PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Developing Countries: Fossil Fuels (15 October 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure funding from the public purse is not spent on support for fossil fuel projects in the global south.

Asked by:
Matt Western (Labour)

Fossil fuels account for two thirds of global greenhouse gas emissions. The science is clear that the world is off track to meet the Paris Agreement temperature goals and we must reduce emissions if we are to avoid dangerous climate change.

Countries need reliable and sustainable supplies of energy if they are to tackle poverty effectively by growing their economies, creating jobs, and delivering essential services, and UK support for energy is increasingly invested in renewables. Since 2011, the UK has provided 33 million people with improved access to clean energy, avoided 31 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and installed 2,000 MW of clean energy capacity.

The UK was the first major economy in the world to make a legally binding net zero commitment. The UK will continue to lead by example through aligning our Official Development Assistance with the Paris Agreement temperature goals, including our support for energy. The UK keeps its balance of support for overseas projects under constant review to ensure alignment with government priorities, including on climate change.

Answered by:
Sir James Duddridge (Conservative)
20 October 2020