Conservatives will end overseas aid for fossil fuelled power

23 November 2009

The Shadow International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell delivered this morning the first in a series of speeches on climate change to be given by different Conservative frontbenchers, as a prelude to the Copenhagen Conference.

Addressing the Overseas Development Institute, Mitchell argued that “climate change isn’t just an environmental issue; it is also one of international social justice”.

At Copenhagen, Mitchell said that the world must keep the rise in carbon emissions below two degrees and must keep the poor countries of the world at the front of their minds throughout. He also used the speech to set out a new Conservative policy on funding energy supplies in the developing world, with aid focused entirely on environmental energy sources:

“Figures from the Department of Business Innovation and Skills reveal the Export Credit Guarantee Department is providing approximately three quarters of a billion pounds worth of support to fossil fuel projects.

“What’s more, according to the NAO, since 2000 ECGD has not rejected a single application for support on the grounds that it did not meet minimum environmental and social standards.

“This has got to change.

“We will bring to an end Labour’s guarantees for 'dirty' fossil fuel power stations.

“Today I can announce that under a Conservative government, ECGD will never again support investment in 'dirty' fossil fuel power stations.”