SDLP South Belfast MP Claire Hanna has said the UK Government cannot roll back on their climate change commitments.

She was speaking ahead of the second reading of the Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill in the House of Commons on Monday.

Ms Hanna has signed a letter from Parliament’s Climate APPG and is supporting an amendment to block the legislation.

South Belfast MP Ms Hanna said:

“The petroleum licensing legislation brought forward by the government represents a significant rollback on measures agreed at COP28 to address the climate crisis that threatens our future and way of life. This bill will do little to solve the energy crisis currently facing these islands and seriously hamper our efforts to thwart climate breakdown.

“Instead of seeking to profit from harmful fossil fuels, the UK Government should be looking at renewable energy and increased energy efficiency which has the potential to lower bills for families that have been repeatedly punished by soaring costs in recent years. It would also stop companies profiting from the misery that has been inflicted on many through these price hikes.

“It’s unfathomable that the government is seeking to focus on fossil fuels at a time when the harmful effects of climate change are being seen across the world. Whatever lip service the government pays to these issues their recent actions have shown that they are in no way serious about dealing with this. The SDLP has a long record of opposing these practices, including in government at Stormont and I will be calling for this harmful and short-sighted legislation to be withdrawn before any further damage is caused to our environment.”