Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress has been made on (a) negotiation on and (b) preparations for the November 2015 climate change conference; and if she will make a statement.

The Government is committed to securing an ambitious, legally binding, global deal on climate change at the Conference of the Parties (COP) 21 to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris in December.

With other countries we are making steady progress to secure an ambitious global deal in Paris. My rt. hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change are actively engaging in preparations for Paris. Alongside other G7 leaders, the Prime Minister called for priority to be given to delivering an ambitious climate agreement at this year’s COP. The G7 statement included strong language on the need for a deal in Paris, on climate finance and on future ambition. The endorsement by G7 leaders has provided further positive momentum. The Secretary of State has also met her international counterparts to discuss the key issues for the Conference in Paris on several occasions, including at the Petersburg Dialogue in Berlin, at the G7 Climate Ministers meeting, the EU Environment Council, and most recently at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate Change in Luxembourg last week.

Intended Nationally Determined Contributions covering 46 countries have been received, including from the EU, US, China, South Korea, Mexico, Russia and Canada, covering over 58% of emissions. The UK is calling for the pace of negotiations to accelerate and actively encouraging other countries to come forward with ambitious INDCs as soon as possible.

There remains a lot of work to do. But my Ministerial colleagues and I will take every opportunity to press for an agreement which includes greenhouse gas reduction targets from all countries that together keep the global goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees within reach, a regular review of targets and a global long term goal, and a set of rules that ensure transparency and accountability of commitments and allows the world to track progress.