Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Climate Change and Biodiversity

08 February 2023 · 15 other contributors · 8,509 words

Opened by Sally-Ann Hart Con Hastings and Rye

Responding minister: Daniel Zeichner

ClimateEnvironment

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Sally-Ann Hart raised concerns about climate change and biodiversity in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The UK faces significant risks from climate change including heatwaves, droughts, high precipitation, flooding, and supply chain disruptions.
  • The Climate Change Committee has identified eight priority risk areas requiring urgent action.
  • The Minister criticised the Government's response to the climate and nature emergency, highlighting threats to environmental regulations and missed deadlines for Environment Act targets.

Key requests to Government

I ask the Minister to consider the key recommendation of the RSPB-WWF report that nature-based solutions must be integrated into the upcoming National Adaptation Programme (NAP3) and given the opportunity to adapt to climate change while providing carbon and biodiversity benefits. Increased funding is necessary, but it does not have to solely rely on government sources.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Sally-Ann Hart Con Hastings and Rye

The UK faces significant risks from climate change, including heatwaves, droughts, high precipitation, flooding, and the collapse of supply chains. The Climate Change Committee has identified eight priority risk areas that require urgent action: viability and diversity of nature, soil health, release of sequestered carbon, crops, livestock and forestry, power system failure, human health and productivity, and risks from climate change impacts overseas. Nature-based solutions are crucial in addressing these challenges but there is a £5.6 billion funding gap for environmental gains.

Other contributors (15)
  • Alexander Stafford

    Thanks the hon. Friend for calling the debate and supports placing a green tractor mark on everyday products to indicate nature-positive and biodiversity-supporting British products, aiming to encourage public and business support for nature-positive solutions.

  • Derek Thomas Con St Ives

    The hon. Member highlighted the importance of measuring metrics and outcomes in nature-based solutions for climate adaptation. Welcomes the formation of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and emphasizes the importance of recovering nature alongside achieving net zero. He mentions the use of herbal leys in Cornwall to improve grassland quality and carbon retention, stressing that technology and different land management practices are both crucial.

  • Grahame Morris Lab/Co-op Easington

    He raised concerns about leaching from coastal landfill sites and the need to consider tree planting instead of building developments.

  • Jim Shannon DUP Strangford

    Supporting biodiversity initiatives, Jim Shannon stressed the importance of incentivising landowners to participate in such projects through schemes that provide free plants and shrubs. He also highlighted successful rewilding efforts by his local council which have significantly enhanced soil carbon sequestration and reduced CO2 emissions. Stressed that incentivising farmers to be custodians of the land is crucial for achieving environmental goals.

  • John McNally SNP Westminster, North

    Expresses concern about the UK Government's decision to cut tree canopy and woodland cover targets from 17.5% to 16.5%, which equates to a reduction of over 100,000 hectares in land area for planting by 2050 and an estimated 37 million fewer tonnes of CO2 being removed from the atmosphere.

  • Julian Sturdy

    Supports the idea of investing in new technology to ensure no conflict between food production and biodiversity recovery, as stated by Samantha Dixon.

  • Kerry McCarthy Lab Bristol East

    I agree with everything the hon. Lady is saying and raise two points about attracting private-sector investment for nature-based solutions: clarity on carbon offsetting value of projects and ensuring biodiversity net gain strategies create more diversity. Expressed concern about the lack of joined-up thinking between departments on nature-based solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation, questioning if the Minister is engaging with colleagues in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

  • Richard Foord Lib Dem Honiton and Sidmouth

    He intervened to ask about the Retained EU Law Bill, inquiring whether it would prevent strengthening environmental laws despite ongoing crises.

  • Richard Graham Con Richmond Park

    Highlights that areas vulnerable to flooding have expertise in complicated issues, suggesting recycling centres and former landfill areas as opportunities for private investment through planting trees on contaminated land, currently happening in Gloucester. My hon. Friend emphasised the value of diverse environmental solutions, highlighting wetlands and nature-based initiatives as essential components for addressing climate change.

  • Samantha Dixon Lab Chester North and Neston

    The world is facing a global biodiversity crisis, with one million species at risk of extinction due to human activity. In the UK, there has been a 41% decline in species abundance over the past four decades. The speaker argues that immediate action is needed to reverse current trends and calls for more ambitious environmental targets.

  • Selaine Saxby

    She highlighted the role of hedgerows in boosting biodiversity and climate change mitigation. She mentioned a target of 30,000 miles of new or restored hedgerows by 2037 and noted that farmers are increasingly recognising the benefits of sustainable practices.

  • Siobhan Baillie Con Stroud

    Focusing on Stroud's unique position in terms of biodiversity and natural conservation efforts, she requested the Minister to work with the APPG for wetlands towards creating an additional 100,000 hectares of wetlands. She also asked for investment in natural flood management strategies and assistance in developing a saltmarsh code.

  • Tim Farron Lib Dem Westmorland and Lonsdale

    He discussed the importance of uplands in climate change efforts, noting that they provide 70% of drinking water and are crucial for carbon sequestration. However, he expressed concern over current payment rates under environmental land management schemes which do not adequately support upland farmers. Asked the Minister to reconsider the upland rate for the sustainable farming incentive, as it could push many hill farmers out of business altogether.

  • Trudy Harrison Con Copeland

    Emphasised the urgency of climate change and highlighted the importance of adaptation measures, such as restoring habitats and creating new ones through environmental land management schemes. She mentioned that there are currently 61 risks being monitored in the national adaptation plan.

  • Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath

    Highlights the economic and social benefits of peatland restoration, noting that Somerset levels near her constituency store nearly 11 million tonnes of carbon. She agrees with better targets for peatland restoration. Intervened to ask a question, but details not provided in the transcript.

Government Response

Daniel Zeichner

Inquired if low uptake of ELM schemes is a risk being monitored by the Government. He criticised the Government's response to the climate and nature emergency, highlighting threats to environmental regulations, missed deadlines for Environment Act targets, and the decline of natural carbon stores like wetlands. He called for stronger ambitions in species abundance and equitable access to nature-rich spaces.

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