In the House of Commons today, Swansea West MP, Geraint Davies, questioned the Prime Minister about the UK’s involvement with the Energy Charter Treaty.

Speaking in the Commons, Geraint said, “The Prime Minister knows that the Energy Charter Treaty enables fossil fuel companies to sue governments who pass legislation to undermine their future profits in the name of climate change.

Germany and France have announced they are withdrawing as are Poland Holland, Slovenia and Spain.”

Pressure groups have claimed that “The countries leaving say that attempts to reform and ‘modernise’ the treaty have failed.”

Welsh Labour and Co-operative MP, Geraint Davies, asked:

“When does he [the Prime Minister] anticipate the UK withdrawing from the Energy Charter Treaty, or does he put fossil fuel profits ahead of climate change and will raise this within WTO reform?”

 

In response to Geraint the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, failed to answer the question instead saying:

“…it was the United Kingdom who led through COP last year in making sure that we end the climate finance for coal plants, something that actually other countries do need to catch up with us on. And we will continue to champion that in all of these forums because that’s the right thing to do.”

Despite committing to uphold the promise of ending climate finance for coal plants, the Prime Minister did not address the future of the Energy Charter Treaty and whether the UK intended to withdraw.

Germany, France, Holland, Slovenia Spain & Poland have left the treaty but the Prime Minister seems more concerned about saving oil companies profits than saving the planet and protecting the taxpayer.