Key points
Deforestation deal ‘doesn’t have any teeth’ and there’s concern over Brazil’s commitment, Labour says
Shadow environment secretary Luke Pollard tells Kay Burley on Sky News: “We do need COP to be a success.”
Asked about the deforestation deal, the Labour MP says: “The Brazilians haven’t stuck to any of the deals on deforestation they’ve signed to date so there is a concern about this.”
Although stopping it by 2030 is a good intention, it’s a non-legally binding commitment, he says.
He says: “This agreement has been in the bag for quite some time. It doesn’t really change the outcome of COP.
“It’s a welcome one but it doesn’t have any teeth, it doesn’t have any urgency to it. In a couple of weeks’ time, will we still see the amazon being chopped down? I think we will. That’s the real test for agreements like this.”
He describes India’s commitment to reach net zero by 2070 as “an important first step” for the country, but still describes it as “disappointing”.
“We need to have the carbon emissions and the target set not by some far off date,” he adds.
“These are basically beyond the lifetimes of any of our political leaders. We need to see that action in the next decisive decade.”
Drive to net zero could ‘level up’ the country, Burnham says
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham says the region has a plane to reach net zero by 2038 – but it needs money from the government.
“I’m not just coming on to make cheap political points,” he says.
He says the region needs money to decarbonise the bus fleets, adding: “Until we do something on fares for public transport we’re not going to be in the right place.”
The Labour politician says it’s cheaper to catch a plane than catch a train, or for people to share a taxi than get a bus.
He tells Sky News the government also needs to retrofit people’s homes for energy bills to come down.
Mr Burnham says: “We won’t get there without upfront costs.
“The drive to net zero could be the way to level up the country.”
He adds net zero, “could reindustrialise the north of England – but this time in a good way where it’s clean”.
PM welcomes deforestation deal
China faces a ‘lot of challenges’ over the green transition, expert says
Dr Xi Hu, an honorary research associate at the Environmental Change Institute (ECI), University of Oxford, says China is pledging that emissions will peak by 2030 before achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
She says: “While appearing at COP is an important political statement, let’s take a step back.
“It really is about these commitments that are being made right now.”
She tells Sky News the climate science community “obviously hopes there will be significant changes”, adding: “I think the issue right now is unfortunately China does face a lot of challenges when it comes to the green transition.
“That’s also a challenge for other countries. We need to take this very seriously.”
Although emissions reductions are “extremely important” it’s “only half of the battle”, with the other half about adaptation, she adds.
She says there’s a “huge movement now” in China in terms of people’s engagement and understanding of climate issues, saying: “It is definitely on people’s minds.”
Protecting forests will help world reach 1.5C future, expert says
Ana Yang, executive director of the Chatham House Sustainability Accelerator, described the deforestation deal as an “important global effort to stop” it.
She added: “It signals that deforestation free supply chains should be the norm – a critical first step towards protecting our forests.
“For a long-term solution the international community must also help ensure the socio-economic needs and aspirations of the people who live in and around the forests are met. A 1.5C future is possible, but only if it includes protection of forest and restoration of nature.”
Nigel Purvis, the CEO of Climate Advisors, added: “Glasgow is the biggest moment for forests and nature since Paris in 2015. Many more countries are making ambitious commitments to implement nature-based solutions.”
Environment secretary says he doesn’t have an electric vehicle or a heat pump
He tells Kay Burley on Sky News: “I have got a small Mini that has a green mode on it but I don’t yet have an electric vehicle.”
George Eustice admits he also doesn’t have a heat pump at the moment – but “it’s certainly something that I would look at”.
He says: “We’re trying to encourage all of these technologies. We all want to do the right thing and make these changes, we need the technology to come forward.”
India’s commitment on net zero is a ‘big step forward’, environment secretary says
On Monday, India pledged to achieve net zero by 2070.
George Eustice says: “We would prefer it if all countries committed to doing net zero earlier.
“But we should also welcome this as a big step forward. India hadn’t previously committed to net zero. They have got more to do to get there.”
He adds: “Even though we would always hope people would commit to do it earlier.”
Asked the chances of getting a deal, he tells Kay Burley on Sky News: “These events are always complex. They will come up with an agreement on the final day, on the 12th of November.”
Mr Eustice says a week ago he was “apprehensive” about the deforestation deal, adding: “We didn’t have it in the bag.”
He describes it as a “really encouraging sign”, adding: “Many of those countries have come forward and said we’re up for doing this.
“That’s a big breakthrough. If this continues then it will bode well for the rest of COP over the next couple of weeks.”
Eustice describes the deforestation deal as a ‘really significant breakthrough’
The environment secretary says it involves over 100 countries, which cover around 85% of the world’s forests, including key nations like Russia, Canada and some central African countries.
George Eustice says: “Brazil has been actively engaged in this agenda. Underpinning that we’ve also mobilised a lot of finance from countries to support projects to halt the loss of forest.”
Governments have committed GBP9bn, with a further GBP5bn from private commitments, he tells Kay Burley on Sky News.
Brazil hasn’t made any commitments like this before, he adds.
He says: “I think things are starting to change in terms of their approach. Always with these multi-lateral agreements, we’ve got to work with countries. We need the whole world to come together and make these commitments. I think it’s yielded some success.”
The minister says he’s due to travel to Glasgow for the summit later this week by train.
What’s happening today at COP26?
Today is the second and final day of the world leaders summit and concludes the formal programme for heads of state and government.
The rest of the conference is due to last until the end of next week.
Coming up on Sky News…
Kay Burley will be joined by Environment Secretary George Eustice from 7.05am.
You can watch live on Sky News, on the stream above, or follow live updates here.
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