Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Climate Security

Monday 24 May 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Steven Bonnar raised concerns about climate change causing more new displacements than violent conflicts, citing figures from refugee organizations.
  • The Minister emphasized that climate change is a priority for the Foreign, Development and Commonwealth Office, referencing a document published in March outlining their plans.
  • Stewart McDonald questioned the Government's reduction of the foreign aid budget, suggesting it contradicts serious concern about the impact of climate change on global security.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steven Bonnar
Defence Climate Foreign Affairs
Context

The question addresses the worsening impacts of climate change on global poverty, economic stability, and security. It also mentions that acts of nature caused 30 million new displacements last year, more than conflicts.

Question

I am concerned about refugee organisations stating that 30 million new displacements last year were caused by floods, storms, and wildfires, triggered three times more displacements than violent conflicts did, and the number of those internally displaced worldwide hit record levels. Yet this Government have slashed foreign aid to some of the world's most vulnerable to climate-based threats. So what assessment has the Ministry of Defence made of the cuts to foreign aid, and how does it plan to address the rising threat of climate change to our own national security in the face of increasing instability across the world?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that the threat from climate change is indeed one of the major priorities of my colleagues in the Foreign, Development and Commonwealth Office. It is also a priority of ours. As I have said, the document we published back in March sets out how we are planning for the increase in the HADR, or humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and MACA, or military assistance to civilian authorities, roles that the armed forces are going to have to take on.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The cuts to foreign aid were not directly addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Steven Bonnar
Defence Climate
Context

There is a build-up of military tension in the Arctic due to Russia's actions, and Russia has taken over the rotating chairmanship of the Arctic Council.

Question

I welcome the new Minister for Defence People and Veterans. I thank the outgoing Minister for his work at the veterans office. Climate change is altering the threat picture across the globe, and not for the better. It is happening in our own back yard and on our own doorstep in the high north and in the Arctic, where we have seen a build-up of military tension because of Russia's actions. Can the Minister outline to the House exactly what the Ministry of Defence is doing with regard to the threat picture in the Arctic and the high north?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question, and I know that he will have read the Command Paper in depth. He will have seen the copious references to the high north strategy and to our joint expeditionary force partners—it is good to see Iceland coming on board with that. We are acutely aware of the need to have a forward understanding and presence and to work with our allies in the high north.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific actions regarding the threat picture in the Arctic were not detailed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Stewart McDonald SNP
Defence Climate Foreign Affairs
Context

The defence Command Paper is seen as lacking in joined-up Government thinking on the impacts of climate change. The foreign aid budget has been cut, suggesting a lack of seriousness about the threat picture.

Question

There is a lack of joined-up Government thinking on that. If the Government were serious about the impact that climate change is having on the threat picture, the foreign aid budget would not be getting cut and greater attention would be paid to the high north and the Arctic. What does the Ministry of Defence specifically want to get out of COP26?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

COP26 is an entire-Government piece of work, and we are working with all nations around the Earth to get a whole load of deliverables out of COP26. Our commitment in terms of defence to meeting and addressing the needs of climate change was recognised on President Biden's Earth Day earlier this year, where the US Defence Secretary referred to the UK as having “raised the bar” in terms of Defence's work in this country on climate change.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific goals for COP26 were not detailed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q4 Stewart McDonald SNP
Climate Foreign Affairs
Context

The question addresses the worsening impacts of climate change on global poverty, economic stability, and security. It also mentions that acts of nature caused 30 million new displacements last year, more than conflicts.

Question

Refugee organisations say that 30 million new displacements last year were caused by floods, storms, and wildfires, triggered three times more displacements than violent conflicts did, and the number of those internally displaced worldwide hit record levels. Yet this Government have chosen to slash foreign aid to some of the world's most vulnerable to climate-based threats, making a complete mockery of the United Kingdom's leadership role ahead of COP26. So what assessment has the Ministry of Defence made of the cuts to foreign aid?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

Climate change worsens poverty and economic stability, and poses a significant risk to global security. In our climate change and sustainability strategic approach, which I launched in March, we have laid out the extensive steps that we are taking to mitigate climate change and to address its implications.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The cuts to foreign aid were not directly addressed.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)