Cross-border work for our planet

Simon Clarke MP meeting the Italian Ambassador

I had a really positive meeting with the Italian Ambassador Raffaele Trombetta and our Energy Minister Chris Skidmore on Monday. Britain is leading the world with our commitment to net zero emissions and together with Italy we are set to host COP26, the major global conference on climate in 2020, with the pre-meeting in Italy and the main conference over here.

The focus will be on encouraging other countries to take the steps needed to deliver on their commitments under the 2015 Paris Agreement and to prevent catastrophic global warming.

There will be an important focus on creating opportunities for areas like the Tees Valley in fields like hydrogen, offshore wind and Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage. Our region can be a model for how the move to net zero emissions can generate new jobs and growth while allowing existing industries like plastics, fertilisers and chemicals to continue to thrive here.

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I am standing up for green issues in Parliament. I have coordinated a letter to the PM from over 100 MPs calling for reduced carbon emissions and am fighting plastic pollution on our beaches.