RISHI Sunak dodged questions from young climate activists as they approached him during an appearance at Glasgow’s COP26 summit.
Two campaigners went up to the Chancellor as he made his way through the SEC on the finance-focused day of the summit, asking why his government is subsidising fossil fuel firms.
In August it emerged that last year, ExxonMobil, Shell and BP had all received tens of millions of public cash from the HMRC.
Meanwhile earlier this year, the Chancellor announced a “super deduction” tax relief – a system which allows some companies investing in particular assets to have their tax bill cut.
READ MORE: Polluters and lobbyists set to host 35 official Glasgow COP26 events
Speaking to the Environmental Audit Committee, Treasury minister Kemi Badenoch said the new system would not have any green strings and argued that the Government shouldn’t “strangle our economic recovery with regulation that’s not necessary”.
This effectively means the “super deduction” can benefit companies investing in fossil fuels.
Campaigners took the opportunity to challenge Sunak on these decisions, which come as the UK plays host to the global climate summit.
“Hi Rishi, why are you giving tax breaks to fossil fuel companies?” one of the women asked.
We just challenged Rishi on why he is subsidising fossil fuel companies. Not only did he refuse to answer us, he then banned us - the only young people in the room - from his talk.
— Fatima-Zahra Ibrahim (@fortuashla) November 3, 2021
Is he that scared of young people asking him questions?
PS watch until the end 🔥 @IYCM #COP26 pic.twitter.com/cApvaOScYH
Another pushed Sunak to explain when the Government would stop giving public money to fossil fuel companies.
The women then stopped walking as Sunak stood before a large group of photographers and had his picture taken holding a green briefcase.
“There’s not much in that suitcase is there?” one of the women said. “Where’s the climate finance, Rishi?”
Fatima-Zahra Ibrahim of the Green New Deal Rising group later took to social media to explain the encounter.
“We just challenged Rishi on why he is subsidising fossil fuel companies. Not only did he refuse to answer us, he then banned us - the only young people in the room - from his talk,” she wrote on Twitter.
“Is he that scared of young people asking him questions?”
READ MORE: COP26: Extinction Rebellion disrupts Glasgow in Buchanan Street protest
At the end of September, the Green New Deal Rising group also managed to film Labour leader Keir Starmer dodging their questions during his Brighton party conference.
During his talk today, Sunak argued that more public money is needed to fight climate change – but added that the private sector should also step up.
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