4 November 2022

Rishi Sunak must honour the commitment the UK made as COP president and update its climate targets to reflect what is necessary to limit global warming to 1.5C, the Green Party has said ahead of the start of COP27 this weekend.

The Glasgow Pact agreed at COP26 last year required all countries to revisit and increase their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) this year in order to ensure the world was on track to reduce carbon emissions at a rate that would keep global temperature rise to 1.5C [1].

However, the UK’s updated NDC in September this year included no increase in its own NDC, despite the fact it had presided over the agreement in Glasgow to do so. [2]

The need for each country to update its NDCs is even more urgent now after the UN recently stated that there is “no credible pathway” to saving 1.5C on current trajectories. The UN said: “Only an urgent system-wide transformation can deliver the enormous cuts needed to limit greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.” [3]

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said:

“The UK government was applauded for overseeing a commitment from all countries to increase their NDCs, but its actions subsequently suggest it was just for show.

“It is shameful that at a time when people across the world are seeing their lives destroyed by climate change, the UK government could not live up to its commitments and set meaningful climate targets that would protect millions of people.

“In fact, since last year in Glasgow the UK government has gone in completely the wrong direction by introducing new North Sea oil and gas licences, continued to roll out airport and road expansion and will not even rule out the opening of a new coal mine in Cumbria.

“Regrettably, Rishi Sunak will arrive in Egypt under a cloud, with the UK also having failed to make a promised £260 million climate finance payment [4].  

“This is negligence on a historic scale, but it can be rectified. It is right that the Prime Minister has now decided to attend COP27, but he now needs to put his money where his mouth is. 

“Sunak must immediately revisit the UK’s climate targets to ensure they are in line with a 1.5C global rise in temperatures and show he is willing to act on the global stage by putting climate justice and finance for poorer countries most impacted by the climate emergency at the top of the agenda.”

The Green Party has also set out a further six crucial tests for the UK government at this year’s COP climate targets:

• The UK government must call for offsetting to be ruled out as part of the measurement of net zero reporting for governments and industries
• The UK government needs to put loss and damage at the top of the agenda and back calls from the countries most impacted by climate change for the establishment of a financing facility, and to follow in the footsteps of Denmark and Scotland by delivering new and additional finance for loss and damage
• The government must urgently deliver the UK’s overdue climate finance, reinstate the mandatory 0.7% aid budget and support calls for increased adaptation finance
• The UK government should lobby for an immediate end to all fossil fuel subsidies and an urgent managed decline in the use of fossil fuels
• The UK government should advocate for the global roll out of loophole-free dirty profits taxes to ensure the most polluting industries not only pay for the impact of their emissions, but are also incentivised to find efficient means of reducing them
• The UK government should champion a system of nationally determined contributions requiring all countries to produce scientifically verifiable plans every year to show their progress in reaching the climate targets they have set themselves.

Notes

1

https://www.bond.org.uk/news/2022/11/heres-what-the-uk-needs-to-do-for-cop27/

2

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1109429/uk-nationally-determined-contribution.pdf

3

https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2022

4

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2022/nov/01/uk-criticised-for-failing-to-pay-300m-in-promised-climate-funds-ahead-of-cop27

For more information or to arrange an interview contact the press office on press@greenparty.org.uk or call 0203 691 9401

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4 November 2022

The Green Party has welcomed the news that plans to build a new nuclear power plant in Suffolk are under review [1] and urged for more investment in renewables and insulation.

Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said: 

“New nuclear power is a distraction from addressing the climate emergency with the speed that is required – it is far too slow and much more costly than more effective renewable energy and storage alternatives, as well as having significant environmental concerns for the local community.

“So, we are pleased to see the government has put it under review but we now need to see real commitment to the measures that will make a benefit to people’s lives.

“It is vital the government invests more in renewables and insulating people’s homes as this is the cheapest, quickest and most effective way to bring people’s bills down, create millions of jobs and help tackle the climate crisis all at the same time.”

Notes

1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63507630

For more information or to arrange an interview contact the press office on press@greenparty.org.uk or call 0203 691 9401

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2 November 2022

Commenting on the U-turn by Rishi Sunak, who now plans to attend the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said:

“This is a welcome U-turn brought about by public pressure, though it is perhaps understandable the prime minister might be nervous about showing his face. 

“During the UK’s presidency of COP26 the Tory government has introduced new North Sea oil and gas licences, kept the possibility of a new coal mine in Cumbria alive and continued to roll out airport and road expansion. And Sunak himself has removed his climate minister from cabinet and wants to block onshore wind [1].

“Global leadership must begin at home and we need to see a clear commitment from this government to keep fossil fuels in the ground. This means ditching oil, coal and gas for good in favour of renewables and a nationwide programme of home insulation to cut both emissions and energy bills. 

“Sunak also needs to show he is willing to act on the global stage by putting ‘loss and damage’ and finance for poorer countries most impacted by the climate emergency at the top of the agenda. Regrettably, he will arrive in Egypt under a cloud, with the UK having failed to make a promised £260 million climate finance payment [2]. 

“With the UN warning that there is no credible pathway to keeping temperatures within the 1.5C limit [3], this year’s COP negotiations are more important than ever. The UN says that only an urgent transformation of society and our economy can avoid disastrous climate impacts. We need the UK government to rise to this challenge, show global leadership and help create a more secure and sustainable society and economy at home and abroad.” 

Notes

1

Rishi Sunak U-turns on Truss’s onshore wind planning reforms | The Independent

2

UK criticised for failing to pay $300m in promised climate funds ahead of Cop27 | The Guardian 

3 

Climate crisis: UN finds ‘no credible pathway to 1.5C in place’ | The Guardian

For more information or to arrange an interview contact the press office on press@greenparty.org.uk or call 0203 691 9401

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31 October 2022

As speculation continues to grow on whether Rishi Sunak will bow to mounting pressure and attend this year’s COP27 climate talks in Egypt after all, Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay, said:

“Despite being pushed into attending, if he does ultimately go to the COP27 climate talks, we should welcome this news. With the UK holding the COP26 presidency, attending to hand the baton on to Egypt is absolutely essential to demonstrate the UK’s commitment to building on last year’s climate talks. 

“Rishi Sunak must show global leadership. The UK government must push for real finance for the loss and damage being experienced by poorer countries that are on the front line of climate breakdown. At home there must be urgent action to address both the climate emergency and the cost of living crisis. That should begin with a mass home insulation programme to cut energy bills and carbon emissions and ramping up renewable energy generation. We also need to phase out fossil fuels. More North Sea oil and gas licences [1] takes us in the wrong direction and is the exact opposite of the kind of global leadership needed.

“With the UN warning that there is no credible pathway to keeping temperatures within the 1.5C limit [2], this year’s COP negotiations are more important than ever. The UN says that only an urgent transformation of society and our economy can avoid disastrous climate impacts. If our government rises to this challenge we can show global leadership and create a better society at the same time. 

“Reversing the attacks on nature and restoring the natural environment, funding farmers to manage land for wildlife, good quality and affordable public transport, warmer homes, cheaper energy bills: the policies we need to tackle the climate emergency can create real improvements to people’s everyday lives.”

Notes

1. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/oct/07/uk-offers-new-north-sea-oil-and-gas-licences-despite-climate-concerns

2. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/27/climate-crisis-un-pathway-1-5-c 

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27 October 2022

The Green Party has called for a tougher windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies to help ease the cost of living crisis for households across the country, after Shell announced its profits had more than doubled between July and September [1].

Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said:

“It is obscene to see oil and gas giants doubling their profits while millions of households up and down the country slip into fuel poverty as a result of these companies’ sheer greed.

“It is beyond comprehension that the government seems happy to allow these huge corporations to not only wreck the climate but to profit off the back of the cost of living crisis which they themselves have contributed to.

“The windfall tax Rishi Sunak introduced when he was Chancellor was a step in the right direction, but it includes loopholes which allows oil companies to avoid tax by investing even more in fossil fuels. 

“Not only does this allow companies to avoid paying billions, it actually encourages the very activities that are causing so much damage and misery right now.

“We urge the government to remove the loopholes immediately and backdate the windfall tax to January, raising more money to help people through this cost of living crisis and starting the transition away from fossil fuels to a cleaner, greener and fairer future.”

ENDS

Notes

1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-63409687

For more information or to arrange an interview contact the press office on press@greenparty.org.uk or call 0203 691 9401

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