Nov32025

Greens call for polluters rather than poorest to pay for climate action 

Green Party
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by Green Party

Ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, Green MPs have written to Keir Starmer calling on him to ensure that polluters rather than the poorest in communities pay for climate action [1].  They also call on the UK government to reject a licence for the giant Rosebank oilfield and refuse development consent for oil and gas projects that have already been licensed.  

Green MP, Ellie Chowns, leader of the parliamentary group of MPs in the House of Commons, said: 

“Whilst we welcome the fact Keir Starmer will attend COP30 in Brazil, it will come to nothing unless he uses his voice and the UK’s political influence to ensure an ambitious outcome that will help the world avoid the most catastrophic climate impacts. 

“COP30 is taking place against a backdrop of continued financial support from governments for the fossil fuel industry. This includes an estimated £17.5 billion every year here in the UK – £2.7 billion of which is tax breaks for fossil fuel production. 

“Efforts to tackle the climate crisis will be undermined if the poorest in communities feel they are left to foot the bill for climate action. Those responsible for wrecking our planet must bear the costs of fixing it or cleaning it up.  That’s why we urge the prime minister to push for a Climate Damages Tax at COP – a “polluters pay” tax on the extraction of fossil fuels. 

“The government must also show true climate leadership back home by refusing permission for the giant Rosebank oilfield, which would create more emissions than the combined annual CO2 emissions of all 28 low-income countries in the world – the very countries that are bearing the brunt of climate breakdown.” 

Chowns went on to say: 

“The UN Secretary General has called the fossil fuel companies the “godfathers of climate chaos”. By fuelling the climate crisis, they are imperilling our security and stability – threatening food supplies and impacting our health and wellbeing. Fossil fuel companies are profiteering off climate breakdown, and it is time they are made to pay.” 

ENDS 

Notes 

  1. See Green MPs letter to prime minister Keir Starmer which includes a full list of references.   

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