Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February to Question 120606 on Carbon Emissions, what verification arrangements are in place to monitor whether and to what extent the Governments of (a) Russia, (b) China, (c) the US and (d) India are implementing net zero pledges; and whether it is Government policy to pursue net zero for the UK irrespective of progress by countries on net zero actions.  [129055]

[Due for Answer on 1 March] 

ANSWER

The Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth (Greg Hands): The Paris Agreement require all countries to report to the UNFCCC on progress against emissions reduction commitments by December 31st 2024, and every two years afterwards. This information will be publicly available. The Enhanced Transparency Framework is designed to show that all countries are contributing their fair share to the global effort. At COP26, all countries agreed the Glasgow Climate Pact, which requests countries to revisit and strengthen their 2030 emissions reduction targets, as necessary, to align with the Paris temperature goal by the end of this year, and it signalled the start of the first Global Stocktake to assess the world’s collective progress. The UK Government is committed to delivering its legally-binding net zero target.