Climate Change Minister Greg Hands Speaks to T&G on COP26 and More

Energy and climate change minister Greg Hands has told Times Radio that a carbon border tax should be considered even if it's not on the agenda at COP26.

Speaking to Tom Newton Dunn and Paul Waugh on T&G on Sunday:

It's not specifically on the agenda directly at COP. I think it's something which will, I'm sure, be discussed at the World Trade Organisation at their ministerial conference coming up in about a month's time. I think for these things, we've got to make sure that carbon border adjustment mechanisms aren't a form of protectionism. And that's why I think it's important that whatever is done is made compatible with the World Trade Organisation. We have to make sure that such mechanisms do not discriminate against the developing world, in particular. So, make sure that they are just not another form of closing our markets to imports from developing countries. So I think there are quite a few hoops for that to go through first but the UK is of course watching very closely...There's no point in ending polluting industries in this country if those industries then move offshore (and) they just allow polluting industries in other countries to sell their products to us.

On a thawing of relations between the UK and France because of the row overfishing, he said:

I know the relationship well and we are old friends. We are partners across almost everything. And particularly this week, I expect to see Boris Johnson Emmanuel Macron working very well together in Glasgow and meeting our climate change obligations. I think both the UK and France are in pretty much the same place there. So I expect the working together to be very strong over a coming couple of weeks at COP.

And on polling suggesting handshaking is back after social distancing. Is Greg Hands, hands-on or hands-off?

I greeted a visiting train yesterday at St Pancras. It was actually the climate train on its way to Glasgow from Amsterdam. And I generally didn't shake hands. I'd say if somebody gave me their hand - as you know, with some cultures, it's difficult to say no to a hand outstretched - I think I follow the policy that if somebody gave me their hand I shook it. If they didn't, I didn't. I kind of I think we all have to make those decisions. I'm very much stronger in favour of doing things that are shown to be really effective like mask-wearing...

PW: There's no official advice on handshaking as such?

GH: I'm not aware of any official advice on handshaking.

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