Asked Caroline Lucas about securing protection for peatlands at future conferences, highlighting their role as carbon sinks and sources of biodiversity.

Welcomed targets to reduce waste sent for incineration, suggesting that the Government's strategy should aim to phase out facilities like the one in Westbury as part of a broader waste disposal plan.

Inquired about past failures in achieving biodiversity targets and questioned whether there is any hope for meeting these goals by 2030 given the track record, suggesting doubts about the likelihood of success.

Agreed with Lucas on protecting habitats but emphasised the importance of connectivity between preserved areas to ensure effective conservation strategies.

Emphasises the importance of COP15 for global nature conservation. Supports the UK's leadership role in environmental stewardship, praising efforts to protect habitats and manage farmland sustainably. Critiques China and Brazil’s lack of action in addressing deforestation, urging tough enforcement against illegal logging. Advocates for a global programme at COP15 focusing on land restoration, including sustainable farming, ecotourism, and forest management.

Supports the idea of having as many world leaders as possible attend COP15 in Montreal to demonstrate global commitment to nature conservation, echoing the need for UK leadership at such international summits.

Agrees with the criticism of market incentives driving unsustainable practices and suggests addressing the demand for rare tropical hardwoods as a key step in curbing illegal logging and poaching.

Clarifies that while supporting sustainable livelihoods is crucial, increasing GDP should not be an end goal. Focuses on enabling people to thrive through sustainable practices rather than pursuing abstract economic growth figures.

The debate focuses on the twin emergencies of climate change and nature depletion. Olivia Blake emphasises that these issues are intrinsically linked, stating that tackling one without addressing the other is ineffective. She highlights local initiatives in Sheffield, such as a swift summit sponsored by the wildlife trust and work being done to restore Whirlow Brook park. However, she criticises the Government's lack of effective action despite numerous policy announcements, citing concerns from the Environmental Audit Committee and the Climate Change Committee about insufficient delivery mechanisms for existing policies. She points out that targets for tree planting and peatland restoration are not being met, which has significant implications for lowering national emissions. Blake also stresses the need to address skills shortages in arboriculture and increase the capacity of domestic nurseries, while noting a missed opportunity to protect important water habitats like salt marshes and seagrass meadows. She concludes by urging Ministers to stop relying on superficial measures and start delivering real action.

Jeremy Corbyn discusses the issue of water pollution by sewage discharge into rivers from water companies. He also mentions the importance of rewilding and the need for local authorities to adopt sustainable practices, such as reducing paved areas and promoting permeable surfaces in urban environments. He emphasises the role of education in fostering a better understanding of environmental issues among young people.

Congratulated the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion on securing the debate and emphasised the need for international, domestic, and individual leadership to address biodiversity loss. He declared his interest as a water vole species champion, highlighting that since the end of the 1990s, water voles had disappeared from 90% of their former sites. Hilary Benn stressed the importance of improving water quality and encouraging farmers to protect healthy waterways. He discussed the economic value of biodiversity and its essential role in our lives, including regulating climate, producing medicines, and providing clean air and water. He also mentioned examples such as the World Agroforestry Centre's work on plants with medicinal properties. Benn concluded by discussing the recovery potential of nature when given a chance to thrive.

Mr. Grayling apologised for stepping out briefly and then spoke about a visit to the far north of Scotland, noting an increase in insects on his car's windscreen as he moved further north. He suggested that this was evidence of the link between pesticide use and the decline of insect populations, which attracted him to regenerative farming models.

Mr. Shannon commended Mr. Grayling for his environmental initiatives on his land, including tree planting and retaining hedgerows. He mentioned that they had planted around 3,500 trees, installed two ponds, and observed an increase in wildlife such as bees and moss. He asked whether the Government should be more committed to tree planting across the United Kingdom.

Human activity is leading to a sixth great extinction event, with species extinction rates between 10 to 100 times higher than the average rate over the past 10 million years. We need urgent transformative change and must examine our economy to account for free goods and services destroyed by human activity. The Dasgupta review highlights the imbalance between humanity's demand and nature's supply, necessitating a reconstruction of economics that values ecosystem services. There is no clarity or implementation regarding DEFRA’s plan for net zero due to lack of metrics. Data is crucial; UK has more than 250 years of amateur scientific data-gathering, showing a 41% decline in species since 1970. Support must be given to overseas territories and developing countries to establish their own datasets. Effective implementation requires key staging posts for interim objectives towards halting biodiversity loss. Finance is essential; $100 billion per year must be made available to help the global south cope with climate change and implement mitigation efforts. Green bonds are innovative ways to facilitate private finance in addressing environmental problems. The financial sector should not incentivise deforestation, such as ranching in Brazil.

Commends the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion for securing this debate and highlights the urgency of addressing biodiversity loss globally. Emphasises that COP15 must set ambitious targets to protect nature and wildlife. Criticises the UK Government's abandonment of wildlife protection conditions in favour of food production capacity.

Questions Deidre Brock about the continued allowance of industrial-scale fishing with gillnets, which he considers unsustainable and polluting.

We have been concerned about a potential lack of Minister involvement but thankfully, this concern has not materialised... In practice it means that even some of our most iconic and much loved animals are being added to the growing list of endangered species.

I was instructed to mention that I am parliamentary species champion for the swift... I have got that on the record.

The hon. Member acknowledged widespread agreement on the importance of COP15 and highlighted the decline in global forest cover, coral reefs, and species extinction rates. He emphasised the need for an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, including protecting at least 30% of land and oceans by 2030.

Asked whether the future Prime Minister will attend COP15 on behalf of the UK.

Asked if a role equivalent to that of the COP26 President would be created for COP15.

Emphasised the need for transformative change in economic systems and asked whether either the Secretary of State or the Minister responsible for biodiversity will attend COP15.

Stressed the importance of a sustainable fishing policy that works for both the environment and those in the fishing sector who want job security.

Asked about the Environment Agency's recommendation to jail chairpersons of water companies that pollute rivers, highlighting the need to protect the environment.