Climate change

This is a short House of Commons briefing paper on the 2019 international climate change conference (COP25) held in Madrid, Spain.

Overview of what is likely to lead the debate on climate change action in the new Parliament

This Library briefing provides an explanation of the introduction of the UK's net zero by 2050 legislative target. It provides the context for the emissions reduction target; a brief overview of relevant commentary and analysis of the Government's proposals; and any key announcements and commitments made since.

This pack has been prepared ahead of the debate to be held on an e-petition on restoring nature and climate change to be held in Westminster Hall on Monday 28 October 2019 at 4.30pm. The debate will be opened by Daniel Zeichner MP on behalf of the Petitions Committee.

The UK and EU agreed a revised Political Declaration on the framework for the future UK-EU relationship on 17 October. This Briefing provides an outline of the contents of the Declaration and the key changes in the revised text

Boris Johnson's Government have negotiated a new 'deal' with the European Union. It is formed of a Political Declaration and a Withdrawal Agreement. This paper focuses on the Withdrawal Agreement and how it compares to the one negotiated by Theresa May's Government in November 2018. The main differences are in the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland or the 'backstop' as it is commonly known. It contains very different arrangements, the UK will no longer be in a single customs territory or union with the EU. The UK will no longer be legally bound to continue with level playing field commitments at the end of the transition period. Northern Ireland will still be in the UK's customs territory and VAT area, however, the region will align with the EU's rules in these areas. Northern Ireland will remain mostly aligned to the EU's regulations for goods. Four years after the end of the transition period Northern Ireland's democratic institutions will vote on whether they wish to continue the arrangements in the Protocol.

The No-deal Brexit: A guide to Commons Library research is an annotated bibliography of sources published by the House of Commons Library on a potential no-deal Brexit. It will be updated regularly. Links to the papers included in the resource are available on this page, the downloadable version includes additional comment on some of the selected papers.

MPs will debate e-petition 266638 relating to deforestation in the Amazon on 7 October in Westminster Hall. This House of Commons Library debate pack provides some background information and press and parliamentary coverage of the issue.

A debate on the UN climate summit 2020: UK priorities and preparations was scheduled to be held in Westminster Hall on 10 September 2019 at 2:30pm, led by Caroline Lucas MP. Following prorogation of Parliament on 9 September, this debate will no longer go ahead.

A House of Commons Library Briefing Paper on the UK Carbon Budgets, including information on the Climate Change Act 2008, the Committee on Climate Change's proposals for the fifth carbon budget, the Government's Clean Growth Strategy and progress against carbon budgets. Information on the Paris Agreement and possible impact of Brexit is also included.

This briefing looks in detail at the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated between the EU and UK and finalised on 14 November 2018. It was endorsed by EU Member State leaders at a special European Council summit on 25 November and the UK Prime Minister promoted it in the UK Parliament and around the country. The Agreement was debated at length in Parliament on several occasions and has been voted on three times. But the House of Commons has not endorsed it. A second extension of Article 50 took exit day to 31 October 2019, but once again the UK is faced with the possibility of leaving the EU without an agreement if this agreement or another one is not ratified by the UK and the EU.

There is a general debate on tackling climate change, protecting the environment, and securing global development on Wednesday 10 July. Some key Library briefings, Committee reports and Government responses are listed below.

The UK’s Voluntary National Review will be presented to the UN in July.