Barry Gardiner

“As the cost of renewables plummets, the clean energy transition is increasingly driven by the business case.”

“Leaders get things wrong. Of course they do. They have imperfect information. They face competing political pressures. Ultimately they are human.”

“Like air pollution, flood risk is a threat that government should be protecting us against.”

“The more we engage with others, the more we find people with whom we do not share the values and truths that we consider so fundamental. In virtual places, by contrast, we are able to select the precise individuals with whom we associate to ensure that we obtain the affirmation we require.”

“U.K. aid spending in India is that it ensures that we are able to work with our partners to develop their markets, business and enterprise, to boost labour standards and rights and, ultimately, to boost the incomes of the poorest which, in the long term, boosts demand for British goods and services.”

“Even if Trump leaves the Paris Agreement or the U.N. climate process entirely, the issue will be unavoidable at G7 and G20 level.”

“Subsidies should never be a permanent feature of any market. They should be introduced only to address market failure and they should be withdrawn gradually as those distortions in the market are addressed.”

“Whilst the developed world may say it wants to see much greater commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this may only be politically feasible if there is strong support for adaptation measures in those countries at greatest immediate risk.”

“Leaving the E.U. with no trade deal is the worst possible option. It will condemn British exporters to the full range of tariffs and barriers that apply under WTO rules.”

“Climate change must be approached as an opportunity to transition our economy to a zero carbon future. Business understands this even when governments don't.”

“MPs should be able to debate, amend and approve a mandate for the negotiation of any trade agreement before talks start, based on an independent impact assessment of what social, economic and environmental risks might be expected.”

“As we pump greenhouse gases into our atmosphere, the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide, making the seawater acidic and hostile for shellfish and corals.”

“We're fighting for community energy initiatives, warmer homes and crucial flood defences - and fiercely opposing the Government's assault on renewables.”

“The unpopularity of raising corporate or personal income tax has been a straight jacket constraining Labour's thinking on how best to invest and grow the economy.”

“The future can be just and green - not corruption-mired and polluted.”

“The media when it focuses on climate change at all, does so in terms of carbon emissions and how to reduce them. Only rarely do our leaders advance arguments about adapting our environment and our economy to the effects of climate change that are already inevitable.”

“Years of government inaction on air pollution has got people thinking that the state cannot even protect basic public goods like clean air.”

“Trade policy can be a tool for change and progress.”

“The Tories' favoured trade deals post-Brexit are likely to make regional inequality worse, by focusing on the best deal for the City of London at the expense of smaller firms across the country.”

“We must learn the lessons of the 2008 crash: no company should be able to become too big to fail.”