Thank you to those who have contacted me about climate and nature policy. I agree that we need greater Government ambition and action in this area.

On the climate crisis, for instance, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) had already set out last year that the Government was failing in its implementation of climate policies and that its strategy would not deliver net zero emissions. And when the CCC responded to revised Government plans in June this year, it stated that it was even less confident that the UK would be able to meet our climate goals from 2030 onwards. Yet in his recent speech setting out the Government’s approach to net zero, the Prime Minister has watered down its plans even further, abandoning crucial climate commitments.

This approach will not only mean climate failure, but also higher bills for families, energy insecurity and the UK missing out in the race for the jobs of tomorrow. I therefore agree that we need policies that align with the Paris agreement commitment to aim for limiting temperature rises to 1.5°C and urgent action to build a fairer, greener economy, tackle the climate and cost-of-living crises, and protect our natural environment.

I support calls for a green prosperity plan to ramp up investment over time to reach £28 billion per year for tackling climate change, growing the green economy and creating good, green secure local jobs across the country. This would include delivering a cheaper, zero-carbon electricity system by 2030, including by quadrupling offshore wind, more than tripling solar power and more than doubling onshore wind capacity. It also includes insulating 19 million homes and establishing a national wealth fund to invest in green industries like hydrogen, gigafactories, green steel and renewable energy manufacturing.

In addition, I believe we should protect and improve the UK’s biodiversity with a considered approach to land use, supporting sustainable farming and enabling the countryside to reach our climate goals. We should also look at the best way to prevent environmental damage in supply chains, including through effective due diligence rules. And we should decarbonise transport by aiming for a world-class green public transport network and accelerating the transition to cheaper electric vehicles.

Thank you once again to everyone who has contacted me.

I can assure you that I will continue to support calls for the action we need on climate and nature policy.