Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

UK Environmental Protections: COP26

Thursday 28 October 2021 · 3 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial statements highlight the Environment Bill as a key measure for strengthening UK environmental protections.
  • The policy on biodiversity net gain is due to be introduced in the coming years and is seen as important for increasing environmental protections.
  • Olivia Blake questioned the delay in announcing concrete targets to reverse nature depletion, noting the UK's status as one of the most nature-depleted countries.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Neale Hanvey
Climate Environment
Context

The question follows the announcement of COP26, where strengthening environmental protections is a key focus.

Question

What steps he is taking to strengthen UK environmental protections ahead of COP26.

Answer from Rebecca Pow

Our vanguard Environment Bill demonstrates how much we are doing on that—more than any other country. This will be groundbreaking legislation and as we build back greener from the pandemic it will transform how we protect our environment and will better protect our resources—our air, our water and, of course, our soil.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps or timeline for actions to strengthen environmental protections before COP26.

How: Our Vanguard Environment Bill Demonstrates How Much We Are Doing On That—More Than Any Other Country.

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Q2 Bim Afolami Con
Climate Environment
Context

There is a policy on biodiversity net gain due to come into effect in the next couple of years, and there has been pressure from Members to accelerate its implementation.

Question

The Minister will be aware of the policy on biodiversity net gain, which is due to come in in the next couple of years. I and many other Members have been pressing to accelerate the introduction of this wonderful policy. Can the Minister give any update on the Department's thoughts on whether we can bring forward implementation of biodiversity net gain?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

I thank my hon. Friend for his question and his work on this, because it is going to be a very important part of how we increase our protections and protect more nature. We have the target to protect and halt the decline of species abundance by 2030. Local authorities will play a key part in delivering that through their planning services and it is important that we work with them to give them the time to get this under way.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide an update on whether implementation can be brought forward, instead focused on long-term goals and local authority roles.

How: We Have The Target To Protect And Halt The Decline Of Species Abundance By 2030.

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Q3 Olivia Blake Lab Sheffield Hallam
Climate Environment
Context

The Government have delayed announcing concrete targets to reverse nature depletion until October next year, which may affect their credibility at COP26.

Question

The UK is among the most nature-depleted countries in the world and the decline is not slowing. The Government have made a deliberate decision not to announce any concrete targets to reverse it until October next year, long after COP26, and are instead focusing on cutting the costs of internal flights rather than cutting rail fares. Does the Minister think this undermines the Government's credibility at the conference this weekend?

Answer from Rebecca Pow

No.

Not addressed: Did not address whether the actions undermine the Government's credibility, instead gave a single-word response without elaboration.

How: No.

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