Andrew Mitchell MP: Climate Timeline

Andrew Mitchell is the Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield.

We have identified 30 Parliamentary Votes Related to Climate since 2010 in which Andrew Mitchell could have voted.

Andrew Mitchell is rated Anti for votes supporting action on climate. (Rating Methodology)

In favour of action on climate: 1
Against: 21
Did not vote: 8

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Andrew Mitchell's Climate-related Tweets, Speeches & Votes

We've found the following climate-related tweets, speeches & votes by Andrew Mitchell

17 Sep 2024: Tweet
The destruction caused by flooding across swathes of Europe is terrible to see. It is a stark reminder that climate change is far from a distant threat & the UK must deliver on its £11.6b pledge to tackle its devastating effects. [Source]
18 Jul 2024: Parliamentary Speech

Putin’s brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine has brought war once again to the European continent. The Israel-Gaza conflict is devastating and risks regional conflagration. Poverty and debt stalk the global south. Yet covid taught us that no one is safe until we are all safe, while climate change is the greatest existential threat of our time. Never have we faced dangers so grave when our fates are so closely entwined. So at the very time when we need an international rules-based order to tackle these common threats—climate change, migration, terror and pandemics—we are more fragmented than ever. Divisions are hardening and debate is coarsening.

The upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, which I am delighted was referenced in the Gracious Speech, will be an opportunity to show real ambition for the Commonwealth. In government, we offered strong support for Samoa’s hosting of CHOGM and its desire to use this platform to enhance Commonwealth countries’ resilience to global challenges. I urge the new Government to continue working closely with Samoa to make the most of this CHOGM and to mobilise action across the Commonwealth, including to boost trade and investment and enhance access to climate finance.

We made the case that international development must be owned by the British people. I submit that that is not a Conservative, Labour or Liberal policy but a British policy, and we must all unite behind the goal of bringing the British people behind the agenda set out so clearly in the White Paper. All British development money is spent in our national interest, because it helps heal the grotesque discrepancies of opportunity and wealth that disfigure our world. We will continue to stand up for the world’s poorest and most vulnerable, calling for the continued reform of the international financial system to free up funding for climate finance, debt relief and achieving the SDGs. We will continue to stand up for women and girls with the same vigour that we exhibited in government, whether in relation to female genital mutilation, women’s rights or LGBTQ rights, and we will press for a bolstering of the coping mechanisms of countries on the frontline of climate shocks.

Full debate: Foreign Affairs and Defence
9 May 2024: Parliamentary Speech

My hon. Friend makes a good point, which I will answer straightaway. It is worth emphasising that we are getting better at operating in very contested spaces. For example, he will know of the work that Education Cannot Wait is doing in very difficult circumstances, particularly where people have been forced to move or where there has been migration as a result of violence or climate change. On all these things, we are getting better at serving communities in extreme difficulty, but my hon. Friend raises a very interesting point, and if I have anything further to add on that, I will write to him shortly.

Full debate: Global Health Agencies and Vaccine-Preventable Deaths
12 Apr 2024: Tweet
Supporting the most vulnerable countries adapt to the impacts of climate change is a priority for ????????. We are working to improve access to #ClimateFinance for countries that need it most, such as ????????, through the #Taskforce on Access to Climate Finance & our $2bn pledge to @theGCF https://twitter.com/MafaldaDuarte/status/1777130331101159755 [Source]
25 Mar 2024: Parliamentary Speech

The UK overseas territories are home to around 90% of the UK’s biodiversity and host a huge range of unique and endangered species, some of which are found nowhere else on earth. The UK-funded Blue Belt Programme—the largest of its kind in the world—protects 4.4 million square kilometres of ocean around the overseas territories, underpinning the UK’s commitment to protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. This flagship programme has been central to the UK Government ambition of leading action to tackle the serious global problems of overfishing, species extinction and climate change.

Full debate: UK Ocean Leadership
13 Mar 2024: Tweet
Delighted to see the Green Climate Fund @theGCF, to which the PM announced a £1.6bn replenishment in September, is delivering on Britain's agenda to help the poorest countries tackle climate change. Executive Director @MafaldaDuarte is leading the GCF with renewed energy & vigour https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1768017411322654770/photo/1 [Source]
7 Mar 2024: Parliamentary Speech

The 2023 White Paper “International development in a contested world: ending extreme poverty and tackling climate change” stated our intention to harness the best of the UK’s capability, including WFD, to create fairer, more inclusive, and accountable democratic systems around the world. It also suggested that increased funding could be made available to WFD, subject to the outcomes of the public bodies review.

Full debate: Westminster Foundation for Democracy Review
21 Feb 2024: Tweet
Our new Development Portfolio in Nepal, launched with Finance Minister @DrPSMahat, will help: - Tackle the climate crisis - create jobs and attract >$1B in investment - Support access to health and education services for 2 million women and girls https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1760254775273115980/photo/1 [Source]
31 Jan 2024: Tweet
Congrats to @IOMChief for meeting 2023 funding target for #MigrationMPTF. ???????? contributing an additional $1m to tackle human trafficking and exploitation of women migrants and address impact of climate change. [Source]
30 Jan 2024: Parliamentary Speech

We did support setting up the loss and damage fund at COP28 and we contributed specifically towards it. However, it is important that loss and damage does not draw from the same donors and the same official development assistance budgets as other development. It has to be different. It was because the UAE, as a non-traditional donor, put in $100 million to that fund that Britain was willing to support it, but we need new and different donors and new and different sources of funds.

Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions

The reason the Government were able to reduce the size of electricity bills for hard-working families was precisely because we are meeting our targets and will meet our international commitments. Britain’s international targets and commitments are enshrined in law as a result of the activities of this House. Internationally we are committed, as the right hon. Gentleman knows and as was set out to the House towards the end of last year, to spending £11.6 billion on ensuring that we meet our climate targets and produce climate finance. I would argue that that figure will be nearer £16 billion by 2026.

Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions
9 Jan 2024: Parliamentary Speech

We are living in a time of unprecedented international challenges, ranging from conflict in Ukraine and the middle east to flooding and drought caused by climate change across parts of Africa. As a result, estimates suggest that the number of people forced to leave their homes has risen to over 110 million people this year. In recent years, we have seen countries rally around to support the growing number of refugees across the world. The UK Government believe that collective action is needed to meet these growing challenges.

Full debate: Global Refugee Forum 2023
12 Dec 2023: Parliamentary Speech

Yes, the right hon. Lady is quite right: we are increasing the number of development diplomats—I thought she mentioned something about water, but I may have misheard. The point about the White Paper is that it sets out very clearly the aims and aspiration that Britain has to drive forward the sustainable development goals and ensure that we increase climate finance at this critical time. She will be pleased to have seen that and will note that we are now driving forward that agenda.

Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions

The Government are focused on our vital priorities, notably: supporting Ukraine, standing with Israel, and providing aid to Palestinian civilians. The Foreign Secretary and I met global leaders at COP28, who welcomed the UK’s leadership at this critical time. We discussed our newly launched international development White Paper, which seeks to get the sustainable development goals back on track at this halfway stage, when they are so far off. As mentioned before, I will deputise for the Foreign Secretary in this House and make regular statements to keep Members updated.

Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions
11 Dec 2023: Tweet
And that’s a wrap! Rounding off #cop28 with the brilliant Baroness Scotland. I presented her with a copy of the new UK Development White Paper which I’m delighted has been well received by our partners all round here in Dubai! https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1734216525396021490/photo/1 [Source]
10 Dec 2023: Tweet
Farmers are on the frontline of the climate crisis. ???????? support to the #ForestFarmFacility - announced at #COP28 today and led by @FAO - will help smallholder farmers and communities in Africa build sustainable farming systems that protect their natural environment. https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1733816248335478976/photo/1 [Source]
10 Dec 2023: Tweet
Water is life. We cannot achieve #SDGs without tackling the global water crisis. At #COP28 ???????? launched a new programme to help climate-vulnerable countries manage their water resources & ensure access to clean water @Declaration_FWF @ResilientWater @Alliance4Water #Water4Climate https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1733733404108378189/photo/1 [Source]
09 Dec 2023: Tweet
If you want to change the world, educate girls. Through partnerships with @USAID, @AKF_Global & @RESCUEorg, ???????? is investing in community-led solutions to the climate crisis, which disrupts the education of millions of girls and children a year. https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1733500811081052626/photo/1 [Source]
7 Dec 2023: Parliamentary Speech

Turning to promoting equality, our international women and girls strategy underscores the three E’s: educating girls, empowering women and girls by championing their health and rights—in particular, their ability to decide for themselves whether and when they have children—and ending gender-based violence. Work to make that a reality is needed at all levels. At the UN Human Rights Council, we partnered with the United Arab Emirates to secure a resolution on girls’ education and climate change. In the past year, Britain has sanctioned 15 individuals and entities that have committed human rights violations against women and girls, including crimes of sexual violence in conflict. On the ground, Britain’s programming supports women’s rights organisations to provide services to survivors of intimate partner violence. We also support up to 1.6 million marginalised girls across 17 countries to gain an education.

Full debate: Universal Declaration of Human Rights and UN Convention on Genocide
04 Dec 2023: Tweet
This #COP28 Gender Equality Day, I was pleased to announce UK support for the Gender-Responsive Just Transition & Climate Action Partnership. It’s vital that we promote & advance gender equality in the transition to a green economy to ensure no one is left behind. https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1731790284277666150/photo/1 [Source]
03 Dec 2023: Tweet
UK funding commitments announced at #COP28 will help strengthen early warning systems in countries on the front line of climate change & make health care in these areas more resilient and able to withstand disasters.???????????? [Source]
01 Dec 2023: Tweet
Worrying increase in malaria cases in this years #WorldMalariaReport. Welcome #WMR focus on climate change. Concerning to see impact already as floods in Pakistan have led to a five-fold increase in cases. Reinforces UK ???????? call for action on climate and health @COP28 @UNFCCC [Source]
30 Nov 2023: Tweet
Delighted that Loss & Damage agreement has been adopted on day 1 of #COP28. ???????? shows our commitment with a pledge of up to £60m for Loss & Damage, including up to £40m for the new fund and a further £20m for funding arrangements. Congratulations to ????????, ???????? and so many others. [Source]
28 Nov 2023: Tweet
The world needs to be bold, creative and united to tackle the intertwined goals of ending extreme poverty and tackling climate change. See our fantastic White Paper summary on how we can revitalise the SDGs and move positively to 2030 and beyond. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/why-is-international-development-so-important-now https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1729605133850316810/photo/1 [Source]
21 Nov 2023: Parliamentary Speech

After decades of hard-won but persistent progress, we live in a world facing a daunting set of challenges: a world that is seeing rising poverty, where progress is in retreat; a world where the UN sustainable development goals are nearly all off track for 2030; a world where faith in multilateral institutions is fading despite co-operation being desperately needed; a world facing a climate crisis, growing conflict and the prospect of further pandemics; a contested world, where unity and solidarity are increasingly important, yet ever more difficult to achieve. This White Paper sets out a road map to 2030, charting the path the UK must take to galvanise global attention and lead by example in the fight to end extreme poverty, tackle climate change and address biodiversity loss.

International development and climate action are inseparable. Climate change and nature loss are being felt everywhere, and their impact will only intensify over the next decade. It will be most acute in developing countries, reversing fragile development gains, increasing food prices and compounding insecurity and instability. To meet that challenge, we must mobilise more—and more reliable—finance. We will deliver on our pledge to provide £11.6 billion in international climate finance in the five years up to 2026. We will ensure a balance between adaptation and mitigation financing and provide at least £3 billion to protect and restore nature.

Full debate: International Development White Paper
20 Nov 2023: Parliamentary Speech

In 2015, the world gathered at the United Nations to agree the sustainable development goals—a development framework for people, planet, prosperity, peace and partnership for development to 2030. Now at the mid-point of the SDGs, and in a more divided world, this development progress is at risk of reversal. Only 15% of the SDG indicators are due to be met. The covid pandemic, the rise in conflict and instability, food insecurity caused by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, as well as the impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss and the lack of affordable finance, are all examples of the resounding challenges we now collectively face in delivering the SDGs.

The global context for development has changed. The UK’s approach to development needs to change with it. Developing countries want and need a different development offer, based on mutual respect, powered by development finance at scale, and backed by a more responsive multilateral and international system. This White Paper is our pledge to take a patient, partnership-based approach to development—an approach that looks ahead to the longer-term challenges we face and can readily adapt to the ongoing global changes confronting us. We will bring together a whole-of-UK effort, capitalising on the integration of our diplomacy and development expertise, to achieve greater impact and address the links between extreme poverty and climate change effectively.

In this spirit, the White Paper has been built on extensive consultation: here, in the UK, with right hon. and hon. Members across this House—foremost with the International Development Committee—and the other place; with our charity sector, of course; with academia; with business; and with our global partners. It sets out a road map that galvanises progress in tackling the universal challenges of poverty, climate change, insecurity, and delivering sustainable growth and wellbeing for all, and we will see a step change in the domestic understanding and support for this work. Similarly, it should help spur action internationally. This paper is built on listening to and drawing on the voices of our friends all around the world. It is clear that trust has weakened; and only by listening and acting can we start to rebuild it.

First, we must mobilise more money and impact from international financial institutions and increase private sector investment in development to end extreme poverty, tackle climate change and power sustainable growth.

We must tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and their impacts, while delivering sustainable growth and economic transformation.

Full debate: International Development White Paper
20 Nov 2023: Tweet
Britain has a smart new plan to tackle poverty and climate change, and get the SDGs back on track. We have the power to make the world better and safer, with solutions that deliver results. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/international-development-in-a-contested-world-ending-extreme-poverty-and-tackling-climate-change #GFSS23 #UKDev https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1726637838748525003/photo/1 [Source]
26 Oct 2023: Tweet
Delighted the UK ???????? and Dominican Republic ???????? will co-chair @theGCF Board in 2024. The GCF plays a critical role in global efforts to tackle climate change and address its impacts. ???????? looks forward to working with all partners to help maximise the Fund’s impact. [Source]
19 Oct 2023: Parliamentary Speech

At the halfway mark, with the clock ticking, we must rapidly accelerate progress on the goals, but we have some huge, complex and interlinked challenges to overcome: conflict, covid, climate change, the cost of living crisis and debt burdens increasing to unmanageable levels. It is no wonder that people are angry, particularly in the global south. Meanwhile, geopolitical divisions are making it difficult to address global issues together, and the international financial system is in urgent need of reform to ensure that, in the words of my hon. Friend the Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce), no one is left behind.

First, there have been some significant pledges on the world stage. At the G7 leaders summit in May, the Prime Minister announced that British investment partnerships will mobilise $40 billion by the end of 2027 for high-quality, clean, green infrastructure and investment. In turn, that will attract further investment from the private sector. I thank my right hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford for her eloquent comments on British International Investment. At the G20 leaders meeting in India, our Prime Minister pledged $2 billion to the green climate fund, which places Britain right at the top of support for that vital engine of combating climate change.

That brings me to the second aspect: support to reform the international financial system. During this year’s United Nations General Assembly, we announced new guarantees for multilateral development banks, to help our overseas aid to go further and multiply our impact by unlocking more affordable finance for key SDG priorities. Through one such guarantee, Britain will unlock up to $1.8 billion of climate finance, thereby supporting vulnerable people across Asia and the Pacific to adapt to climate impacts. It will also accelerate their transition from fossil fuels to low-carbon energy sources, demonstrating how sustainable economic growth and development can go hand in hand.

We are determined to capitalise on the momentum generated at the UN General Assembly. Our White Paper on international development, which has been referred to and which I hope the Prime Minister will launch at the global food summit on 20 November, will set out how we will accelerate progress on the SDGs, eradicate poverty and tackle climate change. This is not about the UK acting alone: the paper will draw from the voices of our partners around the world and set out how we will work with international partners, and across His Majesty’s Government, for the greatest impact. Ministers will continue to use their engagements with international counterparts to drive forward this agenda, including at the AI summit and the food security summit later this year. We will continue to collaborate with Governments, civil society, academia, businesses and others to champion and deliver the goals.

My right hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford referred to the Bridgetown agenda and to Marrakesh and the World Bank. Under the new president of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, the Marrakesh meeting was a tremendous success. It also avoided the fears expressed by many that it would be divisive between the north and south. It lived up to President Ruto’s call in Kenya, at the time of the African climate summit, that we should not allow ourselves to be divided into east, west, north and south, and that we should focus on investment and the private sector as the key ingredients for building our way through the climate crisis.

The hon. Member for West Ham talked about the critical nature of the climate change disaster that we face, and she is right that it is the existential crisis of our time. The world is burning up. We have seen these extraordinary extremes of weather. The oceans are dying, with the chemical changes that have taken place because of the rise in temperature. The hon. Lady will know better than me, as a London Member, that, last year, there were brush fires in London for the first time. There is no doubt that this is the existential crisis of our age, which is why we are putting so much effort into ensuring that the British contribution is as good as it can possibly be.

Finally, both the hon. Members for West Ham and for Ealing, Southall raised the issue of malaria and TB. In the case of malaria, the new vaccination that was announced a fortnight ago, which is the second vaccination —again, British technology—is a very welcome moment. I was in Mozambique recently with the head of the Global Fund, and together we saw how climate change is leading to an uptick in the number of people affected by malaria. In Mozambique, the amount of malaria had been driven down below 50% among children, but is now rising again for the first time in many years because of climate change and the amount of flooding.

I end by saying that despite the setbacks we have faced, there is hope that the world can deliver the SDGs, and the UK is determined to play its part. The world needs the goals because they are an approach that recognises the interlinked nature of the global challenges that we face, and sets out our shared vision for overcoming them. That matters now more than ever. Together, we must mobilise the finance required to deliver them, including building a bigger, better and fairer international financial system that addresses both poverty and climate change. We must ensure that money is spent with maximum impact, working closely with country partners to boost economies, create jobs and build a greener and healthier future. I hope that we can all unite to champion and deliver the SDGs over the next seven years for the sake of people and planet.

Full debate: UN Sustainable Development Goals
17 Oct 2023: Parliamentary Speech

I would like to update the House on our progress towards meeting the UK’s commitment to spend £11.6 billion of International Climate Finance (ICF) between financial years 2021/22 and 2025/26.

The UK has long looked to lead on climate action. We were the first major economy to legislate for net zero and we remain committed to this goal. During our COP26 presidency we worked with all parties to deliver the Glasgow climate pact and keep 1.5 degrees within reach. In March this year, we published our 2030 strategic framework which set out how we will drive forward international action on climate and nature, working to keep 1.5 alive by halving global emissions, building resilience to current and future climate impacts and halting and reversing biodiversity loss. We also published our ICF strategy, underpinning our commitment to spending £11.6 billion ICF by March 2026.

Development and tackling climate change and nature loss are intertwined challenges. Since 2011/12, the UK has committed to spending a significant proportion of its aid budget on ICF to help developing countries address both the causes and impacts of climate change. This spending comes from four Government Departments: the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The table below sets out total UK ICF spend by financial year since 2011/12. UK ICF spend by calendar year can be found as reported to the United Nations framework convention on climate change (UNFCCC) under the biennial reports, currently covering 2011-2020.

The £11.6 billion ICF commitment covers financial years 2021/22 to 2025/26 and represents a significant part of the UK’s contribution to the global target of providing $100 billion in climate finance annually to developing countries. The table below sets out how we expect to meet our target, showing spend in 2021/22 and 2022/23 and an expected range for UK ICF spending for 2023/24 to 2025/26 with the scale-up reflecting both the increasing importance of tackling climate change and the growth in our economy.

The UK has demonstrated a long-term commitment to the major global climate funds, including the green climate fund, the global environment facility, the climate investment funds, and the adaptation fund. Our pledges to these funds have been significant. The UK gave £1.44 billion to the green climate fund for 2020-23, making the UK the top donor to the fund and on 10 September 2023 the Prime Minister announced a further $2 billion (£1.62 billion) towards the next green climate fund replenishment—the biggest single funding commitment the UK has made to help developing countries tackle climate change. In recent years, following UK lobbying, a number of other international finance institutions have increased their commitments to financing climate action in developing countries. We will, therefore, include the climate relevant share of future UK contributions to the World Bank’s international development association fund, as well as other key development banks when we report ICF spending.

Our ICF achieves tangible, real-world benefits for the world’s poorest and most climate vulnerable. Since 2011, ICF has supported over 100 million people to adapt better to the effects of climate change and provided almost 70 million people with improved access to clean energy.

In addition, our programmes have avoided or reduced over 86 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, avoided over 400,000 hectares of deforestation and mobilised £6,884 million in climate finance from the private sector 1 . Our funding also supports cutting-edge research and innovation of new technologies.

We will ensure that our climate finance is balanced between funding for mitigation and adaptation. In contrast to many other donors, the UK’s international climate finance is all official development assistance, which means it is concessional finance that delivers benefits for developing countries. We have historically provided over 85% of our ICF as grants, enabling developing countries to mitigate against and adapt to the impacts of climate change without incurring further significant debt. This compares to the global average of just 26% grant finance 2 . We will focus on grants and on efforts to improve access to climate finance, including through the NDC Partnership 3 and Taskforce for Access to Climate Finance. At the same time, we recognise the need for increased private investment to deliver the scale of finance needed for the global net zero transition and for adaptation. We will ensure that we maximise the opportunities presented by increasing climate investments through British International Investment (BII) and other private finance mobilisation programmes.

The UK’s overall contribution to the global $100 billion climate finance target goes far beyond our £11.6 billion official development assistance commitment. If the UK were to include the full value of our investments delivered through British international investment, as other donors do through their own development finance institutions, this would have amounted to an additional £747 million in 2021/22 and 2022/23. Furthermore, our innovative multibillion pound guarantee facilities 4 with the multilateral development banks will contribute $5.8 billion towards global climate finance targets. The UK also provides export finance that supports climate action in developing countries. Including these contributions, along with the private finance mobilised through our programmes, would increase the total finance that the UK provides for climate change between 2021/22 and 2025/26 to well in excess of £11.6 billion.

We will continue to provide high-quality finance to deliver the transformational results needed to support developing countries tackle the causes and devastating impacts of climate change.

1 UK International-Climate-Finance Results 2023.pdf

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/651fb0a97309a1000db0a99e/UK_International-Climate-Finance_Results_2023_rev.pdf

2 OECD (2022), aggregate trends of climate finance provided and mobilised by developed countries in 2013 to 2020

https://www.oecd.org/climate-change/finance-usd-100-billion-goal

Full debate: International Climate Finance
17 Oct 2023: Tweet
We're on track to spend £11.6bn on International Climate Finance by April 2026. UK programmes have helped 100mn+ people adapt to the effects of climate change & avoided ecosystem loss equivalent to 500,000 football pitches. Read my update to Parliament???? https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-10-17/hcws1071 [Source]
11 Oct 2023: Tweet
Today is International Day of the Girl. HRH the Duchess of Edinburgh and I recently spoke to 5 young women from around the world and discussed the importance of promoting girls' education and rights, including in tackling the climate crisis. #RightsFreedomPotential @PlanUK [Source]
05 Oct 2023: Tweet
Today's @theGCF replenishment includes $2bn ???????? pledge - the biggest single funding commitment we've ever made to fight global climate change. It's vital GCF's investments deliver maximum impact to limit emissions and urgently support the most vulnerable. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-announces-record-climate-aid-commitment-as-g20-in-india-concludes [Source]
28 Sep 2023: Tweet
UK climate finance is making a difference. Since 2011 ???????? has: - supported 100m people globally to adapt to the effects of climate change - avoided 413,000 hectares of ecosystem loss - improved access to clean energy for nearly 70m people https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-international-climate-finance-results-2023 https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1707369028233150957/photo/1 [Source]
26 Sep 2023: Tweet
Respectively these were:- climate change and this week’s meetings of the world community to address it in New York; the government’s changes to our own climate regulations; the bankruptcy of Birmingham City Council. [Source]
20 Sep 2023: Tweet
???????? is helping unlock up to $1.8bn of climate finance to support energy transition in Asia & Pacific. With @ADB_HQ we are delivering sustainable growth & development. https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1704611279753695480/photo/1 [Source]
14 Sep 2023: Tweet
The #BreakthroughAgenda Report 2023 launches today - setting an agenda for international action in #agriculture to address food insecurity, climate change & biodiversity loss. https://www.iea.org/reports/breakthrough-agenda-report-2023 We will work with our Breakthrough partners to accelerate progress at #COP28. [Source]
10 Sep 2023: Tweet
???????? today pledged $2bn to @theGCF. The UK will work with GCF to go further and faster to limit global emissions and help the world’s most vulnerable deal with climate change.???? https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-announces-record-climate-aid-commitment-as-g20-in-india-concludes [Source]
08 Sep 2023: Tweet
Climate resilience must be at the heart of every investment we make. I was in ???????? for @AfClimateSummit where new projects worth £34m will: - Help 400,000 farmers protect families & livelihoods from extreme weather - Improve water security for 1.5m people #GoFarGoTogether https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1700122517531201735/video/1 [Source]
02 Sep 2023: Tweet
A wide ranging discussion about the values and interests Rwanda and Britain share - especially on tackling climate change, developing business and trade, and mutual security concerns - and on naming gorillas! https://twitter.com/UrugwiroVillage/status/1698048854933877000 [Source]
18 Aug 2023: Tweet
In the run up to #COP28 we must address the key issues for countries most impacted by climate change, such as access to finance for adaptation. The UK will co-chair the 3rd meeting of climate and development ministers to prioritise these challenges @grahamstuart @COP28_UAE [Source]
28 Jul 2023: Tweet
UK publishing a White Paper to reset progress on international development and the #GlobalGoals, including tackling climate change. I want to hear from you what should be in it: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/uk-international-development-white-paper-call-for-evidence [Source]
25 Jul 2023: Tweet
The UK and UAE have ambitious plans for fighting climate change in fragile countries and tackling global food insecurity. Always a pleasure to meet HE @mansoorabulhoul to discuss ???????? and ???????? partnership and explore how we collaborate on COP28 and beyond. https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1683858597900427266/photo/1 [Source]
20 Jul 2023: Tweet
@BritishIntInv's commitment is all about providing local solutions to local problems. UK investments create jobs, improve healthcare, and tackle climate change. They lift people out of poverty and power growth. Above all, they allow communities to thrive on their own terms. https://twitter.com/BritishIntInv/status/1681953784350531585 [Source]
18 Jul 2023: Parliamentary Speech

The Government will publish an International Development White Paper later this year. It will set out how the UK will lead the charge against extreme poverty and climate change in a changing world.

Full debate: International Development White Paper
18 Jul 2023: Parliamentary Speech

As the Prime Minister set out at COP27, we are committed to spending £11.6 billion on international climate finance over the timeframe originally envisaged.

Full debate: Climate Finance Commitments

We are a global leader on these issues, as my hon. Friend knows, and we have set a lead. Part of that leadership, but only part of it, is in respect of money. The UK has delivered extraordinarily on its commitments. For example, we met our previous climate finance commitments, including spending nearly £6 billion between 2016 and 2021.

Full debate: Climate Finance Commitments
18 Jul 2023: Parliamentary Speech

I am extremely grateful to my right hon. Friend for his comments. As he knows, we will hold a summit specifically on stopping children starving to death in November. I hope that the White Paper will be announced at that summit, but of course he is right. This is a cross-party White Paper designed to ensure that we reach the sustainable development goals, which are way off target at this midway point, and do something to combat the appalling dangers that the world faces, and which we have seen so graphically in recent days, on climate change.

Full debate: Topical Questions

The hon. Lady is right to identify climate change as the great existential crisis of this era. Two weeks ago we had the hottest temperature seen in the world ever on the Monday; it was then exceeded on Wednesday and exceeded again on Thursday. One way we have changed how humanitarian work is done is by building in more adaptation and resilience when we deploy humanitarian support, and we will go on doing that.

Full debate: Topical Questions

My hon. Friend is entirely right. I was recently in Mozambique, where they had managed to cut malaria infection by 50%, but we saw that climate change is now leading to its increasing again. We will do everything we can to make sure that what had previously been a successful policy of malaria eradication gets back on track as soon as possible.

Full debate: Topical Questions
17 Jul 2023: Tweet
Good news – figures released today show our aid spending is planned to increase next year - from £7.4bn in 23/24 to £8.3bn in 24/25. We’re committed to spending ODA to help in humanitarian crises, protect women and girls, tackle climate change, and support the most vulnerable. https://twitter.com/GdnPolitics/status/1680971258014625796 [Source]
5 Jul 2023: Parliamentary Speech

Secondly, the hon. Lady made the point that BII does not, by definition, engage in the most egregious extent of poverty; other parts of the development budget do that. If we take a holistic view across the piece of where we should put our taxpayers’ money for maximum effect in achieving the SDGs and driving forward our climate financing and climate result objectives, we must make that allocation. We do not expect BII to address some of the most egregious effects of poverty; we use grant funding and co-financing, and we do it bilaterally and multilaterally through other mechanisms.

Full debate: Draft Commonwealth Development Corporation (Limit on Government Assistance) Regulations 2023
3 Jul 2023: Parliamentary Speech

The hon. Lady referred to the letter written last week by my former colleague in the Foreign Office, Lord Goldsmith. Of course, I will not be drawn on any of that, except to say that those of us who know the Prime Minister well know that he is incredibly interested in the science and activity around climate change, and is very committed to that agenda. The hon. Lady asked about the Prime Minister’s attendance at the summit. It is true that he was not able to attend; he sent me instead, and I hope the Committee will accept that. I could only be a very poor reflection of him, but I did my best at the summit, and Britain was able to lead on the climate-resilient debt clauses, which will make such a difference to countries caught up in tragedy or crisis. Say disaster or covid struck the Government of Ghana, and that they really needed liquidity in order to help their people, and then had to pay off the capital and interest of loans. The climate-resilience debt clauses mean that they would get a two-year break to help them cope with the crisis. That is added on to the end of the loan. That is being done now by UK Export Finance, and it was the big British contribution to the summit; I think it will be powerful.

Full debate: Draft African Development Fund (Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative) (Amendment) Order 2023 Draft Af...
13 Jun 2023: Parliamentary Speech

My hon. Friend is absolutely right in what she says. That is why we have announced that we intend to publish a White Paper setting a road map towards achieving the sustainable development goals by 2030 and making greater progress on tackling those climate change problems. We hope to engage the interest, involvement and support of colleagues on both sides of the House in that White Paper endeavour.

Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions
24 May 2023: Tweet
At #COP26, the UK announced the Room to Run guarantee, unlocking $2bn of @AfDB_Group funding for climate projects in Africa. Today, alongside @akin_adesina, we announced the first R2R projects in Egypt and Senegal, delivering clean water and resilient infrastructure. https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1661431539756933121/photo/1 [Source]
24 May 2023: Tweet
Millions in the Horn of Africa face the devastating impact of conflict, drought, food insecurity and climate change. We must act now and stop the suffering. Today, the UK pledged life-saving humanitarian aid to East Africa. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-pledges-support-for-over-a-million-people-in-east-africa [Source]
22 May 2023: Tweet
@BritishIntInv’s investment of $15m in the Indo-Pacific is an exciting step towards mobilising private capital markets to support the region’s green energy transition. It’s part of the UK’s ambition to deliver clean, green infrastructure and investment in emerging economies. https://twitter.com/BritishIntInv/status/1660473051950243840 [Source]
22 May 2023: Tweet
The climate crisis is the biggest public health challenge of our times - whether through food & water shortages or rising infectious diseases. Today at the World Health Assembly, we have all made clear this requires action now. #WHA76 https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1660637269756092417/photo/1 [Source]
04 May 2023: Tweet
The ???????? is committed to a prosperous Malawi ???????? Together, with Malawi President @LAZARUSCHAKWERA, we are responding to climate crises, supporting economic growth and strengthening public service delivery. https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1654190292625510423/photo/1 [Source]
03 May 2023: Tweet
Good to see Ajay Banga appointed as World Bank President. His exceptional leadership experience is needed to deliver an urgent reform agenda and tackle the most pressing challenges like extreme poverty and climate change. I look forward to working with him. [Source]
2 May 2023: Parliamentary Speech

The refreshed integrated review places tackling climate change, environmental damage and biodiversity loss as our first thematic priority.

Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions

With the greatest respect, I think that the hon. Lady is slightly going over the top on this issue. We are making climate change a key part of all our bilateral relationships. We are building on the legacy of our COP multilaterally, and within the Foreign Office, we have more than 100 staff working full-time on climate change. She should also bear in mind that we were the first major economy to sign net zero emissions by 2050 into law, and that the UK has cuts its emissions faster than any other G7 country.

Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions
27 Apr 2023: Tweet
Today, in my speech @ChathamHouse, I will reaffirm our commitment to reduce poverty and tackle climate change. I set out how UK International Development will work in partnership to deliver this. Watch live from 9am here: https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/all/members-event/can-rhetoric-match-reality-britains-international-development-future?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=andrew-mitchell-may-2023&utm_content=mem-ev-24-04-23 [Source]
13 Apr 2023: Tweet
I’m here in Washington DC for the @IMFNews and @WorldBank Spring Meetings. Against the backdrop of crises in development and climate change one thing is clear: We must reform our international financial system. https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1646632572502302722/video/1 [Source]
30 Mar 2023: Parliamentary Speech

In 2024-25 we plan to spend £1 billion on urgent humanitarian needs and expect to mobilise up to £8 billion of UK-backed financing a year under British investment partnerships by 2025. We remain committed to the cross-Government international climate finance target of spending at least £11.6bn by 2026. We continue to work towards the IDS target on restoring funding for vital work on women and girls, and the new target set out in the international climate finance 2023 to 2030 for at least 80% of the FCDO’s bilateral aid programmes to have a focus on gender equality by 2030.

Full debate: FCDO Programme Allocations
13 Mar 2023: Tweet
Delighted to meet with Hon Dr Tangara @OfficialMofa ???????? on #CommonwealthDay. As committed Commonwealth members we share democratic values and discussed how the Commonwealth plays a valuable role in strengthening trade and investment and building resilience to climate change. https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1635330843513344000/photo/1 [Source]
09 Mar 2023: Tweet
A pleasure to meet Ajay Banga. We are pleased to support his nomination as the next President of the World Bank Group. His exceptional leadership experience is just what the World Bank needs to tackle the most pressing challenges like extreme poverty climate change. https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1633937721830899715/photo/1 [Source]
8 Mar 2023: Parliamentary Speech

Building on the experience of the fight against covid-19, the Global Fund supports work to prepare for and respond to pandemics. For example, it invests in building laboratory networks that were the bedrock of the covid-19 testing programmes. The fund raised $5 billion in two years to fight covid, leading work in lower-income countries on diagnosis and treatment. But this is about more than money to fight diseases; it is about addressing wider global challenges, from conflict to climate change.

Full debate: Global Fund: Supplementary Funding
01 Mar 2023: Tweet
The UK is joining @BIDInvest to help accelerate clean economic growth across the Caribbean & Latin America. With @IGoldfajn we discussed the Bridgetown Initiative and agreed to raise our ambitions for tackling climate change and supporting vulnerable Caribbean states. https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1631005534949179418/photo/1 [Source]
21 Feb 2023: Tweet
Excellent conversations with @AdelAljubeir yesterday. Saudi Arabia is championing climate as part of #Saudivision2030 and I very much look forward to our countries working together to ensure a successful and ambitious COP28. https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1627941249868070913/photo/1 [Source]
17 Feb 2023: Tweet
In Maradi, Niger, I saw first-hand the impact that regional conflict and climate change is having on Nigerien people. Humanitarian workers such as @WFP are saving lives in response to the food security crisis. Including children suffering malnutrition, which is rife in Maradi. https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1626590899986903044/photo/1 [Source]
03 Feb 2023: Tweet
Conflict and the impacts of climate change are increasing the risk of child marriage. The ???????? is proud to stand with Bangladesh, DRC, Ethiopia and Nigeria as they pledge #EndChildMarriage & promote bright futures for girls: https://uni.cf/pledge-against-child-marriage https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1621522537124597761/photo/1 [Source]
31 Jan 2023: Parliamentary Speech

My right hon. Friend knows a great deal about this subject, and has done an enormous amount. The Prime Minister announced at COP that Britain would stand by the commitment to spend £11,600 million on climate finance through the ICF, and yesterday there was a cross-Whitehall meeting with Ministers involved in the programme to discuss how that would be done. I will try to establish how much we can put into the public domain about those plans, as my right hon. Friend suggests, but I should emphasise that the pipeline of high-quality eligible projects is extremely important.

Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions
09 Dec 2022: Tweet
Pleased to sign the Climate and Environment Charter in Geneva on behalf of the UK ???????? This aspirational text is a rallying cry for the humanitarian sector to respond to the dramatic impacts of climate change. Thanks to @jagan_chapagain @ifrc @icrc for your leadership https://twitter.com/AndrewmitchMP/status/1601270130847420419/photo/1 [Source]
07 Dec 2022: Tweet
Proud that the UK is contributing £650m to this successful replenishment of the African Development Fund. @AfDB_Group This funding will support Africa’s 37 poorest countries to grow their economies, create jobs and adapt to climate change. https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/african-development-fund-mobilizes-89-billion-africas-low-income-countries-highest-its-50-year-history-57132 [Source]
02 Dec 2022: Tweet
Good to discuss these issues, @HassanSMohamud @TheVillaSomalia. UK ???????? will continue to support Somali people – saving lives, countering terrorism and improving resilience to climate change. https://twitter.com/TheVillaSomalia/status/1597993826160738306 [Source]
15 Nov 2022: Parliamentary Speech

I have today laid a departmental minute outlining details of a new liability being undertaken by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to support Indonesia’s Just Energy Transition Partnership—JETP. This guarantee will support the development of the JETP and reduce the impact of climate change in the region. The new $1 billion guarantee facility, which will guarantee additional lending from the World Bank, will be conditional on Indonesia implementing the ambitious commitments to energy transition made as part of the JETP, and on the World Bank reaching its lending limits in Indonesia, which would require the Bank to scale up its financial support for Indonesia’s energy transition significantly over several years. If implemented, the UK guarantee would enable the Bank to lend an additional up to $1 billion to Indonesia at affordable rates.

Full debate: Just Energy Transition Partnership: Indonesia
12 Nov 2022: Tweet
It’s Agriculture Day at #COP27 & I’m pleased that #Australia ???????? #Cambodia ???????? #Germany ???????? & #Ireland ???????? have joined growing # of countries in the #BreakthroughAgenda on Agriculture. Investment in agri R&D & tech deployment will be key in tackling the global food & climate crises [Source]
11 Nov 2022: Tweet
The UK ???????? recognises the importance of science & innovation in scaling sustainable agriculture solutions to deliver food security & meet the #ClimateCrisis That's why we're proud to participate in #AIM4C and thank US & UAE for their leadership" https://twitter.com/AIMforClimate/status/1591077079931531264 [Source]
11 Nov 2022: Tweet
Congratulations to ????????'s @MukuruStoves & @roammotors being selected as @EarthshotPrize Finalists! Pioneering examples of African innovation & action to tackle the global climate crisis - and champion women in business! I wish you the best for the awards! https://twitter.com/JaneMarriottUK/status/1588426165496299520 [Source]
8 Nov 2022: Parliamentary Speech

Nigeria is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change, and it is experiencing the worst floods in a decade. The UK is providing support through the multi-donor Start fund, which has allocated £580,000 so far this rainy season. That funding is supporting 26,288 people affected by flooding. We will continue to help Nigeria make progress towards long-term climate change adaptation and resilience.

Full debate: Nigeria: Flood Relief

I thank the hon. Lady for her comments and her question. Over the past five years, Britain has provided £425 million of humanitarian support, which has specifically reached more than 2 million people in north-east Nigeria, including individuals affected by the flooding. I give her a commitment that, working with Nigerian agencies, we will seek to strengthen flood risk management. Prior to COP26 we supported Nigeria’s national adaptation work to help cope with climate change.

Full debate: Nigeria: Flood Relief
08 Nov 2022: Tweet
At COP26 we agreed a crucial partnership to transform South Africa’s economy & move towards clean energy. Fantastic to see @CyrilRamaphosa introduce his investment plan for this @COP27P. South Africa ???????? & the Just Energy Transition Partnership are vital for a greener future ???? https://twitter.com/FCDOGovUK/status/1589689918560821250 [Source]
7 Nov 2022: Parliamentary Speech

I have today laid a departmental minute outlining details of a new liability being undertaken by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). This guarantee will reduce the impact of climate change and support an important legacy of the UK’s COP presidency, the Just Energy Transition Partnership with South Africa. The $1billion guarantee facility will support projects in South Africa’s JETP investment plan, which has been drafted by the South African Government with the input of international partners—the United States, the UK, the European Union, France and Germany. The investment plan sets out areas for investment in renewable energy, hydrogen, electric vehicles and the coal mining region.

An announcement on the South Africa Just Energy Transition Partnership is expected to be made at COP27, which is between 6 and 18 November 2022. Any announcement on this UK guarantee will note that the guarantee is subject to the parliamentary notification process being completed. The Public Accounts Committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee and the International Development Committee have been notified of this.

Full debate: Just Energy Transition Guarantee: South Africa
19 Oct 2022: Vote
Ban on Fracking for Shale Gas Bill - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No
6 Jul 2022: Parliamentary Speech

Furthermore, building stronger and safer societies over there helps to stop the high level of migration, which is now being fuelled by starvation and famine, climate change emergencies, and the ease of travel. The whole burden of British development policy was to try to help to resolve that by building those safer and more prosperous societies overseas.

The final thing that we have to do if we are to resolve these issues is renegotiate the 1951 Geneva convention on refugees, which was set up largely by British effort. It was British officials who helped corral all the different parties to accept this international convention, but it was made at a time when travel was not as easy as today. The situation has completely changed. If we are to resolve this problem, which will get worse because of climate change migration, we need to understand that the rich world has to play its part if it expects the poor world to comply. That is a real job of work.

Full debate: Strategy for International Development
27 Oct 2021: Parliamentary Speech

Secondly, moving from the parochial to the national and, indeed, the international, as we look toward the COP that is coming up shortly it is clear that the Government are doing extremely well on the UK’s climate strategy. The report published last week sets out the importance of our reaching net zero emissions by 2050; how the UK will be powered entirely by clean energy by 2035; the subsidies for replacing domestic boilers; the incentives to switch to electric vehicles, which is incredibly important in the west midlands in respect of Jaguar Land Rover, which will make only electric cars from 2025; the quadrupling of offshore wind; and the significant advances in carbon capture and storage. Of course, the agenda will also unlock 500,000 new jobs, as well as huge private sector investment. Those are important matters on which Britain is leading and clearly setting the right example, which is very good. By contrast, I am keeping my fingers crossed that the Prime Minister’s unique boosterism will pull a rabbit out of a hat for the COP, because as he himself has said the approach to the COP is challenging.

Full debate: Budget Resolutions
5 Jul 2021: Parliamentary Speech

This Government have a strong track record when it comes to environmental issues, including our commitment to net zero. Our world-leading Environment Bill will set a new and ambitious framework for environmental governance, to address environmental challenges including biodiversity loss and climate change. We have committed to leaving the environment in a better space than we inherited it. I therefore cannot understand why, in all these changes we are making, Ministers are not considering strengthening our protection for hedgehogs. I look forward to listening to this very accomplished Minister explain what plans the Government have in that respect.

Full debate: Hedgehogs
30 Jun 2021: Parliamentary Speech

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is often women and girls across the world who face the brunt of climate change in their own communities, and that the cutting back of aid within those countries and communities is not only having a devastating effect over there but, given the interconnected nature of climate change, is impacting on us here? In the year of COP, five months away from it, surely we should expect better from this Government.

Full debate: Official Development Assistance and the British Council
07 Jun 2021: Vote
Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill — New Clause 1 - Human Rights Abuses - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No
26 May 2021: Vote
Environment Bill — New Clause 24 - Prohibition on burning of peat in upland areas - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No
12 May 2021: Parliamentary Speech

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his kind words. Does he agree that at the G7 and later this year at COP26, Her Majesty’s Government would stand a far better chance of encouraging sign-up to the new International Development Association programme if, ahead of those important events, they were prepared to commit to the 0.7% target?

Full debate: Better Jobs and a Fair Deal at Work
26 Apr 2021: Parliamentary Speech

The impact of the cuts on the Government’s own stated priorities are stark—from education, which has been cut by 40%, to health programmes such as the International Rescue Committee’s Saving Lives in Sierra Leone, which has helped more than 3 million people and has now been cut by 60%. In a year when Britain will be hosting the G7 and COP26, the cuts are a shameful act and part of a pattern of retreat from the world stage by this Conservative Government. Rather than continuing to treat Parliament with contempt, will the Minister commit to putting the cuts to a vote at the earliest opportunity?

I can assure the House that the Prime Minister is absolutely committed to supporting the poor and suffering people around the world. Through the priorities that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary outlined, including climate change, biodiversity and girls’ education—something the Prime Minister is particularly focused on—we have seen that we are absolutely committed to these things. I will say again: the circumstances in which we find ourselves are unique; they are unprecedented: the biggest economic contraction this country has seen in 300 years. It is right that the Government respond to that, but I remind the House that, even in the midst of this response, in percentage and absolute terms, we remain one of the most generous aid donor countries in the world.

The Scottish National party has committed to increase aid spending by 50% next year if back in government, despite the constraints imposed by Westminster. With the worldwide pandemic, COP26 to come and loss and damage to be discussed, it is ridiculous that the UK Government are cutting aid. Did the Minister fight his corner to protect the ODA budget, or does he not care enough about the poorest and most vulnerable?

Full debate: ODA Budget
11 Mar 2021: Parliamentary Speech

I want to talk about the position of women across the world and the deep poverty that disfigures our world. I think the whole House will accept that we cannot understand international development unless we see it through the eyes of a girl or a woman, because girls and women suffer most grievously from the effects of poverty. They suffer first and hardest from climate change, food insecurity, conflict and disorder. As we have heard, so many are in important caring roles, and they are often, in the developing world, the earners in families. Some 2.1 billion girls live in countries that, even before the pandemic, were not on track to meet any of the gender equality targets set down by the United Nations. One of the best ways of changing the world is to educate girls. If we educate girls, they marry later, educate their own children, tend to be more likely to be economically active, and adopt leadership roles in their communities. That is why the Prime Minister is so right to champion—to aspire to—every girl getting 12 years of education.

Full debate: International Women’s Day
13 Jan 2021: Vote
Financial Services Bill — Schedule 2 - Prudential regulation of FCA investment firms - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No
08 Dec 2020: Vote
Delegated Legislation — Financial Assistance to Industry - Pro-climate vote: No - Their vote: Aye
16 Nov 2020: Vote
Pension Schemes Bill [Lords] — Clause 124 - Climate change risk - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No
12 Oct 2020: Vote
Agriculture Bill — After Clause 42 - Contribution of agriculture and associated land use to climate change targets - Pro-climate vote: No - Their vote: Aye
29 Sep 2020: Vote
United Kingdom Internal Market Bill — New Clause 6 - Economic development: climate and nature emergency impact statement - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No
05 Feb 2020: Vote
Transport - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No
14 Oct 2019: Parliamentary Speech

The second thing, and it bears upon the Gracious Speech, is that a resolution to Brexit at the weekend will allow Britain to re-engage internationally. As the House will be aware, our reputation has plummeted over the past three years. We have been absent from parade on a number of big issues where Britain had previously shown great leadership, such as migration, climate change, protectionism, terrorism and the desperate threats that the Kurds face today. Britain’s voice needs to be heard trenchantly on these issues and, over the past three years, Brexit has prevented that from happening.

Climate change, for example, was mentioned in the Queen’s Speech. I have talked to some of the Extinction Rebellion people who blockaded the streets around Westminster over the last week or so. It is easy to mock these people, but there is something rather noble about the cause they espouse. Talking to some of them while negotiating my way through Trafalgar Square on my bicycle has been interesting and constructive, but the problem is that, in attacking this Government, they are attacking the wrong target.

Britain has been a leader in tackling climate change at the major international forums of the UN and elsewhere. I pay particular tribute to important work by Lord Turner and his colleagues on the Committee on Climate Change. Britain has put its money where its mouth is in tackling climate change internationally, as well as domestically. Starting with the coalition, when I had some responsibility for these matters, we allocated some £7 billion for the international climate fund. For 2016 to 2021 we allocated £5.8 billion, from our hard-pressed taxpayers, for adaptation and mitigation of climate change. As the Prime Minister said, we are projected to spend £11.6 billion between 2021 and 2026. In addition, we are streets ahead of some of our European friends and neighbours in developing the technology, and here I highlight the Ayrton fund, which has allocated £1 billion for innovative technology. Britain has standards and an approach to climate change, both in adaptation and mitigation, that have been enormously effective. It is also worth bearing in mind that, this year, for the first time since the industrial revolution, we will consume more energy from renewables and nuclear power than from coal and gas.

I concur entirely with the right hon. Gentleman’s aspiration for Britain to continue to lead internationally on key issues such as climate change, but does he not agree that Britain’s role internationally will be diminished if it is no longer a member of the EU? Britain has played a leading role on these issues within the EU and internationally partly because it has been a member of the EU, and it will be difficult for us to retain our status if it departs the EU.

I wish to mention one way in which, under climate change funding, we can do more of this. We have seen Britain leading in the vital, world-changing area of educating girls. That was certainly done in the Blair and Brown years, and it was given a strong boost during the coalition years through the girls education challenge fund, which was designed to get 1 million girls into school in areas where they have been denied any form of education. Of course the Prime Minister, both in his current role and as Foreign Secretary, has made a staunch stand in favour of that.

Full debate: Debate on the Address
1 Jul 2019: Parliamentary Speech

For many years, the right hon. Gentleman has made a major contribution to DFID debates and at one stage he had responsibility for the Department. Last week, it was heartening when we had a number of young people down here, talking about not only climate change but concerns about the medical welfare of people in some developing countries. They wanted to maintain the level of financing for tackling, for example, HIV. DFID also plays a major part in developing British markets for the future. That means jobs for British people. Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that people tend to forget that when they look at the amount of money we spend overseas?

Fifthly, on climate change, DFID leadership has made a huge direct contribution to tackling something that affects the poorest people in the world first and hardest. The British taxpayer has made a huge contribution through the international climate change mitigation funds. Britain is leading work on international development around the world, and that has a huge benefit.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that we come back to the problem of public perception of international aid? When we tackle climate change, disease and terrorism, that has a direct benefit to this country. Although it may be thought that diseases are thousands of miles away, they are only one plane journey away. Does my right hon. Friend share my frustration that we do not do enough to explain how taking world-leading responsibility directly benefits the UK?

Full debate: Department for International Development
25 Jun 2019: Vote
Delegated Legislation — Value Added Tax - Pro-climate vote: No - Their vote: Aye
20 Mar 2019: Parliamentary Speech

I welcome the £6 million relief effort from the Department for International Development, and I am delighted to hear that it is now reaching people on the ground. However, unless immediate action is taken to halt catastrophic climate change, extreme weather events such as this will become more frequent, and the poorest people in the global south will suffer the most. This event must be a wake-up call for Governments everywhere to deliver urgently on the Paris agreement target of keeping global warming below 1.5 °C. If we are serious about that, we must start reducing our own global carbon emissions now, so what are the Government doing to ensure that that happens? Another key component of the Paris agreement was a commitment to address the devastation caused to poor nations by climate change through funding for loss and damage. What Government support is being given to fund that strand of the agreement?

I endorse the hon. Lady’s comments about the UK’s important leadership role on climate change. We have already committed £5.8 billion during this spending review period to work with international partners on international climate finance. We are also able to show leadership not only through our track record as one of the leading countries for reducing carbon emissions, but by sharing our technical skills, such as those in the offshore wind and solar mini-grid sectors. The week before last, we hosted an event for African Energy Ministers, and a Mozambique Government representative was in attendance. Through the City of London and the green finance initiative, we have been able to provide not only our own contribution, but a further $25 billion of green finance through more than 90 bond issues in seven currencies.

Last year, the International Development Committee heard from Dr Alison Doig, who noted that the UN framework for combating climate change has three pillars for averting such disasters or dealing with their impact: mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage. Does the Minister agree that loss and damage of property is a huge consequence of climate change? If so, why do the UK Government allocate official development assistance spending only to mitigation and adaptation? We can no longer pretend that such events are freak accidents, because their frequency will only ever increase. Does the Minister therefore agree that we are living through a climate crisis? If so, why has that not been made a much more urgent Government priority?

The International Development Committee, on which the hon. Gentleman sits, is doing important work in relation to DFID’s overall approach on climate change, and I look forward to hearing what the Committee has to say. I recently gave evidence to the Committee about the £5.8 billion of international climate finance. He will be aware that that has already helped 47 million people adapt to the impact of climate change.

I welcome what the Minister has said today. As she described to the House, the Select Committee is currently looking at climate change. Rightly, today’s focus is on humanitarian relief and the immediate challenges, but of course the long-term development needs of these countries must not be forgotten. What will DFID be doing—working with other donors and the countries concerned—to ensure that Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe can rebuild after this disaster, particularly with regard to necessary health and education investment?

The hon. Gentleman is so right to point to the long-term nature of this work. Although we need to put in place a short-term response, there also needs to be a long-term strategic response. Some of the very poorest countries in the world are also some of the most vulnerable to climate change—I think Malawi is estimated to be the third poorest country in the world, and Mozambique the seventh—so those of us paying in through international climate finance have a special responsibility to do whatever we can to encourage countries such as those affected in this instance to bid successfully for those funds. That is why we had the African Energy Ministers event. As part of our new approach to Africa, we are also hiring a further 20 climate specialists across our African network to help deploy some of that finance into these particularly vulnerable countries.

This is another example of the devastating impact of climate change on the very poorest countries in the world—although, as my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Stephen Twigg), said, we are debating the humanitarian aspect today. What will the Foreign Office be doing at the UN and other multinational organisations to press the case for not just redoubling our efforts on climate change but re-trebling them so that these incidents do not happen in future?

The other day, I was able to give evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee, on which the hon. Gentleman serves, and one of the things I talked about was our new approach to Africa whereby we are putting increased emphasis on adaptation to climate change across, in particular, the poorest and most vulnerable countries there. With regard to the UN specifically, the UK has been asked to lead the work on resilience at September’s UN climate summit, so that is a piece of work that we are taking forward to show real leadership in that area.

It is World Water Day on Friday, but for people in Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, there is water everywhere but not a drop to drink. In the all-party parliamentary group on Malawi, which I chair, we have been following the effect of devastating floods that had already been hitting the country before the cyclone. The Minister might be aware that the Scottish Government have already made a donation to provide support for that, and civic society is responding as well. Specifically, what steps will her Department take to improve resilience in these countries? Because of climate change, such extreme weather events are becoming more common, so how can countries be supported before a disaster hits to ensure that there is resilience in the infrastructure?

There is an increasing body of scientific evidence linking extreme weather to increasing carbon emissions. What diplomatic efforts is the Minister’s Department making, in partnership with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to make the case both to our partners around the world and to our own Government that we need to reach our net zero carbon emissions target sooner rather than later?

The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the work that my right hon. Friend the Minister for Energy and Clean Growth is doing in having commissioned work to see how the UK can show leadership on net zero. We await what comes out of that report. He will be aware of the UK’s leadership so far in terms of our ability to have reduced our own carbon emissions very significantly. He will be aware of the programming that is being done through international climate finance, which has already helped to avoid or mitigate some 10.8 million tonnes of emissions in the atmosphere. He will also be aware that we are leading through our international networks. I mentioned the uplift in our new approach to climate change in Africa, but we will be convening the international community at the United Nations to deal with the all-important issue of resilience.

Our hearts go out to the hundreds of thousands of people across Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe who have been affected by this terrible disaster. It reminds us of the huge need to focus on the fight against climate change. I welcome what the Minister says about how important that is, but the DFID departmental plan used to list climate change as a stand-alone strategic priority, and the current version does not. In this time of climate emergency, is that not a case of getting our priorities wrong? We should be increasing the urgency of the action we take to fight climate change, not downgrading it to a subheading.

I can reassure the hon. Lady that, since climate change is a major threat to achieving the sustainable development goals, tackling it is a strategic priority for the Department for International Development. We work across the Government on this with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. I am glad that the independent ICAI report said that UK international climate finance shows a “convincing approach”, with some “good emerging results” in influencing others and making some good strategic choices.

Full debate: Cyclone Idai
22 Nov 2017: Parliamentary Speech

My final point on intergenerational fairness is that one of the best investments in future generations is Britain’s contribution to international development. The work Britain is doing, with the commitment made across the House to the 0.7% target, is driving real change in the world—it does a huge amount to help some of the poorest in our world—and contributes directly to making the world a safer and more prosperous place for future generations. It tackles directly the international dangers from climate change, migration, terror, pandemics and protectionism, and the Government should make more of this work. The Government, of which I was proud to be a part some five years ago, have done an immense amount, and such work is very important in addressing intergenerational inequity. In making more of such work, the Government will note that it is very strongly supported by people from across our country who are under 35—a cohort conspicuously absent among Tory voters at the last election.

Full debate: Budget Resolutions
06 Sep 2016: Vote
Finance Bill — VAT on Installation of Energy Saving Materials - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No
03 May 2016: Vote
Housing and Planning Bill — Neighbourhood right of appeal - Pro-climate vote: No - Their vote: Aye
14 Mar 2016: Vote
Energy Bill [Lords] — New Clause 8 — Decarbonisation target range - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No
14 Mar 2016: Vote
Energy Bill [Lords] — New Clause 3 — Carbon capture and storage strategy for the energy industry - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No
25 Jan 2016: Parliamentary Speech

In all those countries, climate change hits the poorest people first and hardest. One reason for the massacres in Darfur—the pastoralists versus the crop growers—was the effect of climate change on crops and the ability of animals to withstand the droughts that are increasing in frequency. Britain has made an important contribution in the area of conflict, which has rightly been described as development in reverse. The key aim of British policy is to stop conflicts starting or, once they have started, to stop them, and once they are over, reconcile people. Much closer relations between development, defence and diplomacy, to which Members have alluded, came about because the coalition Government set up the National Security Council. The decision in the strategic defence and security review in 2010 to spend 30% of the DFID budget on tackling conflict—now increased to 50%—was absolutely right although, as I mentioned to the House, it was pretty hard to find ways of spending 30%, and it may be quite difficult to spend 50%.

Full debate: Central and East Africa
26 Oct 2015: Vote
Finance Bill (Ways and Means) (Payment of Corporation Tax) — Chapter 5 — Supplementary provisions - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No
08 Sep 2015: Vote
Bill Presented — Devolution (London) Bill — Clause 45 — CCL: removal of exemption for electricity from renewable sources - Pro-climate vote: No - Their vote: Aye
14 Jul 2015: Vote
21. Climate Change Levy: Removal of Exemption for Electricity from Renewable Sources - Pro-climate vote: No - Their vote: Aye
04 Dec 2013: Vote
Recall of Elected Representatives — Schedule 4 — Application and modification of emissions limit duty - Pro-climate vote: No - Their vote: Aye
04 Jun 2013: Vote
Energy Bill — Clause 10 — Direction to offer contract - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No
04 Jun 2013: Vote
Energy Bill — Clause 1 — Decarbonisation - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No
03 Jun 2013: Vote
Communities and Local Government — Clause 42 — Duty not to exceed annual carbon dioxide emissions limit - Pro-climate vote: No - Their vote: No
11 Jun 2012: Vote
Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: No
8 Feb 2012: Parliamentary Speech

£10.0 million transferred to DEFRA in respect of DFID in respect of the overall ODA and International Climate Finance management strategy. An ODA/GNI target of 0.56% was set out in DFID’s CSR10 settlement letter, as was a climate change spending target of £275.0 million;

£7.1 million transferred to Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in respect of the overall ODA and International Climate Finance management strategy;

£10.0 million CDEL received from DEFRA in respect of the overall ODA and International Climate Finance management strategy;

£7.1 million CDEL received from DECC in respect of the overall ODA and International Climate Finance management strategy;

Full debate: Supplementary Estimates 2011-12
7 Dec 2011: Parliamentary Speech

The hon. Gentleman is entirely accurate about the effects of climate change on very vulnerable people in Bangladesh, where only a fairly small rise in the water level could wipe out hundreds of thousands of homes. We are directly involved in protecting 15 million vulnerable people from those effects of climate change, and we will continue—through, for example, the development of scuba rice, which grows in very difficult circumstances—to target malnutrition.

Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions
15 Jun 2011: Parliamentary Speech

The report sets a challenging agenda for the 21st century. It recognises that, although disasters are nothing new, we are experiencing a sudden increase in their intensity and frequency. It makes it clear that this trend will only grow with climate change, population growth and greater urbanisation. The review concluded that the Department for International Development has played a strong role in improving the quality of the wider international response. It is an area where Britain is well respected and well regarded, but there is no room for complacency, which is why I commissioned the review and why the Government will take action to implement it.

We must anticipate and be prepared for disasters. We will work with Governments and the international system to become better at understanding where climate change, seismic activity, seasonal fluctuations and conflict will lead to humanitarian disasters. With others, we will set up a global risk register of those countries most at risk, so that the international effort can be more focused.

It is particularly important to focus on anticipation. The risk register is a great addition to the tools that DFID can use. On that basis, will we also develop strategies to mitigate that risk and that can ensure that we push and help countries to move along a pathway to reduce the risk that they face from, for example, climate change?

I warmly welcome the Ashdown report and the Government’s response. May I urge the Government to take an integrated, cross-departmental approach to this that includes the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence as well as DFID, in order to anticipate better how different risk factors can combine to threaten human life? For example, water shortage in a politically volatile area could trigger conflict, turning a humanitarian problem into a humanitarian disaster.

I thank my hon. Friend for her comments, which are extremely helpful. She is right to talk about the absolute importance of integration. I can reassure her to this extent: proposals on climate change, on which we are involved in much work, come to a cross-ministerial board, which includes DECC, DFID, the Treasury and other Departments that have a direct interest. As I indicated in my statement, we will not forget the importance of strong, cross-Whitehall collaboration.

I welcome what the Secretary of State says about resilience and enabling countries to respond better if a crisis strikes, but does he recognise that some humanitarian crises can be avoided? If we did more work on food security and pre-positioning food stocks—in the horn of Africa, say—on climate change or on regional integration, such as by getting an upstream country to warn a downstream country when a flood is coming, we could avoid crises. Work must be done by DFID and the UN on that.

Full debate: Humanitarian Emergency Response Review
16 Feb 2011: Parliamentary Speech

As part of the Government’s fulfilment of our historic pledge, we have set out specifically how climate change funding will rise as part of the overall budget.

Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions
8 Dec 2010: Parliamentary Speech

There will be an initial discussion on the main issues presented in the Commission’s recent Green Paper on inclusive growth and sustainable development. This wide-ranging paper is currently the subject of a public consultation. Discussion topics include governance, security and fragility, the co-ordination of aid, budget support, growth, regional integration, climate change and biodiversity, energy and development and agriculture and food security. This is a welcome initiative and a chance to put forward our broader views on the future of EU development policy, albeit with a specific focus on growth.

The High Representative will report back on the development discussions that took place at the EU-US summit in Lisbon on 20 November 2010. In the summit statement, the EU and US pledged to continue and strengthen co-operation on food security, climate change and the millennium development goals, including health. Discussions will continue through the EU-US dialogue on development and the UK is supportive of this process.

Full debate: Foreign Affairs Council (Development Ministers)
17 Nov 2010: Parliamentary Speech

I thank the hon. Lady for what she said about the quality of the programme and those who staff it in Bangladesh. I am glad that she was able to visit our programme last week. She has seen a country where climate change affects the everyday lives of millions of people, and she is quite right to underline the Government’s commitment to ensuring new and additional mechanisms for raising international finance to tackle climate change. I will be making a speech on the subject tomorrow, and the Government will be pressing hard in the run-up to Cancun and beyond to see that we make significant progress in this area.

Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions
15 Sep 2010: Parliamentary Speech

The report was positive about DFID’s programme in Bangladesh. It commends DFID’s work on governance, extreme poverty and the balance we are striking between support to service delivery and capacity building. The Minister of State for International Development visited Bangladesh 12 to 14 July 2010, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to helping Bangladesh reduce poverty and deal with the impacts of climate change.

Full debate: DFID's Programme in Bangladesh
7 Sep 2010: Parliamentary Speech

In respect of flood risk management in the future, to what extent will the UK Government support sustained investment in the adaptation of Pakistan to climate change, therefore making the country’s infrastructure and communities more resilient to future flooding?

I urge the Secretary of State to work with the EU countries to focus on what steps can be taken to tackle the long-term challenges of climate-related disasters. What additional funding, on top of what has already been committed and Government aid funding and emergency aid, is he committing to climate change adaptation?

Full debate: Pakistan Floods
7 Jul 2010: Parliamentary Speech

Decisions on UK international climate change finance will be determined through the comprehensive spending review.

Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions

The hon. Lady will know that the fast start funding for climate change, which will come from the development budget—something that was confirmed by the previous Government when they were in office—takes up to 2012, but I hope she will understand that long-term decisions on climate change funding will need to come from the comprehensive spending review, and that work is happening at the moment.

Full debate: Oral Answers to Questions
1 Jul 2010: Parliamentary Speech

What is less easily articulated is that tackling poverty throughout the world is also very much in our national interest. Whether the issue is drug-resistant diseases, economic stability, conflict and insecurity, climate change or migration, it is far more effective to tackle the root cause now than to treat the symptoms later. The weight of migration to Europe from Africa is often caused by conflict, poverty, disease and dysfunctional government. We see people putting themselves into the hands of the modern equivalent of the slave trader and crossing hundreds of miles of ocean in leaky boats in the hope of tipping up on a wealthy European shore. Often, they are not people seeking a free ride, but the brightest and the best from conflict countries, seeking a better life for themselves and their families. It is much better to help them to tackle the causes of their leaving the country that they have come from. Our prosperity depends on development and growth in Africa and Asia.

I welcome the Secretary of State to his new position, and I know that he understands the close relationship between development and the environment. Will he add to the list of the issues that he has just mentioned the importance of ensuring that environmental issues are taken into account as part of the development process? Will he also commit to ensuring that, on the climate change promise that the previous Government made, there will be no more than a 10% overlap between environmental projects to combat climate change and development aid—that his Government, too, are willing to continue with that commitment?

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his remarks. On his general point, he is absolutely right about the importance of including in all our aid and development activity a climate-smart approach—one that, as he says, reflects the importance of the environment. In opposition I had an opportunity to see the direct correlation between those issues in many different parts of the world, and, although I shall not speak extensively today about climate change, I very much hope that there will be another opportunity to do so, and I take his point on board.

Full debate: Global Poverty

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