Last week, Parliament debated COP26 and its achievements in its first debate since the summit. In the debate, Sir Keir Starmer outlined the urgency of the moment when he said: “Although the summit has been one of modest progress, we cannot kid ourselves: plans to cut emissions are still way short. The pledges made in Glasgow for 2030, even if all fully implemented, represent less than 25% of the ambition required. Rather than a manageable 1.5°, they put us on track for a devastating 2.4°. That is why, according to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the goal of 1.5° is now on “life support”. We need to deliver intensive care, and that starts by being honest about what has gone wrong”
As Shadow Business Minister I attended COP26 to meet businesses and countries’ representatives to discuss where progress is being made and what more needs to change. COP26 was an important and historic event in Glasgow to “keep 1.5 alive” - the Paris Agreement ambition of limiting global warming to 1.5C degrees above pre-industrial by 2030. To achieve this, the world must collectively half the current level of emissions. COP26 laid bare the underlying tensions around which countries should do most, and how quickly, as well as who should pay for transition and whether countries impacted by climate change should receive compensation.
With last minute disagreements particularly around the “phasing down” not “phasing out” of coal power, the conference ended in some disappointment for President Alok Sharma.
It’s welcome that an agreement was at least reached at COP26. But we’ve seen too many promises for tomorrow, not the action that’s needed today. Boris Johnson bears some responsibility for that – a Prime Minister more notable by his absence than his presence at an event that was about global Britain. It’s why must use the final year of the UK’s presidency to rescue what COP26 hasn’t achieved.
But some important steps emerged that must be built on now not later – China and the US striking a deal to work together, and India’s significant pledge to half emissions by 2070. This includes energy sources we are going to invest in, how much we can mitigate using carbon capture and storage, how the planet’s depleting natural resources and biodiversity must be restored. And how businesses are supported to transition to the green economy we need.
I’m proud that many businesses are increasingly serious about change – something I saw this week on my visit to Southampton in support of Small Business Saturday. But particularly for small businesses, a clearer road map is needed. Small businesses have spoken of feeling “neglected” with all the talk from Governments seeming to be “pitched at larger businesses.” One woman business owner I spoke to in Glasgow who was also keen for women-led businesses to be on the radar said “Businesses want to play their part. The question is what is it that you need to do?”
It’s why at COP26 I launched a series of net-zero small business roundtables, the first of which I hosted with Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar. Barriers small businesses are facing are around cost, time and clarity. The cost of getting it wrong can be high.
That’s why we need Government to work with small business owners to help prioritise what steps are necessary. The findings from the FSB’s recent report, Accelerating Progress - how we must empower small businesses on the journey to net-zero show that whilst 56% believe the planet is facing a crisis, only 36% of small businesses have a plan to combat climate change. Many firms do not have the capital or knowledge to make investments in their sustainability. The FSB warns that things are further hampered by “mixed and poorly-targeted messaging in an already confusing landscape.”
For minority ethnic businesses, which new research shows have been hit harder by the pandemic and have greater barriers to reaching their full potential, this is even more important for accessing future opportunities.
It’s why I’m worried that small businesses are being asked to transition without clear advice or guidance, and being asked to do so whilst dealing with high levels of debt, the cost of living crisis and ongoing staff shortages. This must change. If we are to succeed, we need to see long term planning that boosts business confidence. Labour’s Climate Investment Pledge is a big step in that direction, investing an additional £28bn a year to 2030 mobilising businesses and financial institutions behind climate action. I took the time at COP26 to see some examples of UK innovation – such as Oceanway’s world-first zero-emission submarine fleet that cleans up our ocean while transporting cargo, and JCB’s prototype electric Backhoe Loader and saw Scottish Power’s new sustainable telephone boxes. Great innovation is going to need a long term Government plan for business and industry to accelerate change across our economy.
But one thing also different at COP26 was the rise of consumer pressure and young people’s voices. School children across the world have become conscious and a driving force for change. The vital role of young people was why I wrote to schools in my constituency asking their views on what they wanted to see change. I was overwhelmed by the response from children of all ages and backgrounds, many from minority ethnic backgrounds, and their clarity of purpose about our planet and what they wanted to tell leaders at COP26. Their range of suggestions from the very local to the global were ones I discussed with Asa Regner, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and also raised with Lord Deben, Chair of the Climate Change Committee.
COP26 has shown that there is a huge ambition for change from citizens and businesses who want to do the right thing. Now Governments must step up to meet the scale of that ambition. The costs of climate change will be greater if the government does not invest now for our people and our planet.
