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Tulip Siddiq's Climate-related Tweets, Speeches & Votes

We've found the following climate-related tweets, speeches & votes by Tulip Siddiq

• 14 Jul 2026: Parliamentary Speech

  The hon. Member said that he wanted to take interventions. He mentioned schools. On my way into Parliament today on the Northern line, which appropriately for today’s debate was boiling, I received a number of emails from worried parents. Schools are closing early in my constituency, a lot of them smaller primary schools in Victorian buildings, because they cannot accommodate children in the heat we are experiencing at the moment. It will not come as a surprise to the hon. Member that it tends to be single parents or parents without secure incomes who suffer the most when schools finish early. Do we need to speak with the Department for Education about getting some funding for extra fans and cooling units for our schools, so that children do not suffer because of climate change?

  Full debate: Extreme Heat: Preparedness

• 2 Jun 2026: Parliamentary Speech

  My hon. Friend is making a powerful argument. He has mentioned the M25 a few times; people may not expect South Hampstead to suffer from frequent surface water flooding. I have been contacted by two groups, the Hillsiders and the Hampstead and Highgate Climate and Nature Group, who would like to talk about strengthening education, especially about climate change in the national curriculum. There is limited information in the national curriculum when it comes to climate change and the climate emergency. Does my hon. Friend agree that strengthening education for children and young people would help in the long run when it comes to tackling national emergencies?

  Full debate: Preparedness for National Emergencies

• 25 Nov 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  The Secretary of State will know my constituents well and will know that climate change is a huge concern for them. They are particularly concerned that the Government talk a lot about tackling climate change during COP, but all year round it falls off the agenda. Will he reassure my constituents that this is an ongoing commitment from the Government to tackle climate change and that the agreed road map for fossil fuels will not somehow become a loophole for climate inaction?

  Full debate: COP30

• 14 Oct 2025: Tweet

  Read my latest column in the @HamandHigh about my work to tackle climate change and air pollution in London and beyond???? https://twitter.com/hamandhigh/status/1977380527263932869 [Source]

• 06 Oct 2025: Tweet

  I loved meeting so many constituents at the #GreenFuturesEvent today! This was a careers fair organised by @TheLCAI, showing students and adults the incredible job opportunities available in the green economy. I had some really interesting conversations with local businesses and charities about the work they are doing to clean up London's air, increase biodiversity and tackle climate change. I wish there were events like these when I was younger! [Source]

• 19 Sep 2025: Tweet

  I caught up with the Hampstead & Highgate Climate and Nature Group this week to discuss the Government’s upcoming climate plan, bottom trawling, and air pollution in London. The climate crisis is one of the most important issues to my constituents, and I will continue to push for bolder action in Parliament. [Source]

• 19 Sep 2025: Tweet

  I caught up with the Hampstead & Highgate Climate and Nature Group this week to discuss the Government’s upcoming climate plan, bottom trawling, and London’s air pollution The climate crisis is one of the most important issues to my constituents, and I will continue to push for bolder action in Parliament. [Source]

• 15 Jul 2025: Tweet

  We can’t ignore climate change - it’s an existential threat to our lives and future generations. My constituents are clear that the UK needs to show international leadership at COP30. Watch my question to Ed Miliband in Parliament ???? https://x.com/TulipSiddiq/status/1945083014741987613/video/1 [Source]

• 14 Jul 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  Last week, 20 of my constituents from the Climate Coalition, the Mothers’ Climate Action Network, Our Grandchildren’s Climate, the Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum and the Camden Fixing Factory came to see me. They were very clear that COP30 will be a pivotal moment to restore momentum on tackling climate change and to tackle the misinformation that is on the rise not just online but in mainstream political parties. Can I ask the Secretary of State what leadership the UK will be showing at COP30 to ensure that we tackle this misinformation? More importantly, what is he doing to ensure that powerful international partners who may not be on the same page as us when it comes to climate change are coming along with us on this journey, because it is only collective action that will solve this serious crisis?

  Full debate: State of Climate and Nature

• 11 Jul 2025: Tweet

  RT @TulipSiddiq: We all share a duty to future generations to take action on climate change now. Today I met with constituents at @TheCCoa… [Source]

• 09 Jul 2025: Tweet

  We all share a duty to future generations to take action on climate change now. Today I met with constituents at @TheCCoalition's #ActNowChangeForever event I am grateful to everyone who shared their time and expertise and I look forward to working with them on these vital issues [Source]

• 27 Jan 2025: Tweet

  The floods in South Hampstead in 2021 were devastating. The local drainage system couldn’t cope with the extreme rain. With climate change bringing more storms, we need to protect vulnerable residents and fix our water industry. I raised this important issue in Parliament today. https://x.com/TulipSiddiq/status/1883941206503436554/video/1 [Source]

• 27 Nov 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  The hon. Member for Gordon and Buchan (Harriet Cross) asked about oil and gas investment. We recognise that oil and gas will continue to have a role in the energy mix during the transition, but we need to drive public and private investment towards cleaner energy. The money raised by these changes will contribute to public investment while the sector continues to benefit from £84.25 in relief for every £100 of private investment. To reflect our commitment to facilitating cleaner home-grown energy, the Government have confirmed that the sector will continue to benefit from a decarbonisation investment allowance with a value similar to the relief that it received prior to the November energy profits levy rate increases.

  Full debate: Finance Bill

• 18 Nov 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  I know that my hon. Friend takes a keen interest in this area—she been talking about it for the 25 years that I have known her. We agree that it is important. The FCA and the PRA are required to have regard to the UK’s net zero emissions target, as set out in the Climate Change Act 2008. The Mansion House speech set out the Government’s next steps to deliver a world-leading sustainable finance framework. That will be a huge part of our financial services strategy, as part of the industrial strategy, next spring. I urge her to consult and feed in on that.

  Full debate: Financial Services: Mansion House Speech

• 12 Nov 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  The hon. Member also asked about climate change. The EBRD’s aim is for more than 50% of its total investment in 2025 to be towards green projects, reducing net annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25 million tonnes. Since 2006, the EBRD has invested €49 billion in more than 2,600 green projects, which are expected to reduce carbon emissions by 124 million tonnes yearly. I thank the hon. Member for his constructive comments and his questions.

  Full debate: Draft European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (Further Payments to Capital Stock) Order 2024

• 12 Nov 2024: Tweet

  RT @SadiqKhan: Honoured to be named one of @TIME 100’s most influential and innovative climate leaders. As Mayor, I’ll continue working to… [Source]

• 24 Oct 2024: Tweet

  Financial services will be critical for achieving net-zero, alongside this Government's National Wealth Fund & new green infrastructure projects. Thanks to @RhianMariThomas & @IngridHolmes7 from @GFI_green for a good meeting about sustainable finance and for their work on this. https://x.com/TulipSiddiq/status/1849398334647136393/photo/1 [Source]

• 03 Sep 2024: Tweet

  Great to meet with Hideaki Takase from @MUFGEMEA. Financial services firms like MUFG are at the heart of this Government’s growth mission and will play a vital role in the transition to Net Zero. https://twitter.com/TulipSiddiq/status/1831007558737268787/photo/1 [Source]

• 14 Jun 2024: Tweet

  Labour will make the UK the green finance capital of the world. Our financial services industry has a major role to play in mobilising trillions of pounds to tackle climate change. Labour will also work with the banks to provide private finance to accelerate home upgrades. 3/5 [Source]

• 30 May 2024: Tweet

  Make the UK the global centre of green finance, delivering a world-leading regulatory framework for net-zero, and partner with the financial services sector to decarbonise British homes. 4/6 [Source]

• 22 Feb 2024: Tweet

  This week I spoke at the launch of @IPPR & @GFI_green’s fantastic report on net zero, supported by @cityoflondon & @InvestmentAssoc. As set out in my financial services review earlier this month, Labour shares the sector’s ambition to make the UK a world leader in green finance. https://twitter.com/TulipSiddiq/status/1760630315427811759/photo/1 [Source]

• 10 Jan 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  The Government have said that their April 2022 tax changes were intended to reduce the use of gas fuels and to make progress against the UK’s climate commitments. However, perversely, under the current system companies receive a tax penalty for using next-generation renewable fuels such as hydrotreated vegetable oil for heating, instead of kerosene, despite the fact that HVO produces nearly 90% less greenhouse gas emissions. I therefore support clause 25, which seeks to correct that unintended error and restore equivalent tax treatment for the use of non-gas heavy fuels for commercial heating. However, let us be clear: the correction will have a limited impact on businesses across the UK facing rocketing heating bills as the cold starts to bite this winter.

  Labour will prioritise reforming the grid, overseeing the largest upgrade to our national transmission infrastructure in a generation and accelerating connections for those who are forced off grid. We cannot afford to keep dragging our feet any longer. The Government claim they are serious about delivering the transition and boosting the use of clean energy sources, but the neglect of our grid infrastructure has been shocking. We know that the significant increase in both clean power generation and clean industry that the UK will need to reach net zero will require four times as much grid infrastructure in the next seven years as has been built in the past 30. Although the Opposition do not oppose clause 25, which is a welcome correction, ensuring that tax incentives for non-gas heavy fuels remain consistent is the bare minimum we should be expecting from the Government on this vital issue.

  Full debate: Finance Bill

• 18 Oct 2023: Tweet

  I was delighted to attend a roundtable with the CEOs of the UK's mid tier banks today, hosted by @paragonbankuk. The sector will be a key partner of a future Labour Government in supporting SMEs to grow, the global competitiveness of the UK, and the transition to Net Zero. https://twitter.com/TulipSiddiq/status/1714684457947410488/photo/1 [Source]

• 10 Oct 2023: Tweet

  RT @Policy_Exchange: ???? @TulipSiddiq lays out the key challenges for a Labour government: “climate change at this point poses the biggest ec… [Source]

• 21 Sep 2023: Tweet

  I had a great time on @itvpeston last night, discussing net zero, HS2, election slogans and more with @georgiaharisonx and @racheljanetwolf. https://twitter.com/TulipSiddiq/status/1704825968257388815/photo/1 [Source]

• 20 Sep 2023: Tweet

  RT @Peston: If you want to know the good, bad and different of Rishi Sunak’s scaled-back climate change commitments, watch #Peston at 9 her… [Source]

• 11 Jul 2023: Parliamentary Speech

  I acknowledge and indeed welcome the fact that in some areas the Government are rather belatedly starting to follow Labour’s lead, but what has taken them so long? Where was the urgency, the ambition and the drive? Can the Minister explain why there was nothing at all in the Chancellor’s speech on green finance? That complacency puts our status as a net zero financial centre at risk.

  Full debate: Financial Services Reforms

• 26 Jun 2023: Parliamentary Speech

  Finally, I will address Lords amendment 5 on sustainability disclosure requirements, and the Government amendments tabled in lieu of Lords amendment 7 on expanding the regulatory principle on net zero emissions, and in lieu of Lords amendment 36 on forest risk commodities. We welcome once again that the Government have finally U-turned and acknowledged concerns that our regulatory system must play a role in protecting nature and ending deforestation. However, as I am sure the Minister will agree, that can only be the first step in ensuring that the transition to net zero and the protection of nature are primary considerations across the financial system. The Treasury’s review of deforestation must be meaningful and put forward concrete proposals. The Government cannot continue to kick the can down the road.

  Full debate: Financial Services and Markets Bill

• 16 May 2023: Parliamentary Speech

  That is why a Labour Government’s first mission will be to secure the highest sustained growth in the G7 and to create well-paid jobs in every part of the country. We want to achieve that through an active partnership with business and our modern industrial strategy, while our green prosperity plan will drive bills down and let British businesses and workers compete in the global race for the jobs and industries of the future. The US has passed the Inflation Reduction Act, and the EU has its own Net Zero Industry Act. The UK has fallen behind. In contrast, the Labour party’s economic plan will get the UK growing again. Our new deal for working people will ensure that they benefit from that growth by boosting living standards and wages across the country.

  Full debate: Corporate Profit and Inflation

• 3 May 2023: Parliamentary Speech

  Wherever we look, it is the same story—housebuilding is at a record low, inward investment in transport is in decline, and Britain is falling behind on green energy. But we do not need to continue down this path of managed decline, because Labour has a plan to get the economy growing and to drive the investment and infrastructure that we so desperately need. The Labour party is committed to overturning the senseless ban on onshore wind and to the radical reform of planning rules, to drive growth and build affordable homes.

  Full debate: Funding for Major Infrastructure Projects

• 3 Nov 2022: Parliamentary Speech

  Members will be happy to hear that this is my final speech. The new clause would require the Treasury to publish an updated green finance strategy that must include a green taxonomy and sustainability disclosure requirements. The Opposition welcome the provisions in the Bill that formalise the responsibilities of the FCA and the PRA under the Climate Change Act 2008, which was introduced by the last Labour Government, but the Government have promised much more radical action. Indeed, we were promised that the UK would become the world’s first net zero financial centre; instead, we are falling behind global competitors. Too often British businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, struggle to access the green capital they need. Not only has that damaged growth; it has made us more reliant on foreign fossil fuels and has directly contributed to the record levels of inflation that are strangling our economy.

  I remind everyone that the Prime Minister had to be publicly shamed, including by the former Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, before committing to attend the COP27 summit. A Labour Government will give the clear direction that the sector needs by providing £28 billion of green capital investment every year until 2030. That will include investment in gigafactories to build batteries for electric vehicles, a thriving hydrogen industry, offshore wind with turbines made in Britain, planting trees, building flood defences, getting energy bills down, and guaranteeing Britain’s energy security by supporting the expansion of nuclear power.

  Alongside the confidence that investment can bring, we must provide regulatory certainty to the sector. That will require internationally agreed definitions and regulatory standards on green finance. The Minister will agree that the FCA and the PRA are highly respected and influential on the world stage, and they can play a leading role at various global regulatory forums in setting the pace of change to ensure that the UK is a leader in green finance. However, that will require a concrete green finance strategy for regulators and the sector to work towards, and a clearly defined green taxonomy and sustainability disclosure requirements, to ensure that the City can fully support the transition to net zero. I look forward to hearing the Minister’s comments, and I hope he will vote with us to give financial services the confidence they need to make the UK the global centre of green finance.

  Full debate: Financial Services and Markets Bill (Tenth sitting)

• 1 Nov 2022: Parliamentary Speech

  It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Sharma. I have just one question for the Minister. How does he foresee the Payment Systems Regulator’s new sustainable growth principles taking account of the UK’s net zero emissions target? How will that balance work in practice? Will the regulator be required to report against its performance?

  Full debate: Financial Services and Markets Bill (Seventh sitting)

• 28 Oct 2022: Parliamentary Speech

  Co-operative and mutual societies have never been more important in the UK’s economy and public life. More than 7,000 co-operatives are operating across the UK, with a combined turnover of almost £40 billion, and some 200,000 people earn their livelihoods directly through co-operatives. They trade in sectors as diverse as agriculture, renewable energy, retrofitting, the creative industries, manufacturing, wholesaling, retail and finance. Many Members have cited examples from their own constituencies. Co-operatives have also proven resilient in the face of hardship. The pandemic was an incredibly difficult time for many British businesses, but the co-operative and mutual sector grew by an impressive £1.1 billion in 2020, despite the economic challenges resulting from the national lockdowns.

  Full debate: Co-operatives, Mutuals and Friendly Societies Bill

• 27 Oct 2022: Parliamentary Speech

  We welcome clause 25 and the new regulatory principles for the FCA and the PRA, which will require the regulators, when discharging their general functions, to have regard to the need to contribute towards compliance with the Climate Change Act 2008—legislation that, I remind the Minister, was brought in by a Labour Government.

  However, we think that the Bill lacks ambition on green finance. The Government promised much more radical action. We were promised that the UK would become the world’s first net zero financial centre, but we are falling behind global competitors. In the evidence session, William Wright, the managing director of the New Financial think-tank, stated that the UK is a long way behind the EU on both the share and the penetration of green finance in capital markets. Research by the think-tank has suggested that green finance penetration in the UK is at half the level of the EU and roughly where the EU was four years ago.

  Full debate: Financial Services and Markets Bill (Fifth sitting)

• 27 Oct 2022: Parliamentary Speech

  TheCityUK argues that the efficiency and effectiveness of regulators, and the impact of their operational performance on UK competitiveness, would be improved by greater accuracy, transparency and accountability in operational performance metrics. It has proposed an amendment to give the Treasury powers to require regulators to report specified operational performance metrics, with the Treasury Select Committee consulted on the metrics to be reported. Those could include the regulator’s performance against its secondary objective or its “have regard” for net zero targets, for example. I wanted to hear what the Minister thinks about those proposals.

  Full debate: Financial Services and Markets Bill (Sixth sitting)

• 22 Oct 2022: Tweet

  RT @UKLabour: Labour has a plan to cut bills, make the UK energy secure, grow our economy, and tackle the climate crisis. Only a Labour go… [Source]

• 19 Oct 2022: Parliamentary Speech

  Q Charlotte Clark, you mentioned net zero. Do you think the provisions relating to net zero in the Bill will have a significant impact in your sector, in terms of the green transition?

  Charlotte Clark: I do not think that there is anything in the Bill specifically around net zero. I understand the debate about whether there should be an additional objective for the regulators around it. Obviously, net zero is incredibly important for the insurance sector. We bear the cost of climate events. The incentive on us to think about and support the transition, particularly financially, is very apparent.

  I think our regulators do a pretty good job when it comes to net zero. If you think about the things they are doing, such as the stress test, the establishment of the climate financial risk forum and the work they are doing on disclosure, they are pretty much ahead of most other regulatory organisations on net zero. I guess one of the questions is: what would you want to do differently? This comes back to whether they have an objective. One of the concerns about them having an objective is whether it would be their responsibility to direct investment. Again, that comes back to what the role of the regulators in this is. In some ways, put bluntly, I think it is the Government’s responsibility to deliver net zero. We all have accountability in that, but I would not necessarily say that giving an objective to the regulator should change what they are currently doing, so I would question why you would do it.

  Full debate: Financial Services and Markets Bill (First sitting)

  Q I was referring to provisions in the Bill relating to net zero—as you say, it is not direct—but I hear what you are saying. I have a similar question for you, Karen. How should the regulators’ new secondary objective on long-term growth take account of investment in green industries, which is what Charlotte was talking about?

  Karen Northey: Again, I would highlight that the UK is a centre for green finance and has done very well in it. It is a big part of what our members do. For risk management, investment managers have to take a long-term view, and that long-term view, by its nature, has to take into account climate change. Additionally, they play a huge role in directing finance towards transition, so there is a dual role for our industry.

  Full debate: Financial Services and Markets Bill (First sitting)

• 19 Oct 2022: Parliamentary Speech

  Q Do you think there is a disconnect between the Government’s stated ambition to become the world’s first net zero financial centre and the actual levels of green finance in the UK today?

  Full debate: Financial Services and Markets Bill (Second sitting)

  William Wright: There is certainly a role for legislation; I am not sure that the right place for that role is this Bill in particular. It is important to step back and look at the huge amount of work that has already been done and is being done in and around green finance from a legislative perspective. The latest addition to that is the net zero review, and the green finance strategy is expected from BEIS early next year, maybe. There are sustainability disclosure requirements, the UK green taxonomy and the transition plan taskforce. That work, which is coming down the pipeline towards us, could contain a lot of the legislative impetus for the UK to close the gap.

  Full debate: Financial Services and Markets Bill (Second sitting)

• 19 Oct 2022: Vote

  Ban on Fracking for Shale Gas Bill - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: Aye

• 26 Sep 2022: Tweet

  RT @thefabians: From Tulip Siddiq MP - ‘To protect financial resilience in the long term we must invest in green energy solutions that firm… [Source]

• 7 Sep 2022: Parliamentary Speech

  Finally, turning to the points that have come from the Opposition Benches, it is striking how little the Bill has to say about green finance. We of course welcome clause 25, which formalises the responsibilities of the FCA and PRA under the Climate Change Act 2008—introduced, I remind the House, by the last Labour Government—but the Government promised much more radical action. Indeed, we were promised that the UK would become the world’s first net zero financial centre, but instead, we are falling behind global competitors.

  Full debate: Financial Services and Markets Bill

• 11 May 2022: Tweet

  RT @thefabians: "Recovering from Covid-19, the cost of living crisis and the climate emergency are huge challenges that we must face togeth… [Source]

• 23 Feb 2022: Tweet

  RT @Georgia_Gould: Brilliant to see work underway to decarbonise Swiss Cottage library with new windows, insulation, & air source heat pump… [Source]

• 03 Feb 2022: Tweet

  RT @RachelReevesMP: In the future, our Climate Investment Pledge will insulate homes, invest in renewables and nuclear, and reform our brok… [Source]

• 14 Dec 2021: Parliamentary Speech

  It is no coincidence that the co-operative movement emerged when it did. It was at a time of great industrial upheaval, and people recognised the common bonds that united them and their shared interests. We are approaching a different type of industrial revolution as we decarbonise our economy. As my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Luke Pollard) said, more co-operative ideas and practices are needed to make the best use of our resources, which will be crucial for the green transition.

  In 2021, our two parties advocate not only for co-operative shops owned by the customers, but for the whole mutual sector. Co-operatives and mutual societies have never been more important for the UK’s economy and public life. The hon. Member for Wycombe talked about more than 7,000 co-operatives operating across the UK with a combined turnover of almost £40 billion. Almost 235,000 people earn their livelihoods directly through co-operatives. Again, the hon. Member talked about the sectors that they trade in, which are as diverse as agriculture, renewable energy, the creative industries, manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, retail and finance.

  Full debate: Co-operatives and Mutual Societies

• 13 Dec 2021: Vote

  Subsidy Control Bill — Schedule 1 - The subsidy control principles - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: Aye

• 9 Dec 2021: Parliamentary Speech

  I agree with the hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire that the biggest challenge facing the UK is the climate crisis and the transition to a green economy. I also agree with him that the Treasury Committee needs proper support, because it is the most important Committee in the House. Labour has committed to £28 billion a year of capital investment every year until 2030 to support the green transition.

  Full debate: Financial Services: UK Economy

• 03 Dec 2021: Tweet

  In Parliament this week, I called on the Government to put climate change at the heart of our children's education. Labour has announced plans for 400,000 green jobs, and it’s essential that we enable young people to develop the skills for these employment opportunities. https://x.com/TulipSiddiq/status/1466778044903923714/video/1 [Source]

• 1 Dec 2021: Parliamentary Speech

  I thank the hon. Member for Eastbourne (Caroline Ansell) for making such a passionate speech and for securing an interesting and timely debate on how natural history is a central part of children’s education. Having two small children myself, it is something in which I am very interested. The Labour party believes that natural history, and the damage to the natural world brought about by climate change, must be at the heart of every child’s learning. Indeed, with global temperatures continuing to rise, we have a duty as legislators to introduce our nation’s children to the beauty and wonders of nature, and to ensure that they understand our planet, our place and our dependency on the natural world. Currently, however, only 17% of teachers report that climate change is taught at schools in core subjects other than science and geography. That is why it is so important that nurseries, schools and colleges are supported to instil a love of nature in future generations and to educate children about natural history, how climate change has impacted on that history, and how the damage can be reversed.

  I know that the hon. Member for Eastbourne was a teacher, and I believe she is married to a teacher, so she is well versed on the teaching world. I am sure she will join me in celebrating the efforts of all teachers who try to teach sustainability as much as possible. Like me, she is also a school governor, as I think are many MPs. We recognise that schools are trying and doing their best to teach as much as possible. For example, there is the work of the Eco-Schools green flag programme, which is supported by many of the schools in my constituency and others, as well as by nurseries and colleges. It consists of seven steps that educational institutions can take to engage their students on climate change and the natural world, including putting environmental issues in learning plans and choosing texts that explore those issues in subjects such as English. I must admit that that did not happen when I was at school, and I wish it had.

  Sadly, despite the fantastic work that is taking place in many parts of the country, many children are still being denied an environmental education. I looked at some of the recent research from the youth-led Teach the Future campaign, which revealed that 70% of UK teachers have not received adequate training to educate students on climate change. It also found that 41% of teachers say that climate change is rarely or never mentioned in their school. Perhaps most shockingly, just 5% say that climate change is integral to many aspects of the curriculum and teaching in their school, which is deeply concerning.

  The hon. Member for Eastbourne referred to a report commissioned by the Treasury, “The Economics of Biodiversity”, which warns that the absence of the natural world in our children’s education is a risk to future prosperity. In a time of extreme climate change in which we have seen a loss of biodiversity, it is essential that young people have the knowledge and tools to tackle the climate crisis, because long after most of us have gone, our children will still be here. That is why I once again ask the Minister to carefully consider the report that the Treasury commissioned, and to look at what it recommended.

  I also agree with the hon. Member for Meon Valley (Mrs Drummond)—I hope I pronounced her constituency correctly. When I speak to schoolchildren, as I often do when visiting local schools, climate change is the one issue they passionately care about and will bring up without fail every time I address a school assembly. It is important to ensure that every child, not just those who choose to study for a particular GCSE, understands the challenges facing our planet and our society. That would require the natural world to be integrated across the whole curriculum, not just in science and geography lessons or a natural history GCSE, but in all subjects, from English literature to history and others.

  We must support schools and educators to do that if we want to see a genuine difference in the way natural history is taught. Embedding natural history, biodiversity and climate change within the curriculum will require new training for teachers and teaching assistants, which is why the Labour party has committed to giving all teachers a right to continuing professional development, with £210 million extra a year for CPD. That funding could be used to deliver training on the climate and the natural world, and I hope that is something the Government will also consider.

  The Labour party has also announced plans for 400,000 green jobs, and it is essential that we enable young people to develop the skills for those employment opportunities. That has to start in schools and colleges, and climate change and green skills should be a priority for schools as well as for further and higher education, a point made by the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon)—I think he had to go, but obviously no Westminster Hall debate is complete without his contribution, so I had to mention him.

  I have a series of questions for the Minister that I hope he will answer. How are the Government working to ensure that natural history and climate change are embedded across the education system? What are the Government doing to ensure that teachers receive adequate training to educate students on climate change? We cannot just tell them to do it; we have to help and support them. How will the Government ensure that outdoor learning is a key part of children’s experience at school? That question is particularly important in the light of the statistics I talked about relating to covid-19. What steps are the Government taking to ensure that young people are gaining the skills they need at school and college to prepare them for the green economy?

  Ensuring that the future generation value and respect their natural environment will be fundamental in the struggle to reverse the climate crisis, so I wholeheartedly welcome this important debate on how best to secure that end. I urge the Minister, who I know is willing to listen, to reflect on today’s discussion to ensure that the natural world and climate change are at the heart of children’s education and learning.

  Full debate: Natural History GCSE

• 10 Nov 2021: Tweet

  RT @COP26: .@walkwithamal, a 3.5m puppet of a young Syrian refugee that has travelled 8,000km from the Syrian border, arrived at #COP26 for… [Source]

• 01 Nov 2021: Tweet

  RT @TulipSiddiq: Everyone is rightly focused on the important COP26 summit, but just a reminder that my constituent Richard Ratcliffe is st… [Source]

• 01 Nov 2021: Tweet

  Everyone is rightly focused on the important COP26 summit, but just a reminder that my constituent Richard Ratcliffe is still camped outside the Foreign Office on hunger strike demanding action to #FreeNazanin. Thank you to @itvnews for coming to cover this today. https://x.com/TulipSiddiq/status/1455177169987063808/photo/1 [Source]

• 27 Oct 2021: Parliamentary Speech

  I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham East (Nadia Whittome) for securing this important debate, which is also very timely, as everyone has mentioned. I pay tribute to her for the work she has done to highlight the importance of embedding climate change and sustainability in everything we do, including education, and for all the organisational work she has done for this campaign, not least bringing a delegation of young, bright people from the Teach the Future campaign to Parliament yesterday. I am delighted that some of them are in the Public Gallery: Scarlett, Stella, Tess, Yasmin and Charlie are very welcome to Parliament, but we also need them to educate us, as many Members have said during today’s debate.

  My hon. Friend made many good points, but I particularly want to pick up on one of them, which was about how the education system is not preparing children for climate change. It is failing them, which is a damning verdict on the education system that we are living with, and of what the future holds for a lot of our children. I also want to take a minute to say that my hon. Friend may be generation Z, she may be the youngest Member of the House, and she only joined in 2019, but we can already see the impact of all the work she has undertaken. When Opposition Members start paying tribute to her for her work on the Environmental Audit Committee—that does not always happen in this House—we realise the strength of her capabilities, so I give her a huge “Well done” for having secured this important debate.

  My fellow millennial Member, my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Olivia Blake), talked about the importance of teaching not just young people, but adults as well, about climate change and sustainability. That point was echoed by the hon. Member for Twickenham (Munira Wilson), who said that a lot of adults do not even know what we are talking about—I know that I could do a crash course on this topic as well.

  Turning to the topic at hand, many Members from both sides of the House who spoke today talked about how we need to do more to embed climate change within the curriculum. When I go to my local schools, teachers and school leaders are already aware of that need, and some amazing work is going on around the country to engage with pupils about climate change. However, the onus cannot just be on them, which is another point that has been made in the debate. The Government, and we as politicians, have to help them.

  One example of that is the Eco-Schools green flag programme, which many schools, nurseries and colleges are a part of. It consists of seven steps that education institutions can take to focus their communities of pupils and staff on the climate emergency, including putting environmental issues in learning plans and choosing texts in subjects such as English that will explore those issues. That work has been supported by education unions, who to their enormous credit have been pushing the Government to recognise that we are in a climate emergency, and that we have to pay more attention to it and put it at the top of our agenda. I pay tribute to the National Education Union, the National Union of Students and the University and College Union in particular for all their hard work on this issue, including promoting Climate Learning Month in the run-up to COP26, which as we all know starts next week.

  If we are going to transform education, we must support our educators to do so. Embedding climate change within the curriculum will mean new training for teachers and teaching assistants. At Labour conference, the shadow Education Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Stretford and Urmston, announced that we would give all teachers a right to continuing professional development, with £210 million extra per year for CPD, which could certainly be used to deliver this kind of training. I would like the Minister to pick up on this issue and say whether that proposal is something his Government might consider.

  What does concern me—I wonder whether the Minister will answer this—is that at a time when we need to be upgrading our school buildings as part of our national effort to get to net zero carbon emissions, since 2010 the capital spending on schools has been cut by 44%. That worries us. As my hon. Friend the Member for Salford and Eccles (Rebecca Long Bailey) said, our education system must prepare children and young people for the jobs of the future, which will be shaped by our transition to net zero.

  The leader of the Labour party has described climate change as

  and from this debate it sounds like many Members agree. Tackling climate change is at the heart of our agenda and our manifesto as we move forward. However, the reality is that those who are most affected by the impact of climate change are those who are going through schools, colleges, nursery and early years education right now. We must act more strongly if we are to stem the tide of climate decline and protect the younger generations from catastrophic consequences. I really hope that the warm words we are hearing from the Government are finally translated into tangible progress at COP26 next week.

  That is why embedding learning about climate change and sustainability into our curriculum and our education system is vital; that is why this debate is vital; that is why we must equip young people with the skills they need to work in the green industries of the future. Far more innovation is needed from the Government when it comes to education and skills. It is crucial if we, as a country, want to leave the world in a transition to net zero. I hope that the Minister has been listening to the many important points raised in this very good debate. I also hope that the Minister will meet my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham East, as she requested.

  Full debate: Sustainability and Climate Change (National Curriculum)

• 27 Oct 2021: Tweet

  Today I spoke in Parliament about the urgent need to tackle the climate emergency and embed climate change and sustainability in everything we do as a country, including in education. Young people are crying out for change, and for their sake we must heed their call and act now. https://x.com/TulipSiddiq/status/1453432701135032324/photo/1 [Source]

• 20 Oct 2021: Tweet

  We cannot address the climate crisis without real action from cities - @SadiqKhan’s leadership as chair of @C40cities will inspire and deliver progress around the world. https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/climate-change-sadiq-khan-to-be-named-new-chair-of-c40-cities-at-cop26/ [Source]

• 25 Jul 2021: Tweet

  RT @LukePollard: My thoughts are with those affected by the flash floods in London and the South East. At a time of climate crisis we will… [Source]

• 21 Jun 2021: Tweet

  RT @PARLYapp: The education secretary has turned a question about teaching climate change into a tribute to Margaret Thatcher [Source]

• 07 Jun 2021: Vote

  Advanced Research and Invention Agency Bill — New Clause 1 - Human Rights Abuses - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: Aye

• 26 May 2021: Vote

  Environment Bill — New Clause 24 - Prohibition on burning of peat in upland areas - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: Aye

• 13 Jan 2021: Vote

  Financial Services Bill — Schedule 2 - Prudential regulation of FCA investment firms - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: Aye

• 16 Nov 2020: Vote

  Pension Schemes Bill [Lords] — Clause 124 - Climate change risk - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: Aye

• 12 Oct 2020: Vote

  Agriculture Bill — After Clause 42 - Contribution of agriculture and associated land use to climate change targets - Pro-climate vote: No - Their vote: No

• 29 Sep 2020: Vote

  United Kingdom Internal Market Bill — New Clause 6 - Economic development: climate and nature emergency impact statement - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: Aye

• 05 Feb 2020: Vote

  Transport - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: Aye

• 4 Feb 2020: Parliamentary Speech

  I thank my hon. Friend for introducing this important debate, especially in the light of the fact that the UK will host the COP26 vital meeting later this year, which is really our last chance to come up with a meaningful plan to tackle carbon emissions. The Government have used very warm words on tackling the climate emergency, but does she agree that those words ring hollow when a UK Government agency, UK Export Finance, continues to fund new oil and gas projects across the world that, when complete, could amount to as much as a sixth of the UK’s total annual carbon emissions?

  Full debate: Climate Justice

• 25 Jun 2019: Vote

  Delegated Legislation — Value Added Tax - Pro-climate vote: No - Their vote: No

• 14 Mar 2016: Vote

  Energy Bill [Lords] — New Clause 8 — Decarbonisation target range - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: Aye

• 14 Mar 2016: Vote

  Energy Bill [Lords] — New Clause 3 — Carbon capture and storage strategy for the energy industry - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: Aye

• 26 Oct 2015: Vote

  Finance Bill (Ways and Means) (Payment of Corporation Tax) — Chapter 5 — Supplementary provisions - Pro-climate vote: Aye - Their vote: Aye

• 3 Jun 2015: Parliamentary Speech

  11. In 2011, British climate scientists said that the famine in Somalia was caused in part by low rainfall, to which climate change contributed. Does the Secretary of State agree that tackling climate change as a single, stand-alone target should be included in the SDGs, or will the Government continue to treat it as an afterthought?

  Full debate: Sustainable Development Goals