MP quizzes premier on protecting forests
ROCHDALE MP Tony Lloyd questioned the Prime Minister on how world governments will be held to account on deforestation.
He was speaking during a debate in the house of Commons following Boris Johnson’s attendance at the UN COP26 Climate Summit.
At the summit, which is being held in Glasgow, more than 100 world leaders agreed to put an end to, and reverse global deforestation by 2030.
The pledge includes almost £14bn ($19.2bn) of public and private funds.
But Mr Lloyd said: “The Prime Minister is right to tell the House, and indeed the world, how exciting these promises on reforestation and methane reduction are.
“However, he will recall that, 12 years ago, when the rich countries committed themselves to transferring $100 billion to the poor countries every year, there was no mechanism for measuring the progress of that transfer, and the world failed.
“Can the Prime Minister tell us what the legacy will be, particularly in respect of deforestation?
“Will there be a proper mechanism to hold to account President Bolsonaro, or the Indonesians, or any other country, wherever it may be?”
In response the Prime Minister said: “The hon. Gentleman has made an incredibly important point. There are two ways of holding Governments to account, whether they are the Governments of China, Brazil or Russia, or indeed ourselves.
“First, it is not only the Governments who have signed up, but corporations--the big commodities corporations, such as Cargill.
“They have agreed no longer to use products that are sourced as a result of deforestation, and consumers will hold them to account, as well as Governments, for what they do.
Secondly, the financial institutions, worth trillions – Barclays, Aviva, and many others around the world – have agreed that they will not finance projects that depend on deforestation.”