Adam Thompson MP: Climate Timeline

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Adam Thompson's Climate-related Tweets, Speeches & Votes

We've found the following climate-related tweets, speeches & votes by Adam Thompson

• 17 Jan 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  I thank the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Max Wilkinson) for introducing the Bill. I think it is laudable, and its heart is very much in the right place. We should think of the climate crisis in all matters of policy and in how we might contribute to the Government’s goal of making Britain a clean energy superpower.

  The Government, guided by the excellent work of the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, are already making great strides in combating the climate crisis, putting green energy at the heart of the country’s future and supporting green industrial growth wherever we can. The Government have established Great British Energy, which means that we will need new green infrastructure sooner rather than later. When it comes specifically to solar energy, I was very pleased that, within just days of taking office, the Government approved three major, long-stalled, large solar farms in Lincolnshire and East Anglia, capable of generating 1.5 GW, or enough to power 500,000 homes. That was a clear statement of intent, and one that we can all be very proud of.

  The hon. Member talks a lot about the measures that are being put forward in the move towards net zero, but we need to go further. CPRE Hertfordshire says that 60% of our targets could be achieved through rooftop solar panels alone, and supporting the Bill will help to make sure that that revolution helps towards net zero for our planet and our people.

  The Bill’s aims, in promoting the installation of solar panels on all new homes, feed into the Government’s overall intent, and I am pleased about that. I note, however, that it is undeniable that solar farms, especially the larger ones, are much more efficient than rooftop solar for a whole spectrum of reasons. Rooftop solar panels are constrained by the size, orientation and structural limitations of individual buildings, while solar farms are optimised for maximum energy generation. The difference in output can be as high as 30%. Economies of scale mean that the cost to install, maintain and centralise the supportive infrastructure notably reduces the ratio of cost per unit of energy generated by solar farms. That is not to say that I do not support rooftop solar, because I very much do, but solar farms are a highly scalable, cost-effective means through which to achieve the green energy transition.

  I have long felt that despite the great benefits solar farms bring, they have often been too difficult to bring forward. The UK has around 15 GW of solar energy generation capacity. In Germany, meanwhile, solar capacity grew by 14 GW in 2023 alone. It is clear that the UK’s current planning regime and approach to building infrastructure constrains growth and sees us lag behind similar nations. If we want Britain to be a clean energy superpower, as I do, and leading the green energy revolution rather than just following it, we must tear down the barriers to growth and unlock our potential.

  As I have said, the Bill’s proposals are laudable. The drive to green energy generation along with this Government’s ambition to make Britain a clean energy superpower could be, to this decade and to those to come, what the race for space was in the 1950s and 1960s—countries engaged in a great contest of scientific innovation and progress. There is nothing that I, as a former research scientist, could welcome more than the Government pursuing science, innovation and technology as a matter of not only core policy, but national pride.

  This Government are committed to greatly expanding our provision of solar energy generation and have acknowledged many times the significant part that rooftop solar has to play in that expansion. I hope that supporters of this Bill are assured by the Government’s genuine commitment on this front. The climate crisis and the housing crisis are both profound issues, worthy of the descriptor “crisis” and in need of immediate action. I know that many right hon. and hon. Members share the Government’s commitment to act here, as I most certainly do.

  Full debate: New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill

• 22 Oct 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  T7. Further to the question from across the way on climate change, what steps is the Minister taking to support climate change development internationally? ( 900813 )

  Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions

• 20 Sep 2023: Tweet

  The prime minister apparently doesn't much care about meeting climate change mitigation targets. Good to know. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66857551 [Source]

• 15 Jun 2023: Tweet

  A major part of our policy platform at the next general election will be in green energy and creating the jobs that support clean, green, homemade electrical energy generation. We will create 120,000 jobs in offshore wind by 2030 ???????????? https://twitter.com/adamthompson111/status/1669253071753338880/photo/1 [Source]

• 10 Nov 2022: Tweet

  @HenryBlackGB People will be able to object same as normal if they want, I'm sure, but I'm going to stay optimistic about solving the climate crisis. [Source]

• 10 Nov 2022: Tweet

  @HenryBlackGB No, the answer is "I am not the shadow secretary of state for climate change and net zero, and the manifesto isn't out yet." I told you exactly how much power they'll provide in the units generally used - if you want the energy per annum, do the maths. [Source]

• 10 Nov 2022: Tweet

  @HenryBlackGB And I'm grateful for that investment, but it isn't enough. We don't have the luxury of choice when it comes to the climate crisis - everything possible must be done, now. It's a bonus if the solution also results in savings for British people of £93 bn, like one plan I know... [Source]

• 10 Nov 2022: Tweet

  We can't muck about with this - we have to do absolutely everything we can to address the climate crisis, and this government's refusal to commit isn't helping anyone. https://twitter.com/UKLabour/status/1590775044107636745 [Source]

• 25 Sep 2022: Tweet

  We're going to make the country a green energy superpower by 2030. https://twitter.com/adamthompson111/status/1574072584563474433/photo/1 [Source]

• 20 Sep 2022: Tweet

  Allowing fracking represents another hit to achieving net zero carbon emissions, we should be investing heavily in green energy production - onshore and offshore wind, solar tidal and new nuclear - not new means of sourcing fossil fuels. [Source]

• 22 Aug 2022: Tweet

  A national warm homes plan, to support jobs, cut bills and fight climate change. Great stuff. https://twitter.com/Ed_Miliband/status/1561628603556806656 [Source]

• 09 Aug 2022: Tweet

  In Britain, we should not need to rely on hosepipe bands - we should be working with water companies to put proper contingencies in place, and we should be making real efforts to address the climate crisis that is causing these issues - this government is doing neither. https://twitter.com/JimfromOldham/status/1556988853776424962 [Source]

• 28 Nov 2019: Tweet

  After the last couple of weeks of flooding, we need better flood defences immediately, and to tackle the root causes of climate change as fast as possible. https://twitter.com/UKLabour/status/1200142380680302593 [Source]

• 28 Nov 2019: Tweet

  A Labour government will invest to ???? restore nature ???? adopt natural solutions to climate change ???? protect vulnerable species and habitats ???? plant 300 million trees by 2024 Here's how ⬇️ http://labour.org.uk/labours-environment-manifesto/ https://twitter.com/UKLabour/status/1200063043381559296/photo/1 [Source]

• 21 Nov 2019: Tweet

  I've taken @friends_earth's #ClimateActionPledge. If elected I'll put the climate first when I vote in parliament. We're in a #ClimateEmergency and must rapidly cut greenhouse gas emissions for a greener and fairer society. #ClimateElection https://twitter.com/friends_earth/status/1194987106201952257/photo/1 [Source]

• 18 Nov 2019: Tweet

  Addressing climate change and creating jobs - another fantastic policy idea. Get on board! https://twitter.com/labourpress/status/1196194804394287105 [Source]

• 14 Nov 2019: Tweet

  This is what climate change looks like https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-nottinghamshire-50372955 [Source]