The Prime Minister is due to announce ending UK support for fossil fuel projects around the world.
Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said:
“It is good to see the Prime Minister have such a dramatic change of heart. Just three days ago, when I asked him in Parliament to end UK Export Finance’s support for fossil fuel projects overseas, he maintained that hydrocarbons ‘remain a significant industry’ for a number of countries around the world. [1]
"This is a long overdue policy shift from the Government and a victory for all who have campaigned for change. As hosts of COP26 it was untenable for the UK Government to continue fuelling the climate crisis by pouring taxpayers’ money into fossil fuels overseas.
“That said, it’s vital that there is a moratorium on any future funding for fossil fuels overseas until the results of the consultation are known, so that new projects aren’t rushed out of the door in the next few months.
“I hope the Prime Minister will also urgently have a similar change of heart on the Government's climate-wrecking £27 billion road building plans, and their continued subsidies to the fossil fuel industry.”
ENDS
Notes
1
At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 9 December, in reply to a question on UK Export Finance from Caroline Lucas, Boris Johnson insisted that “hydrocarbons remain a significant industry in Scotland and many other places. In so far as there are legitimate contracts that are at risk of being frustrated, we cannot do that.”