← Back to Westminster Hall Debates
Global Biodiversity and Ecosystems: National Security — [Sir Desmond Swayne in the Chair]
03 September 2026
Lead MP
Adrian Ramsay
Responding Minister
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Tags
EconomyClimateCommunity SecurityEnergyBusiness & TradeEnvironment
Word Count: 12270
Other Contributors: 26
At a Glance
Adrian Ramsay raised concerns about global biodiversity and ecosystems: national security — [sir desmond swayne in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Ramsay called for the Government to publish the full national security assessment report, fully fund the national tree plan, expand the sustainable farming incentive, invest in natural flood management schemes, and establish a dedicated climate protection unit in the Cabinet Office to drive the necessary work. Jeremy Corbyn called for the government to address the wider issue of pollution from towns, cities, and industries, as well as the need to promote understanding and appreciation of biodiversity among urban populations. McCarthy asks the Minister who will attend COP17 and if the UK will show leadership in addressing global resilience.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Adrian Ramsay is concerned about the immediate and severe national security threats posed by climate breakdown and environmental degradation. He cited the Climate Change Committee's estimate that temperatures will rise further in the near term, with annual heat-related deaths projected to reach 10,000. He also highlighted the glacial collapse in the Himalayas and the impacts of the super El Niño on seasonal weather systems. He expressed frustration that the Government has refused to publish the full version of a landmark report by the Joint Intelligence Committee on the impact of global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse on national security. Jeremy Corbyn expressed concern about the lack of interaction between urban residents and the natural world, highlighting that many children are growing up without knowledge of basic wildlife such as the cuckoo. He also pointed out that designating parts of the ocean as marine protection zones does not address the pollution from towns, cities, and industries that enters rivers and ultimately affects the seas. Corbyn emphasised the need to increase understanding and appreciation of biodiversity among urban populations to promote sustainability. Kerry McCarthy is concerned about the real-world consequences of climate change, highlighting the destruction caused by recent heatwaves, wildfires, glacier collapse, and flooding. She mentions the national security risk assessment, which outlines risks such as physical hazards, transition risks, nature-related risks, and systemic risks. McCarthy emphasises the importance of resilience and risk management in the context of green finance and draws attention to the situation in the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau, where glacial melt affects nearly 2 billion people's water and energy security.
She agreed that climate change is a public health emergency and supported the World Health Organisation's efforts to tackle it.
Barry Gardiner
Lab
Brent North
Stressed the importance of the national security assessment report and the need for the government to make the case for how to avoid the risks outlined in the report, highlighting the benefits of achieving the global biodiversity framework targets.
He suggested that regulatory changes are needed to support farmers in adapting to climate change challenges.
Brian Mathew
Con
South Dorset
Concerned about the government's refusal to publish the national security assessment and the significant implications of climate change on national security, including the risk of perishingly cold winters and climate refugees.
She agreed that citizens must be brought up to speed on the climate change emergency and suggested the need for a televised national emergency briefing across the UK.
He inquired about the Government's plans for the third round of landscape recovery schemes, citing an example from Witney.
Chris Kane
Lab
Stirling and Strathallan
As a former journalist and member of the Public Accounts Committee, he highlighted the importance of sharing knowledge and best practice within the devolved nations of the UK. Chris Kane agreed that leadership on nature and climate starts at home and that the UK has a significant role to play in setting an example for other countries. He emphasised the importance of proper resourcing for nature recovery and climate resilience plans at all levels of government.
Danny Chambers
Con
Wycombe
Biodiversity is essential for food security, especially regarding pollinators. Flea and tick treatments available over-the-counter contain harmful chemicals banned from agricultural use, damaging ecosystems. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate is reviewing this issue.
He expressed frustration with the slow action on climate issues and highlighted the Brit Valley Project in West Dorset.
Ellie Chowns discussed recent examples of ecosystem collapse, such as glacier collapses in the Himalayas and extreme weather in the UK, and argued that these issues pose a clear national security threat. She questioned the evidence base underlying the Government's short report and called for the full report to be published. Chowns also emphasised the need to recognise ecosystems as critical national infrastructure and urged the Government to expedite the national adaptation plan in light of climate change's accelerating impact.
A record hot summer has spread bluetongue disease among animals in his constituency at record rates, causing significant damage to farming across the west country. He highlighted the alarming findings in the report regarding food insecurity.
He agreed that a clearer framework is needed for people to invest in nature and biodiversity in the UK, as outlined by the Labour rural research group.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon argues that nature security is national security and highlights the decline in monitored wildlife populations over the last 50 years. He emphasizes the importance of biodiversity for global stability and climate regulation. Shannon mentions the frontline stewardship work being done in Strangford, including nature-friendly farming practices and conservation projects to protect native species and restore peatlands. He urges the Minister to integrate nature risk into strategic defence frameworks and to support financially resilient farmers.
He agreed that protecting farmers is essential to ensure that at least 60% of food consumed in the UK is produced in the UK.
Jonathan Davies
Lab
Mid Derbyshire
He welcomed the Government's announcement of a £400 million loan to the Tropical Forest Forever Facility. Jonathan Davies welcomed positive action and the Minister's presence, and he agreed that countries with more resources can insulate citizens from the worst effects of climate breakdown. He highlighted the need for the UK to contribute to the Tropical Forest Forever Facility investment fund.
She agreed that commodities such as soya and palm oil entering the UK supply chain must not be linked to deforestation and ecosystem destruction.
Martin Wrigley
Lab
Bolsover
Highlighted concerns raised by constituents about climate change and biodiversity loss, urging the government to support sustainable farming initiatives and take urgent action to protect ecosystems.
Matt Western
Lab
Warwick and Leamington
The environmental degradation is alarming, similar to economic supply chain issues. Urges action to address environmental resilience for human resilience, especially concerning local environmental degradation like construction waste dumping.
Neil Hudson
Con
Epping Forest
Neil Hudson highlighted the importance of protecting biodiversity and ecosystems, particularly in Epping Forest, which hosts 55,000 ancient and veteran trees, 10 bat species, and over 15,000 fungal species. He expressed concern over threats such as water security, air quality, and climate change, and called for integrated planning for warm weather to ensure constituents are not left without running water in future droughts. Hudson also criticised government policies affecting farmers, including taxes and increased national insurance contributions, which he said have caused economic and cash-flow problems and job losses. He urged the Government to support farmers to adapt to climate change and increase food system resilience. Hudson also emphasised the importance of biosecurity, noting the illegal meat import crisis and the need for robust measures against diseases like bluetongue virus.
Rachael Maskell
Lab
York Central
The national emergency requires a change in political landscape, focusing on consumption and global cooperation. The planet's consumption exceeds its capacity by 1.6 planets. Urges the Government to convene colleagues for a new opportunity for geopolitical stability and to adhere to the Paris climate commitments.
Asked Barry Gardiner about the risks and limits of a securitisation framing of nature and biodiversity, questioning if the issue is a people's emergency or a national emergency.
The national security assessment lacks accountability and funding. The annual value of ecosystem services to the UK is £87 billion, yet public biodiversity spending is minimal. Requests the Government to assign ownership to the risk, publish a cross-Government action plan, and reconsider the publication of the full assessment.
Rupa Huq
Lab
Ealing Central and Acton
Biodiversity loss in her constituency is exacerbated by Thames Water dumping sewage into the River Brent. She welcomed the clean water Bill and expressed the need for greater assurance that ravaged ecosystems will be restored.
Samantha Dixon noted that the UK has the lowest remaining levels of biodiversity among G7 nations and highlighted the role of world-leading zoos and conservation organisations in combating biodiversity loss. She mentioned Chester Zoo's programme to reintroduce critically endangered Bermuda land snails and called on the Minister to support the conservation sector, which is vital for the UK's long-term security and climate resilience.
Sarah Dyke
LD
Glastonbury and Somerton
Sarah Dyke highlighted the collapse of interconnected natural systems, the impact of budget cuts on farming, and the need for investment in environmental land management. She also discussed the importance of nature-based solutions for water management and flood resilience, and questioned the Government's approach to peatland restoration and habitat destruction. She called for strategic spatial planning and the closing of loopholes in the biodiversity net gain system.
Toby Perkins
Lab
Chesterfield
Toby Perkins highlighted the national security implications of global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, citing Government intelligence warnings. He urged the Government to reconsider cuts to international climate finance and aid, given the direct link between environmental degradation overseas and national security risks in the UK. Perkins asked the Minister for specific actions taken since the assessment was completed, welcomed the Government's investment in the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, and inquired about the timeline for the fourth national adaptation programme.
Government Response
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter
Government Response
I congratulate my constituency neighbour, the hon. Member for Waveney Valley (Adrian Ramsay) on securing this incredibly important debate. I also thank hon. Members for their powerful and thoughtful contributions. I am very aware that many did not get the time to make the contributions that they would have liked to make. In the interests of time, I will not be taking interventions, but I am more than happy for Members to write to me after the debate and I will get back to them in writing. Publishing the assessment was clearly vital, so that Parliament, the public and our international partners can see its core findings. Those findings are clear: biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation pose a real risk to security, resilience and prosperity. I have long said that net zero and nature are two sides of the same coin when it comes to tackling climate change. The assessment highlights the critical role that nature plays in our ability to tackle the climate crisis. Nearly 40% of our food is imported, and for as long as we continue to enjoy bananas, rice, kiwis and avocados, we will never realistically be able to rely on domestic food production alone. The World Economic Forum's "Global Risks Report 2026" identified extreme weather as the most severe global risk over the next decade, with environmental risks accounting for five of the 10 highest-ranked long-term risks. The nature security assessment suggests that domestic nature-related risk could reduce UK GDP by around 6% by the 2030s, with a further 6% reduction arising from international risks transmitted through global supply chains in some scenarios. Our assessment is the first published national security assessment of its kind in the world. After we published it, the UK's presentations at the OECD resulted in several global partners using our approach to understand and consider how ecosystem-related risks affect their own resilience and national security. Later this month, the Foreign Secretary will bring Foreign Ministers together at the United Nations to discuss how to respond to climate and nature security threats. The assessment will provide an important evidence base for those conversations. We have launched the first ever taskforce on the national security and resilience risks of a changing climate and nature loss, bringing together leading security, military and academic experts to help us to identify and prioritise risks, strengthen cross-Government co-ordination and turn evidence into practical action. We have commissioned a three-year nature security research and development programme to improve indicators, early warning capability and analytical tools. That will help the Government to identify emerging risks earlier, stress-test resilience and take preventive action before disruption escalates. We are investing more than £2.7 billion a year in farming and nature recovery, supporting resilient domestic food production, healthier soils, pollinators and nature-friendly farming. Climate markets and green finance were mentioned by several hon. Members during the debate. The UK's international climate finance strategy places nature at its core, investing in the protection and restoration of forests, oceans, freshwater and other critical ecosystems that support global stability. Today the Government have announced that they intend to invest £400 million in the Tropical Forest Forever facility. The TFFF represents a critical evolution in forest finance, providing long-term support for tropical forest protection. Investing in forests is one of the most effective ways to tackle the climate and nature crisis and to support UK growth and security. We are taking those findings seriously. There is no single Department that can address them alone, and that is why we are working across Government to ensure a co-ordinated response. These are global challenges, but they are being felt close to home. The recent wildfire at Dunwich Heath in Suffolk was in my constituency, and it was a stark reminder to me that the environmental risks are no longer distant or abstract, and that we must build resilience here in the UK as well as overseas. We have restored nearly 23,000 hectares of peatland since 2020 to store carbon. That work plays a vital role not just in managing and restoring nature but in helping to tackle the threat of wildfires. Such work, which is in addition to supporting farmers through nature-friendly farming schemes and delivering our environmental improvement plans, means we are taking practical action at home alongside our international efforts abroad.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Summary accuracy
About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.