the Government to set up an Eco Tech Innovation Fund so we can harness this expertise to create user friendly and accessible apps and websites that seamlessly compile impartial and accurate data and explain what people can do and how they can access support.

"Businesses also have an important role to play. It has been great to see businesses come forward with their own net zero targets, such as the water industry which has committed to carbon neutrality by 2030.

"To give hope to the citizens who are so worried about climate change this information should also be captured so people can see what all sectors of our society are doing.

"To level up the expectation on all businesses to take action, the Government should require goods for sale to include climate impact on their labelling. The requirement could cover items of food, electronic goods, and so on. It would help consumers make smarter choices when shopping and get companies measuring the carbon footprint of individual products. This will add a cost to business and that is why we must create a level playing field by insisting it is provided. We don’t want to see businesses doing the right thing undercut by those that don’t.

"Information is power and will enable every work place and home to make smarter choices.

"To coordinate all this activity I would like to see the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster be given overall responsibility for net zero in the Cabinet Office. I also think we should raise the status of the Clean Growth Inter-Ministerial Group to a Cabinet Sub-Committee. HMT could introduce a new 'net zero test' for every Budget and Spending Review, to ensure all new government spending and investment is aligned with the target or at least isn't harming decarbonisation efforts. The Government could ask the OBR to scrutinise whether the test was being met.

"All the businesses I speak with want some clarity and certainty about what the government wants them to do, so they can start pricing in the changes they will need to make. Many see this as an opportunity not only to do the right thing but to innovate and reach new markets.

"Government departments and their arms length bodies should lead by example by making their buildings more energy efficient to switching to low emission transport. Will save money as well as carbon.

"The climate change movement fails when it fails to bring people with it. As we saw in France, we have to make it clear why action to tackle climate change matters and ensure people aren’t left behind as we transition to new cleaner industries.

"It can’t just be about distant international summits with acronyms that few people understand. When the UK hosts the international UN climate summit in Glasgow next year, it must ensure that every sector of society, everyone is involved in the conversation.

"With an issue as big as climate change, we need everyone’s collective brainpower to find the right solutions and we must have everyone on board if we hope to implement them.

"Post Brexit we need a unifying national purpose and I believe this is it. By enabling comprehensive action across the whole of society, with everyone involved, we can now start rebuilding a truly United Kingdom. One we can all be proud of."