• Timeline
• Votes
• Speeches
• Tweets
• Contact

Steve Race's Climate-related Tweets, Speeches & Votes

We've found the following climate-related tweets, speeches & votes by Steve Race

• 24 Jun 2026: Parliamentary Speech

  I welcome the draft order and regulations laid before the House. The timing for this debate obviously could not be more apt; not only is it currently London Climate Action Week, with Exeter Climate Forum taking place next week, but here in the UK and across Europe we are currently experiencing extreme temperatures. Frankly, this is not normal. The science of this is settled; what we ought to be doing, and what we must continue to do, is limiting climate change, mitigating its impact and continuing to grow the economy.

  This Labour Government are delivering world-leading climate action, driving jobs, growth and investment in every corner of the UK. Setting the target in this seventh climate budget is the goal, but the means by which we meet that target is what we will be judged on by future generations. If we are to meet the targets set out today, as well as our nearer-term 2030 commitments, we must now turn our attention to the acceleration of delivery at pace and at scale. Central to that effort is a new and enabling approach to climate technology.

  Just this morning, I spoke at the Startup Coalition and British Business Bank’s energy innovation event with climate tech founders, investors and policymakers representing more than £10 billion-worth of scale-ups. We are fortunate to be home to firms at the forefront of energy innovation, not just in Europe but the world over. I am proud to say that the south-west is already leading the way. My home city of Exeter is home to the Met Office and the University of Exeter, both of which are pioneering in weather forecasting, ocean science, climate modelling, conservation and climate tech. Of the top 21 climate scientists in the world, five are based in the UK, and all of them are based in Exeter. The wider south-west economy already contributes £1.5 billion to our net zero economy, and the firms that make up this economy are at the cutting edge, from small modular nuclear reactors and tidal energy systems to low-carbon construction methods and sustainable food technologies.

  Full debate: Climate Change

  I want to talk about our innovators, who are too often held back by a system that is not keeping pace with the urgency of the challenges we face. Time and again, climate tech companies tell us that regulation is the single biggest barrier to scaling and deploying tech—not access to capital or talent, though those matter, but regulation. One founder I spoke to this morning said that he is deploying his tech in Estonia, Morocco and elsewhere, and that it was easier to do so in those countries than in the UK, despite his not speaking a word of Estonian or Arabic.

  The Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 was a welcome step, introducing statutory timelines and embedding net zero into the decision making, but on the ground progress is still too slow. Developers still face years of delay and inconsistent decisions across local authorities. If we are to meet the scale and pace required by carbon budget 7, we must go further. We should look at a national net zero test for planning decisions that provides consistency and clarity. We should also have a climate fast-track for essential infrastructure such as electric vehicle charging, solar power and battery storage. That could help to unlock projects that are critical to reducing emissions and lowering costs for consumers.

  The Government have set the destination, and this carbon budget provides a credible and vital milestone along that journey, but to reach it we must ensure that our regulation keeps pace with our best and brightest. Our climate tech companies can get us there, but only if we help them to help us.

  Full debate: Climate Change

• 18 May 2026: Parliamentary Speech

  Secondly, we must embrace the technological revolution. Exeter already leads the way in green energy, digital infrastructure and research. Artificial intelligence presents great challenges but also great opportunities, and I want Exeter to be at the heart of the tech revolution. From our world-leading universities to our thriving science parks, such as Exeter science park, and science institutions such as the Met Office, the south-west has become a powerhouse for scientific discovery and technological advancement.

  Growth will come from tackling the climate emergency, developing the post-carbon technologies that will save us, and managing the just transition to an environmentally sustainable economy. All this requires an active state to take long-term decisions on investment and research. It requires successful and supported world-class universities, such as Exeter University, to deliver the job-ready graduates our businesses need, and to actively help innovators to commercialise and productise their research—to start up and spin out, and to scale up. It needs more active and deeper capital markets so that British innovation can more easily become British success.

  Full debate: Backing Business to Create Economic Growth

• 23 Apr 2026: Parliamentary Speech

  From pandemics and health emergencies to the impact of climate change and Russian aggression on our border, residents in Exeter know that the EU and the UK have shared challenges and opportunities. What discussions has the Minister had on forming a UK-EU resilience partnership, as suggested by UK in a Changing Europe, so we can effectively manage those shared challenges together?

  Full debate: UK-EU Relations

• 16 Apr 2026: Parliamentary Speech

  The Secretary of State will know that the south-west and Exeter is home to a nationally significant cluster of high-value manufacturing businesses and is identified in the Government’s industrial strategy as a key region for advanced manufacturing, with critical clusters in nuclear, green energy, defence and critical minerals. The last Government had some choice words for business—I will not repeat them here, Madam Deputy Speaker, because they are unparliamentary—but can the Secretary of State set out how this Government are working in partnership with businesses, including those in my region of the south-west, to ensure that they can prosper and succeed into the future?

  Full debate: British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme

• 21 Jan 2026: Parliamentary Speech

  I, too, congratulate the Government and welcome last week’s announcement of the most successful European auction round to date. It is great news for the UK and for our action on climate change, and it bodes well for the full Celtic sea floating offshore wind opportunity, which is important for Exeter, the wider south-west and Wales too. Will the Secretary of State explain how this landmark step forward for offshore wind will mean new jobs and lower bills for constituents in Exeter, Wales and right across the country?

  Full debate: Clean Energy Projects

• 9 Dec 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  Since I was elected, I have been proud to see Exeter continue to grow in size and economic importance. It is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Last year, our city was ranked sixth in the PwC’s “Good Growth for Cities” index. We in Exeter can see what good, equitable growth looks like—in climate tech, in scientific research and in education—and public transport is a key driver of it. Indeed, Exeter and Devon folk are avid railway users. Our passenger numbers exceeded the pre-covid peak long before many other cities. However, rail performance has often been poor under the current system; all three major operators across the two main lines and the several branch lines have been affected by long-term delays and cancellations, and critical infrastructure has needed investment.

  Full debate: Railways Bill

• 17 Nov 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  I welcome the announcement of the new SMRs at Wylfa. This is British innovation we can be proud of, leading to decarbonisation of our electricity grid, and helping to combat climate change. It is exactly the sort of policy that my Exeter constituents want from this Government. Does the Minister agree that supply chains at Wylfa and Sizewell C will benefit businesses and workers across the entire United Kingdom, alongside the local areas where they are based?

  Full debate: Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Power Station: Wylfa

• 16 Oct 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  I know that people in Exeter care very deeply about our natural environment, particularly the seas and oceans, and rightly so. The world’s oceans are vital to the health of our planet and to our people. They produce over half of the world’s oxygen and absorb a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions, helping to regulate our climate. They support an immense diversity of life, providing food for billions of people and supporting enormous ecosystems, which contain knowledge that we have only just begun to tap.

  Just as the UK is a leader in marine and climate science, so is Exeter. I was delighted this week to host in Parliament the Met Office, which is based in Exeter, to showcase the range and depth of its expertise. The Met Office is not just a specialist in our weather. It is also a specialist in space weather, our oceans, and the connection between climate change and forecasting. Its work on ocean biogeochemistry—studying how carbon and other gases are absorbed, transported and exchanged by the oceans, the mechanisms involved and the impact changes have—is pioneering. It researches the risks of rapid loss of sea ice, and is studying the rise of sea levels and the impacts on communities, the environment and the economy.

  In addition, the University of Exeter has a wide-ranging research community working on projects related to our oceans. These come together under the Exeter Marine research network, and their ocean research runs from pollution and conservation to governance and human health. In June this year, Exeter University’s Professor Callum Roberts was the lead author of a report in Nature supporting the UN high seas treaty. His paper highlighted that the high seas are the Earth’s largest and most secure carbon sink. Protecting them is critical to preserving the biological and nutrient cycles that draw down and keep atmospheric CO2 in check. They welcome the UN high seas treaty, saying it offers a pathway to greater protection, but they are concerned about the length of time for implementation. The report’s authors also argue that a full and permanent ban on extractive use of the oceans is both feasible and necessary, modelled on the successful precedent set for Antarctica in the 1950s. Will the Minister comment on what more can be done, beyond the treaty as we bring it in, to protect our oceans above and beyond this legislation?

  I commend the Bill. I am extraordinarily thrilled and pleased to support it. I know that the ratification of the agreement as soon as possible supports the UK’s broader climate and nature agenda, and will mean that we can take our seat at the top table at the first COP. That will ensure we remain at the forefront of global efforts to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change through multilateral co-operation. This will strengthen the role of international law—so important in these times—and multilateral institutions as the foundation for ocean governance.

  Full debate: Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill

• 24 Apr 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  Closer economic ties mean growth. They mean investment in green energy, digital infrastructure and research, which are all sectors in which Exeter is already leading the way. They could now also mean opportunities for our next generation of young people to study, work and thrive across our shared continent.

  Full debate: EU Trading Relationship

• 23 Apr 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  The Government are already creating space for those opportunities with the AI opportunities action plan. I have written to the Department in support of the Exeter science park’s application to host a new AI growth zone. Building the UK’s sovereign compute capacity to enable UK-based AI models and cloud computing across the country, including in Exeter, will be vital to securing the investment, jobs and future tech creativity that will continue to shape our lives, and meet some of the great challenges of our times, including the very greatest—climate change.

  Full debate: Intellectual Property: Artificial Intelligence

• 13 Feb 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  As the Secretary of State knows, the south-west peninsula already contributes significantly to the UK economy, including through life sciences and climate tech. We are, however, held back from reaching our full potential by under-investment in transport connectivity, which is made worse by upcoming works at Old Oak Common and the continuing bottleneck on the A303. Will the Minister commit to developing a strategic investment plan to ensure that the south-west peninsula has the transport infrastructure it needs to unlock further growth?

  Full debate: Topical Questions

• 30 Jan 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  The south-west is home to an incredibly important economy based on defence, food security, space, maritime, and, in Exeter, life sciences and climate tech and research. We are also home to huge green energy potential, utilising floating offshore wind. However, we currently need investment in our port facilities so that the new green jobs will be based in the south-west, not in France or elsewhere. Will the Minister meet me, along with colleagues and the sector, to discuss to the future of green energy generation in the south-west?

  Full debate: International Investment

• 11 Dec 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  At the heart of our dynamic economy lies the University of Exeter, which is world-leading in life sciences, material sciences, climate sciences, marine sciences and engineering. Exeter college is the best in the country and attracts students from across the region due to its excellent mix of academic and apprenticeship courses. The Met Office is world-renowned for its climate science and space weather work, and its oceanographic mapping is vital for many businesses. In addition, according to the ScaleUp Institute, Exeter is a growing start-up and scale-up ecosystem in climate tech, health and manufacturing. In short, Exeter’s economy is thriving in sectors that are important for the future of the UK economy.

  Full debate: Rail Services: Devon

  Research commissioned by the Rail Delivery Group shows that the rail industry generated £1.1 billion in economic, environmental and social benefits to the south-west over the previous year, and that rail customers contributed £2.7 billion through spending in local communities. If we secure 40% rail growth by 2035 by delivering improvements to our network, that could bring an additional £700 million in benefits to the south-west. Greenhouse gas emissions locally would decrease by 1,200 tonnes; congestion, which blights my city, would be reduced by 8 million hours; and 72 road traffic accidents would be prevented.

  Full debate: Rail Services: Devon

• 13 Nov 2024: Tweet

  Yesterday I asked a question at @energygovuk questions in Parliament about #COP29, and the fact that the UK is providing global leadership once again on #climate action. Thanks to @KerryMP for the answer. Also managed to bang the drum for #Exeter and our own expertise of course! https://x.com/steve_race/status/1856719554212208941/video/1 [Source]

• 12 Nov 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  T5. I am proud that Exeter is already a global leader in climate research. Does the Minister agree that this Government’s mission on clean power will deliver lower bills, energy security and allow this country to enter COP29 as a world leader when it comes to climate action?

  Full debate: Topical Questions

• 11 Nov 2024: Tweet

  RT @Ed_Miliband: This Government believes that climate security is national security. That will be our message at COP29 in Baku ???? https://… [Source]

• 11 Nov 2024: Tweet

  Great to see you today! Lots of potential for #Exeter and the whole of the #Southwest in the renewable energy revolution. https://twitter.com/kerryhayes_/status/1856060614960951478 [Source]

• 6 Nov 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  I am particularly pleased that this Budget commits the UK to an R&D budget of £20 billion, which will mean Exeter and the UK remain at the forefront of scientific innovation. From climate change to land management, healthcare to biotechnology and beyond, Exeter is already a hub for scientific research, but we can do even more.

  Full debate: Budget Resolutions

• 05 Nov 2024: Tweet

  RT @LukeTryl: Our MRP found there was not a single constituency in Britain where concern about climate change falls below 50% of the electo… [Source]

• 30 Oct 2024: Tweet

  RT @DeborahMeaden: 60 people died today in climate change related floods in Valencia. [Source]

• 28 Oct 2024: Tweet

  RT @UniofExeterNews: The Parliamentarians’ Guide to Climate Change was recently published by @UniofExeter & @Peers4Planet Here Lord Hunt… [Source]

• 21 Oct 2024: Tweet

  Enjoyed a morning roundtable in #Exeter with the @DefAcUK & military leaders from around the world, including ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? We discussed Exeter’s economy & people, climate change, and economic resilience. Now to Parliament, as I’ve got a @ukhomeoffice question today! https://x.com/steve_race/status/1848318846173675541/photo/1 [Source]

• 17 Oct 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  Last night, the University of Exeter, the Met Office and Peers for the Planet launched the latest edition of “The Parliamentarians’ Guide to Climate Change”, which is a vital resource for us all. Will the Leader of the House welcome that report, as I do, and will she commend it to Members of this House and the other House?

  Full debate: Business of the House

• 17 Oct 2024: Tweet

  RT @Lossky: Great to see the new Guide to Climate Change from @UniofExeter and @Peers4Planet commended by the Leader of the House of Common… [Source]

• 17 Oct 2024: Tweet

  #ClimateChange is the biggest strategic challenge we face as a country, and as a world. So I took the opportunity to ask the Commons Leader @LucyMPowell to join me in welcoming the new Parliamentarian’s Guide to Climate Change by @UniofExeter, the @metofficeUK, & @Peers4Planet. https://x.com/steve_race/status/1846976073164063011/video/1 [Source]

• 16 Oct 2024: Tweet

  Tonight I got to chat to some of the world’s most acclaimed climate scientists - all of them working in #Exeter. Great to join the @UniofExeter, the @metofficeUK, and @Peers4Planet to launch the latest Parliamentarian’s Guide to Climate Change - https://greenfutures.exeter.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024EI075-Guide-to-climate-change-AW-V2.pdf https://x.com/steve_race/status/1846690138367447084/photo/1 [Source]

• 08 Oct 2024: Tweet

  Today I asked @energygovuk Secretary @Ed_Miliband what the government will do nationally to follow @exeterlabour’s lead in fitting solar panels to council homes. A green transition has to include council tenants, so they get the benefit of lower bills and renewable energy too. https://x.com/steve_race/status/1843629843709341779/video/1 [Source]

• 30 Sep 2024: Tweet

  @grocer_on_green @RAMMuseum I don’t know about that, I assume it’s experts in their field who have been working on it. They are also criticised for supporting a very low-carbon city-wide district heating system, based on heat extraction from the river, which would have a profound impact on CO2 reduction. [Source]

• 9 Sep 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  Today, five of the world’s top 21 climate scientists are UK based and all of them work for our globally renowned University of Exeter and the Met Office. Along with these two institutions and a growing ecosystem of businesses, Exeter is home to a large and ever-growing research and innovation base that is at the forefront of combating and mitigating the effects of climate change. It has become fashionable in some circles to denigrate our universities. I reject this entirely: they stand as beacons of intellectual excellence, the future success of our knowledge economy and the hope of wider educational opportunity for many people.

  We know that scientific research and innovation, whether on tackling climate change or in medical advances, will make the lives of people in this country and around the world better, but the Government have to recognise the vital role of our universities in economic growth and take advantage of the many opportunities for partnership with the NHS and across the public sector.

  Full debate: Transport

• 06 Sep 2024: Tweet

  Great to vote for these people and to be a member of @praseg! Sustainable energy is one of our major routes to decarbonisation - and we have brilliant skills and expertise in #Exeter. I’m hoping to help us along the way… https://twitter.com/andrewpakes_/status/1831774164023439405 [Source]

• 05 Sep 2024: Tweet

  We promised to supercharge renewable energy generation - and that’s what we’re doing. This is the change that a Labour government can bring. https://twitter.com/ed_miliband/status/1830869107228438668 [Source]

• 22 Aug 2024: Tweet

  RT @AnnelieseDodds: In South Sudan, the devastating impact of conflict and the climate crisis has left millions without enough to eat. UK… [Source]

• 18 Jul 2024: Tweet

  We’ve hit the ground running, with a full King’s Speech including legislation to: ???? nationalise our railways ???? improve our bus networks ???? build more houses & deliver rights to renters ⚡️set up GB Energy to decarbonise our electricity A strong start to fixing our country ???? https://twitter.com/steve_race/status/1813849739726635088/photo/1 [Source]

• 26 Jun 2024: Tweet

  RT @shivmalik: Growth vs degrowth on climate change comes down to this: do we solve it by doing far more as a species or far less eg - fly,… [Source]

• 24 Jun 2024: Tweet

  RT @Miatsf: I've worked for over 10 years on climate issues ???? A Labour government would take decisive action to tackle the climate crisis… [Source]

• 05 Jun 2024: Tweet

  Nature and the climate are on the ballot in this general election. Vote @UKLabour for: ????????‍♀️ Green Prosperity Plan generating jobs and decarbonisation ???? new Clean Air Act ???? tough new rules for water co’s ???? partnership with farmers to improve biodiversity #WorldEnvironmentDay‌ https://twitter.com/unep/status/1798218440953700393 [Source]

• 03 May 2024: Tweet

  RT @BBCBreaking: UK government defeated in court again for not doing enough to meet climate targets and told it must redraft emissions plan… [Source]

• 22 Apr 2024: Tweet

  @ExeterUrbanist @dougmcneall That’s right - both private and public investment. I wrote about the former here in the context of climate change innovation and motivation: https://lcef.cdn.prismic.io/lcef/bf737486-79cc-422c-a59b-58a6a483f6ad_LCEF_EssaysCollection_1801_LowRes.pdf [Source]

• 25 Mar 2024: Tweet

  On the day that @Keir_Starmer sets out detail on delivering more renewable energy, Just Stop Oil flypost the Exeter Labour offices????????‍♂️ Labour will get on with the work to deliver NetZero, creating new jobs and green economic growth. If you want a sustainable future, vote Labour. https://twitter.com/jostevenslabour/status/1772255767858462821 [Source]

• 16 Mar 2024: Tweet

  RT @exeterlabour: Fantastic statistics on sustainable energy generated by Labour Led Exeter City Council Of course not by accident but as… [Source]

• 08 Feb 2024: Tweet

  @RebeccaComms @PenpalEvans @BenPBradshaw @UKLabour … I can drop you an email with the full details if you like - steve@steverace.org.uk The next election will be about a choice between a Lab govt that believes in action to tackle the climate crisis (& create new opps through our action) vs the Tories who aren’t convinced! 2/2 [Source]

• 17 Jan 2024: Tweet

  #Exeter and the SW region has huge potential in climate tech. I’ve written for @LCEF_UK about regional investment inequality. To meet the challenge of climate change and generate growth, we need to ensure people in every region can start up & scale up their green businesses. https://twitter.com/LCEF_UK/status/1747530331903639553 [Source]

• 09 Jan 2024: Tweet

  It’s now beyond dispute that climate change, caused by human activity, is with us and having an impact. The question is what we now do to leave a habitable world for future generations. 2023 smashes record for world’s hottest year by huge margin https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/jan/09/2023-record-world-hottest-climate-fossil-fuel?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other [Source]

• 12 Dec 2023: Tweet

  Dire, and sums up this government’s attitude to the climate crisis. https://twitter.com/adamvaughan_uk/status/1734530578047815871 [Source]

• 29 Sep 2023: Tweet

  @MGreenhalgh523 @GNDRising @natashapaveyuk Hello, yes it’s a problem it’s not listed on the survey, which I’ve raised with HQ. Hope you saw that climate change was one of my priorities within the leaflet itself ???????? [Source]

• 09 Jul 2023: Tweet

  @LKDevenish @LukePollard Hi Lorna, I think this might be some mischievous briefing to be honest. Others have questioned it too. The actual policy that we’ve published here talks about the climate crisis as “the biggest long-term threat we face”: https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Mission-Climate.pdf [Source]

• 03 Jul 2023: Tweet

  Climate change is real - and it will affect the UK, as it will every other country. Without government leadership, we’re going to sail past 1.5d increase in temperature. We need to decarbonise our economy, change our behaviours, and speed up technological innovation. https://twitter.com/metoffice/status/1675852588783218688 [Source]

• 24 Jun 2023: Tweet

  Great morning and afternoon sessions talking to residents in Pennsylvania and Heavitree about climate change, active travel, the NHS, and mortgages. If you’re near Collins Road tomorrow, pop into the community cafe for their Pride events! https://twitter.com/steve_race/status/1672657882138005505/photo/1 [Source]

• 22 Jun 2023: Tweet

  Indecision, flip flopping, lack of vision - whether it’s climate change, the NHS, or new rail links, the Tories are costing us more but delivering us less. The country deserves better. https://twitter.com/LouHaigh/status/1671765742776115200 [Source]

• 15 Jun 2023: Tweet

  Hundreds of people likely to have died. It’s incumbent on countries to work together to solve this issue - which due to climate breakdown is not going away. https://twitter.com/guardiannews/status/1669266631925837824 [Source]

• 24 Sep 2022: Tweet

  Labour’s plan to reach net zero and mitigate the climate crisis will create jobs and investment across the country from R&D, to manufacturing, to installation and then in operations. Along with a national effort to insulate homes, this is exactly what the country should be doing. https://twitter.com/RachelReevesMP/status/1573646236275687425 [Source]

• 18 Aug 2022: Tweet

  @jonburkeUK @theCCCuk Not the first time either I think… [Source]

• 09 Aug 2022: Tweet

  Manchester and Liverpool are leading the way in re-regulating routes, fares, and timetables. Local authorities need more input and financial support to ensure good public transport networks - key to combatting climate change too. https://twitter.com/BenPBradshaw/status/1556972904444829696 [Source]

• 17 Jul 2022: Tweet

  @jonburkeUK Thank you Jon! Action on the climate crisis was a big part of my promise to residents, so looking forward to carrying that through ???????? [Source]

• 01 Dec 2021: Tweet

  @cimidyue Until we have effective and scalable battery technology (not without its own impact), nuclear + renewables seems our best way out of the climate crisis.. https://www.cityam.com/un-crowns-nuclear-as-lowest-carbon-electricity-source/?amp=1 [Source]

• 06 Nov 2021: Tweet

  Can’t be on the #COP26 #climatejustice March today, ward surgery and Hackney selection weekend come first. Climate action starts at a local level - @HackneyLabour has a proud record of action on the climate emergency, and our newly selected cllrs will continue that work! ???????????? https://twitter.com/metecoban92/status/1456976129726685186 [Source]

• 10 Aug 2021: Tweet

  Better idea would be to levy progressively ⬆️ taxes on airlines (on landing slots or business seats) from a set point, & support through tax incentives the acceleration of research into low carbon high-speed travel. If you want netzero rather than “tax business/global citizens”.. https://twitter.com/lewis_baston/status/1425167258494570498 [Source]

• 13 Apr 2021: Tweet

  @dlknowles And conversely which their German sister party also opposes, leading to that country’s poor performance on decarbonising their energy system (which I know you know!). Almost as if the Greens don’t actually have a coherent plan for tackling emissions at a national scale.. [Source]