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Catherine Fookes's Climate-related Tweets, Speeches & Votes

We've found the following climate-related tweets, speeches & votes by Catherine Fookes

• 3 Sep 2026: Parliamentary Speech

  I thank the hon. Member for raising the big importance of the Joint Intelligence Committee report and shedding light on it. Does he agree that citizens must be brought up to speed on what they are facing with climate change? Does he agree that we must have a televised national emergency briefing across the UK?

  Full debate: Global Biodiversity and Ecosystems: National Security

• 3 Sep 2026: Parliamentary Speech

  I will say from the outset that I agree with my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol East (Kerry McCarthy): I am afraid I do not agree with drilling for oil in Rosebank. It would not take a penny off bills, and it would absolutely blow our carbon emissions targets out the water. The Conservatives are living in another world if they have not lived through the summer that we have all lived through, with drought and wildfires all across south Wales. We need to go hard on the green transition. Does the Minister agree that we should keep to our targets in the Climate Change Act 2008 and that we should not agree with the Conservatives to repeal it?

  Full debate: Jackdaw and Rosebank Oil and Gas Fields

• 7 Jul 2026: Parliamentary Speech

  I agree wholeheartedly with the Minister. I recently visited the first UK deep geothermal site at the Eden Project in Cornwall, thanks to the excellent energy and environment parliamentary knowledge scheme—[Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”] I learned that geothermal direct heat has several advantages, including zero emissions and particulates, and it is half the price and one third of the deployment time of a small modular reactor, but it is currently excluded from permitted development legislation, which leads to long delays, when it should be a much bigger part of our energy security. Will the Minister please update me on the steps being taken to ensure we can make the most of cheap geothermal energy for Monmouthshire and beyond?

  Full debate: Energy Security

• 19 May 2026: Parliamentary Speech

  I am delighted that measures in the King’s Speech will strengthen our economic security, our national security and—what we are debating today—our energy security. While the Tories and Reform want to ditch our net zero policies and our clean power targets, it is a huge relief to people in Monmouthshire and across the UK that Labour is taking clean energy seriously. Anyone hearing the speeches from those on the Conservative and Reform Benches would think that they wanted to take us back to oil lamps and candles, such is their disdain for clean energy and modern ways.

  The Climate Change Act 2008 has been emulated throughout the world as a leading framework for us to budget for and plan our emissions, and to hold Governments accountable for pollution. The Tories, who supported the Act years ago, now want to scrap it, while Reform backs fracking and its deputy leader actually calls net zero a “cult”. The energy independence Bill and other legislation set out in the King’s Speech affirm this Labour Government’s commitment to harnessing clean, home-grown power, and I am proud to back a Government who take decisions that protect our natural world, our security and our wallets. Those decisions will benefit not only my generation, but generations to come.

  Full debate: Energy Security

• 5 Mar 2026: Parliamentary Speech

  I thank the Secretary of State for his statement and for the Government’s laser focus on renewable energy in England and Wales. Does he agree that this should deliver basically a triple whammy for us? We will not be at the mercy of foreign states for our energy, bills for consumers will go down and, finally, we will reduce the impact of the biggest threat to our planet, which is climate change.

  Full debate: Energy Markets

• 10 Feb 2026: Parliamentary Speech

  I thank the Secretary of State for announcing a big investment in local energy. He mentioned the fantastic example of the Geraint Thomas national velodrome in Newport, in my neighbouring constituency, with its 2,000 solar panels. This shows the value of community energy projects, which will cut bills, tackle climate change and literally give power to those local people on bikes going around the velodrome. I am delighted that the Welsh and UK Governments have an exciting vision for community energy, and that the Welsh Government created Ynni Cymru in 2023. What can the Secretary of State tell me about the investment in further local energy plans in Wales, and in my constituency of Monmouthshire?

  Full debate: Local Power Plan

• 18 Nov 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  T6. I am sure that Members from all parts of the House will join me in sending their best wishes to residents across Monmouthshire who have been severely affected by floods this weekend, particularly residents of Monmouth. One has told me that a tidal wave came down Drybridge Street at 1.30 am—in the middle of the night. It was terrifying, and businesses and houses have been decimated. The Minister recognises that we are facing a climate crisis, which means such events are all the more frequent. Can he reassure me that he will continue to work with Cabinet colleagues to meet our climate change commitments, so that we stop such events happening so frequently?

  Full debate: Topical Questions

• 16 Jan 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  I would like to give the hon. Member a practical example of where the absolute opposite has happened in Wales. In my constituency of Monmouthshire, Welsh Water was very clear that, because of the phosphate levels in the River Wye, there could be no development whatsoever in my area of the constituency—Monmouth—for several years. It absolutely stopped all development and seemed to be very honest in doing so. Now the problems have cleared up somewhat, and Monmouthshire county council has put forward a proposal in the local development plan to build houses. We also have a sustainable drainage systems regime, which means that absolutely nothing will be built without those systems. By the way, 50% of the homes will be affordable and they will be 100% net zero, so I commend Monmouthshire county council for putting that forward. I just wanted to say that there are examples where the opposite has happened to what the hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale is saying.

  Full debate: Water (Special Measures) Bill [ Lords ] (Fifth sitting)

• 02 Jan 2025: Tweet

  Delighted to catch up with Rob Penn and Keith Powell from @stumpupfortrees_ in Parliament recently. ???? Llongyfarchiadau to them on being shortlisted for a National Park award, their tree-planting work is fantastic for helping combat climate change! https://x.com/CatherineFookes/status/1874757417948663989/photo/1 [Source]

• 30 Dec 2024: Tweet

  Great to drop by the ACE Monmouth Christmas gathering at Bridges and speak to Charles Emes about all their exciting projects they're working on! ACE is an incredible community group that’s working to tackle climate change through the community! ???? https://x.com/CatherineFookes/status/1873776728956690882/photo/1 [Source]

• 10 Oct 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  Community energy schemes currently generate 0.5% of the UK’s electricity. However, studies by the Environmental Audit Committee show that they could grow twentyfold in the next 10 years. They not only power many homes but reduce our dependence on energy imports and support the development of critical local infrastructure, and of course they create local jobs. It is clear to me that community energy schemes play a key part in tackling climate change. I have seen at first hand in my constituency of Monmouthshire great schemes such as the community solar project at Bridges community centre, which saves the centre money, which can then be reinvested in the community.

  Full debate: Great British Energy Bill (Third sitting)

• 8 Oct 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  Shaun Spiers: One thing that is necessary to say is that this is a major part of the transition and a priority of the Government. That was the case for periods during the coalition, when there was a really vibrant community energy movement and a sense in which people were coming around to supporting renewable energy—which otherwise they would have opposed—because they could see they had a financial stake in it but had also been engaged in developing it. What snuffed that out had more to do with planning issues than with investment, but there are ways in which GB Energy can pump-prime some of the investment.

  Full debate: Great British Energy Bill (First sitting)

• 8 Oct 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  Alistair McGirr: I am very supportive of those projects coming to Wales. Obviously the Celtic sea auctions are another example of the upcoming opportunities in Wales. The reality is that GB Energy is not going to be the vehicle that drives that—that will be the wider policy framework in terms of what happens here in Westminster, and also in the regulatory frameworks that are in place and what happens in the devolved Administrations. My reference to Scotland is not to say that other parts of the country could not have the opportunities for investment. It is just that the sheer scale of the opportunities in Scotland for wind, hydro, some of the grid projects, CCS and hydrogen mean there is a significant opportunity in Scotland. That is one of the reasons why GB Energy has been located up in that area.

  Tristan Zipfel: I can only concur. Wales is very important for us. We have onshore wind projects that we are actively promoting in Wales. I think GB Energy could play a role there. I want to emphasise, however, that I do not think GB Energy on its own will be the solution to unlocking the opportunities you describe. I think it is really important in Wales in particular that there is an effort on the policy side to provide more certainty and more visibility of the projects, as well as the question of the grid, which is a problem. But I concur that Wales is very important strategically from our standpoint as a renewable energy developer.

  Full debate: Great British Energy Bill (Second sitting)

  There are seven pillars on the path to getting there. How do we do that? You need commitment from leaders in the sector; I think we can give you that. You need some targets; I think we can give you them. We also need a plan of action that holds us to account. I come back to the path to net zero: we will not do this if we are not inclusive and not attracting across the entire spectrum, the entire country.

  Full debate: Great British Energy Bill (Second sitting)

• 23 Mar 2024: Tweet

  ✅Great British Energy Co to keep bills down ✅Bring more green energy, wind & wave power to Wales ✅Save our steel ✅Invest £100m in our High Streets ✅Bring in fines for sewage dumping in our Rivers ✅Replace biz rates with a fairer system [Source]

• 13 Nov 2023: Tweet

  Make no mistake, this cabinet reshuffle does nothing to address the cost-of-living crisis, soaring mortgage repayments and sky rocketing energy bills. The cabinet reshuffle does nothing to address our economy and it does nothing to address climate change. [5/6] [Source]

• 08 Oct 2023: Tweet

  ???? Glad to show my support for all things nature and meet with @nationaltrust Cymru team @ #Lab23 earlier ???? They have huge role to play in helping us reach net zero https://twitter.com/CatherineFookes/status/1711070145219592415/photo/1 [Source]

• 29 Sep 2023: Tweet

  Out and about in Abergavenny… on-site here at the fantastic new King Henry VIII 3-19 school, finding out about how the new building will work for local children. It’s also bringing in local workers and is the first net zero 3-19 school in Wales - great news for the town. https://twitter.com/CatherineFookes/status/1707846047853081064/photo/1 [Source]

• 24 Sep 2023: Tweet

  Brilliant to hear from @osbastonciw students about their journey to become a #deforestation free school. Inspiring what they’ve achieved and the great contribution this will make in combatting climate change ???? Llongyfarchiadau https://twitter.com/CatrinMaby/status/1705895419866198229 [Source]

• 18 May 2023: Tweet

  Diolch Friends of the Earth Abergavenny for evening talking #ClimateCrisis Great audience, lots of thoughtful questions & fab to finally meet @DuncanFisher My main message: crisis will exacerbate inequality if women not in the room & if we don’t invest in care. https://twitter.com/CatherineFookes/status/1659095862708928513/photo/1 [Source]

• 12 Mar 2023: Tweet

  Delighted to talk to @keirstarmer at #WelshLab23 We discussed need for big expansion in childcare similar to Sure Start as this: ????????‍????supports women back into work or training ???? will boost the economy ☘️ is a green investment & can help us meet our net zero targets https://twitter.com/CatherineFookes/status/1634990766455156737/photo/1 [Source]