Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had
with the Scottish Government about the arrangements for COP26.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for
Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy () (Con)
My Lords, the UK Government are committed to working closely with
the Scottish Government and with operational delivery partners,
including Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council, to ensure the
successful delivery of COP 26 in Glasgow. The UK Government are
committed to working with the Scottish Government, the Welsh
Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver an
ambitious, successful summit for the whole of the United Kingdom.
(Lab Co-op)
I am grateful to the Minister, but does he agree with me that the
UK Government need to provide a lead if COP 26 is to be
successful? With the Secretary of State being given
responsibility for this, rather than a particular person with
sole responsibility, how is he going to manage this with his
other responsibilities? When I looked to see who is the Minister
for climate change, I found that it is not only the noble Lord
who is replying to my Question but the noble Lord, . Does that not mean
that there are going to be differences and clashes in Government?
How are we going to achieve a coherent programme for reducing our
carbon emissions right across government and right across the
United Kingdom?
I think it demonstrates the importance with which we see the
subject that a number of different Ministers are responsible and
are involved in working towards policy to this end. The noble
Lord can be reassured that my right honourable friend the
Secretary of State is fully committed to making COP a success. We
do not underestimate the challenge that this involves; it is
going to be a huge gathering, requiring immense amounts of
logistical and operational planning. We are committed to doing
that. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State is
working hard to deliver that, and we are talking to the Scottish
Government about it.
(Con)
My Lords, could my noble friend ensure that one of the things on
the agenda for this climate change conference in Glasgow, which
is so important, is whether it is sustainable to have an
independent Scotland based on an economy which relies on an oil
price of $100 a barrel?
What I like about my noble friend is that he is always tenacious
in getting his subjects on to the agenda. Perhaps in this
instance it would be best if I did not comment directly on the
substance of his question.
(LD)
My Lords, we welcome the Minister’s commitment to a successful
COP 26. As he knows, success at the conference is predicated on
intergovernmental discussions beforehand. It is only through
shuttle diplomacy between the key players at the conference that
anything meaningful can come out of it. Can the Minister tell us
what level of engagement is currently under way with the key
players around the world, particularly the United States, because
without its signing up to the COP 26 conclusions it will be a
very poor result?
The noble Lord is quite correct that a huge amount of
international engagement will be required. We are looking to
every country to put forward its nationally determined
contributions this year at COP, including the United States. We
have been talking to it about that. Obviously, the current
coronavirus problem presents a challenge for international
engagement, but we continue to do our best in the circumstances.
(CB)
My Lords, further to the Minister’s answer to that question,
given that the pre-meeting in Bonn for COP 26 has been cancelled
and our co-chair, Italy, is facing the problems that it is, what
steps are the Government taking to make sure that the necessary
level of intergovernmental discussion is going on to make COP a
success? What plans are there to involve parliamentarians from
all countries involved in the run-up to the meeting and in the
meeting itself?
The noble Baroness is right to point out that it is proving a
challenge at the moment; the Bonn meeting has been cancelled but
there are still several months to go before COP. Intense
diplomacy and conversations are taking place by telephone,
videoconference et cetera. We hope that some of the meetings can
be reinstated. Of course it is vital to involve parliamentarians;
many have attended previous COPs, and I am sure many will attend
this one as well.
(Lab)
My Lords, it is vital that COP 26 is a success. After all, the
future of the planet is at stake. The host nation plays a vital
role, including talking to other participating countries in
advance of the meeting to come to an agreement. Does the Minister
share my concern that it does not bode well for the diplomatic
skills of the UK Government when they are finding it hard to come
to a reasonable relationship with the Scottish Government over
this?
Of course we have to have extensive discussions with the Scottish
Government. Those are taking place; we are discussing budgets
with them at the moment. An exchange of letters has just taken
place between my right honourable friend the Secretary of State
and the First Minister of Scotland. Discussions are well
advanced. Both sides are committed to delivering a successful
COP.
(Con)
Does my noble friend agree that an important part of the agenda
for COP 26 is the migration of environmentally displaced persons
as a result of climate change? Can he acknowledge that that will
be an important part of the agenda that this country will host?
Of course my noble friend is quite right to point out that this
is an important consequence of climate change. It is one of many
different subjects that will need to be discussed both before and
during the COP.
(CB)
My Lords, I declare an interest in that my grandson, aged 22,
spoke at COP 25. What young people will be involved in COP 26?
I do not know about the particular circumstances of the noble and
learned Baroness’s grandson, but of course young people will need
to be involved. An extensive dialogue with a range of civil
society organisations is taking place, and it will be vital to
hear their contribution, with others.
