Thank you for contacting me about decarbonising the economy.
The Industrial Strategy and Clean Growth Strategy identify and target the huge potential opportunity for the UK from clean growth and our transition to a low carbon economy through the 2020s. This includes a detailed plan to create thousands of highly skilled, well paid jobs and to help protect the climate and environment upon which future generations depend.
Indeed, the recent Offshore Wind Sector Deal was a fantastic example of how the Government is working with industry to advance our decarbonisation but also to create jobs right across the UK. In addition, I welcome that at the latest United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Government gave its commitment to the Just Transition Declaration to manage impacts on workers and communities transitioning away from high-carbon sectors.
The UK also played a leading role in delivering the Paris Agreement; a global deal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This leadership was underpinned in part by our significant domestic success: since 1990, the UK has cut emissions by more than 40 per cent while growing the economy by more than two thirds, the best performance on a per person basis than any other G7 nation. Britain is firmly on track to meet the 2050 target to reduce emissions of all greenhouse gases by 80 per cent and has cut its emissions in each of the last six years.
That said, I do recognise the hugely pressing challenge we face, which is why Ministers have asked the Committee on Climate Change for advice on a net zero emissions target. Limiting climate change is also an international effort and I very much hope that the UK gets the opportunity to host the UNFCCC in 2020, so we can further encourage our friends and allies to do more.
Further information on my views on a range of issues can be found on my website: www.paulinelatham.co.uk/campaigns. Please note that I do not sign EDMs and the reasons for this are explained here: www.paulinelatham.co.uk/early-day-motions.
Than you again for taking the time to contact me.