Following his return from the COP27 summit in Egypt, the Prime Minister gave a statement to the House of Commons to update MPs on the progress of the meeting and the UK's influence of the global green agenda.
Members of Parliament used the opportunity to hold the new Prime Minister to account on environmental ambitions, both at home and abroad.
Steve Brine MP, the Member for Winchester and Chandler's Ford, highlighted the key industry of sustainable aviation in progressing the UK towards it's Net Zero targets. Speaking about the opportunity in the Solent Freeport area, which includes Southampton Airport, the MP said; "So, will he and his government work with us on sustainable aviation fuels? Which is an area this country has a really good lead in already and could be really to our advantage, as well as lead to a whole new future of clean air travel."
Sustainable Aviation and the wider Jet Zero initiative has been noted as perfect to rollout and trial in local/regional airport environments, such as Southampton Airport.
Rishi Sunak, who is familiar with the Airport given it's proximity to his childhood home, responded; "Where it is clear, actually, in conversations with industry that we are in a position of world leadership on this issue. I was pleased to invest about £200 million pounds to help commercialise two sustainable aviation fuel plants, but what I'm encouraged by is that the private sector is actually taking that, investing far more to bring this to reality and that's an exciting development for the UK."
The PM also championed the creation of the Solent Freeport, which has Chancellor had a role in deciding alongside the other freeports across the country.
More information
Read the full debate via Hansard
