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1131901

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Climate Change
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 17 April (HL15076), whether they will publish any advice they have received about solar radiation management (SRM) technologies having clear winners and losers; whether they will publish the reasons for their decision to cease research into SRM technologies; whether they intend to review that decision; and if so, when.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
	uin	HL16319
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2019 answer text <p>Research into Solar Radiation Management (SRM) technologies was commissioned by the Department of Energy and Climate Change and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals; references are given in our published position statement, attached.</p><p> </p><p>We did not commission further research because the next logical step was to do similar studies with different climate models run by institutions in other countries. This has been taken forward by the World Climate Research Programme’s Geoengineering Model Intercomparison Project (GeoMIP), which has served to coordinate SRM simulations across international modelling groups. Results from this project indicate that there are still large uncertainties in the effectiveness of SRM and its potential wider impacts on the environment. This work is ongoing and the Government maintains an interest in its outputs.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 18/06/2019 16:43:18 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley attachment 1 file name SRM position statement_attachment.docx title SRM technologies statement
	tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

1131902

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Climate Change
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 17 April (HL15077), why they do not have any plans to increase global cooperation and governance of research on, and the use of, solar radiation management technologies; and what assessment, if any, they have made of the risk of that lack of plans leading to unilateral deployment without international consent
	tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
	uin	HL16320
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2019 answer text <p>The priority of the UK Government is to tackle the root cause of climate change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities and adapting to those impacts that are unavoidable. We are aware of independent existing efforts to increase cooperation and governance of research into solar radiation management technologies, such as the Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative and the ‘Oxford Principles’ for the governance of geoengineering. We have not formally assessed the risk that lack of plans may lead to unilateral deployment without international consent.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 26/06/2019 12:03:46 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
	tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

1182924

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2020
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Climate Change
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the Gulf Stream is slowing; and whether any such slowing is having an effect on (1) the UK's climate, and (2) any increase in extreme weather events, including flooding.
	tabling member printed	Lord Truscott
	uin	HL2247
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2020 answer text <p>The Gulf Stream is a small part of a large, global-scale ocean ‘conveyor belt’ of circulation, driven by winds and by differences in temperature and salinity, known as the ‘Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation’ (AMOC). The AMOC has been measured since 2004 by an international observation system called RAPID, in which the UK plays a leading role. These measurements have shown a slowing over the last decade, however much of this may be from natural variability.</p><p> </p><p>A recent assessment by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published in the Special Report on Oceans and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, found some evidence to indicate the AMOC has already weakened relative to the pre-industrial period (1850 – 1900), and finds it very likely that the AMOC will continue weakening over the rest of the 21<sup>st</sup> Century.</p><p> </p><p>A large slowing of the AMOC would be expected to cause more winter storms over northern Europe, a decrease in marine biological productivity in the North Atlantic and changes in sea level. These effects would be superimposed on the effects of climate warming due to greenhouse gases, and they are included in the climate model projections used by the IPCC. At this stage we do not have evidence that the observed weakening of the AMOC has had a detectable impact on the UK climate.</p><p> </p><p>The second Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) published in 2017 identifies risks to flooding and coastal change as one of the UK’s top six risks from climate change. The second National Adaptation Programme (NAP) published in 2018, sets out a plan of actions across Government to address these risks (amongst others identified in the CCRA) over the following 5 years. In addition, updated UK Climate Projections (UKCP18) are a key tool to help the Government, businesses and the public understand the future climate and enable them to make climate-resilient decisions.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 17/03/2020 17:55:06 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3682 label Biography information for Lord Truscott

1279810

	registered interest
	date	25/01/2021
	answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept id	208
	answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
	hansard heading	Climate Change
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to urge G7 countries (1) to spread awareness of, and (2) to increase technical assistance regarding, new ways of addressing climate change, including trade in environmental goods and investment in green technologies.
	tabling member printed	The Earl of Sandwich
	uin	HL12553
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2021 answer text <p>On 17 January, the Prime Minister launched the UK's G7 Presidency in 2021. We are in consultation with our G7 partners on plans for coordinating our objectives and work on climate change issues. We are committed to placing climate and nature at the heart of the multilateral agenda, and plan to mainstream climate and environmental policy across the G7. This will include supporting the transition to a low carbon economy through increased investment and cooperation in green technologies; as well as looking at ways to enhance and promote sustainable trade as we seek to join forces to protect the planet. The UK has itself taken an important first step towards more sustainable trade by lowering tariffs on environmental goods under the UK Global Tariff. The Foreign Secretary regularly speaks with G7 countries as part of his overall engagement on climate issues, including most recently Japan and the US.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 08/02/2021 17:37:00 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	2109 label Biography information for The Earl of Sandwich

1289375

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2021
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Climate Change
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the findings which informed the Environment Agency’s “reasonable worst case scenario for climate", referred to by the Agency's Chief Executive Sir James Bevan on 23 February.
	tabling member printed	Lord Lilley
	uin	HL13678
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2021 answer text <p>Sir James Bevan’s speech was underpinned by published evidence from a variety of national and international reports that includes the UK Climate Projections 2018 announced by the Secretary of State for Defra in November 2018. The Environment Agency has recently published research showing an upward trend in extreme floods at two-thirds of their river level monitoring stations and that this trend is 90% certain at over a fifth of locations.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 10/03/2021 16:02:43 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	68 label Biography information for Lord Lilley

1342645

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2021
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Climate Change
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the UK is prepared for sustained periods of unusually high temperatures.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL1614
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2021 answer text <p>Adapting to current and predicted changes to our climate is vital across the economy, including preparing for extremes. There are a range of activities we are taking across government to manage and prepare for the impacts of high temperatures, including in the health and built environment sectors. These include adapting our health systems to protect people against the impacts of overheating, such as ensuring all clinical areas in NHS Trusts have appropriate thermal monitoring.</p><p> </p><p>The Heatwave Plan for England aims to protect public health from heat-related harms and is supported by the Heat-Health Alert Early Warning System. This is run by Public Health England (PHE) in collaboration with the Met Office. These form part of the Heatwave and Summer preparedness programme, led by PHE, which became operational on 1 June 2021. Heat-Health Alerts are cascaded through the health and care system, including National Health Service providers and commissioners, social care and local government.</p><p> </p><p>The Extreme Heat National Severe Weather Warning Service (NSWWS) was also launched on 1 June 2021 to warn the public and emergency responders whenever a severe or prolonged hot weather episode is forecast.</p><p> </p><p>Overheating in buildings has been highlighted as a key risk for the health and productivity of people in the United Kingdom. Through the Future Buildings Standard consultation, the Government, led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, has proposed a new overheating mitigation requirement to reduce the risk of overheating in new residential buildings. The Future Buildings Standard consultation was launched on 19 January 2021 and closed on 13 April 2021. We plan to regulate later this year.</p><p> </p><p>Defra, its agencies and partners are also preparing for the impacts of climate change on the natural environment, including from high temperatures. For example, Natural England and the RSPB’s updated Adaptation Manual (2020) addresses issues associated with high temperatures for freshwater species and habitats, and the role of riparian trees in keeping rivers cool.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 14/07/2021 12:49:46 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

1351740

	registered interest
	date	18/08/2021
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Climate Change
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations of the Climate Change Committee in its report Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk, published on 16 June, which highlighted a growing gap between the level of climate change risk the UK faces and the level of adaptation underway; and what steps they are taking (1) to increase UK biodiversity, and (2) to ensure the restoration and protection of wildlife habitats.
	tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
	uin	HL2370
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2021 answer text <p>The Climate Change Committee's (CCC) Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk presented a detailed and up to date insight into the growing risks and opportunities to the UK from climate change. It will help inform greater ambition and action on enhancing resilience and inform the third Climate Change Risk Assessment Government Report, which we will lay in Parliament in January 2022. This report will state our position relative to the CCC's evidence and advice and set out a forward look for adaptation in the UK, including to the third National Adaptation Programme.   We welcome the evidence the CCC has presented and recognise the need to go further in preparing for the impacts of climate change.</p><p>Domestic biodiversity policy is devolved in the UK, and this response refers to action in England. Our 25 Year Environment Plan marked a step-change in ambition for biodiversity and the natural environment and we are already taking action to fulfil this ambition.</p><p>We have committed to protect 30% of our land and sea by 2030, and will be extending protections on land and piloting Highly Protected Marine Areas in English waters to boost biodiversity recovery. Since 2010 we have already established over 100 new marine protected sites. We have also brought forward the first Environment Bill in over 20 years with ambitious measures to address the biggest environmental priorities of our age, including restoring and enhancing nature. The Bill requires a new, historic legally binding target to be set to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030. This will help us to deliver our commitment to leave the environment in a better state for future generations.</p><p>Furthermore, we are investing in nature restoration and in nature-based solutions to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change and to support new green jobs, for example through our £640 million Nature for Climate and £80 million Green Recovery Challenge funds.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 02/09/2021 15:30:59 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1353646

	registered interest
	date	07/09/2021
	answering body	COP26
	answering dept id	210
	answering dept short name	COP26
	answering dept sort name	COP26
	hansard heading	Climate Change
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that sufficient progress is made on strengthening climate adaptation and resilience ahead of COP26.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
	uin	HL2512
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2021 answer text <p>Driving progress to support vulnerable communities and ecosystems, adapt to climate impacts and build resilience to long term risks is a top priority for the UK’s COP26 Presidency. We are working with countries, civil society, businesses and local communities to deliver effective, inclusive adaptation action and to harness the vital power of nature in minimising climate risk.</p><p>We are focussed on improving preparedness for climate-related disasters, through a focus on enhanced early warning and early action systems; and supporting national adaptation planning - including a push for countries to publish an Adaptation Communication ahead of COP26 to outline current progress and needs. We are working to mobilise and advance adaptation action across all scales, through parties and non-state actors - including increased support to enable further locally-led adaptation. We are also working to increase the availability, efficiency and accessibility of adaptation and disaster risk finance from public and private sources - including through the Taskforce on Access to finance that was launched by the UK and Fiji at the Climate and Development Ministerial earlier this year.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 04/10/2021 13:21:13 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1353647

	registered interest
	date	07/09/2021
	answering body	COP26
	answering dept id	210
	answering dept short name	COP26
	answering dept sort name	COP26
	hansard heading	Climate Change
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to mobilise public and private climate finance ahead of COP26.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick
	uin	HL2513
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2021 answer text <p>The UK Presidency is pushing developed countries to significantly increase their financial commitments for mitigation, adaptation and nature for developing countries and to align global financial flows with the Paris Agreement. This includes setting out a $100 billion delivery plan to be taken forward by Canada and Germany to demonstrate how developed countries are mobilising $100 billion a year.</p><p>Public finance will work in tandem with private finance and be used to mobilise far greater sums of private finance. The UK Presidency is working with other donors and multilateral development banks in collaboration with governments, to promote and support a range of targeted initiatives that tackle barriers to and promote investment into developing countries; such as supporting new market structures, improving policy environments, de-risking investments and creating incentives for deal flow. In April 2021 we founded GFANZ, the Glasgow Finance Alliance for Net Zero which accelerates the implementation of net zero commitments and mobilises capital to climate solutions. There are currently over 250 member firms from over 30 countries, representing assets of more than US$88 trillion.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 01/10/2021 09:32:45 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4130 label Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick

1464284

	registered interest
	date	18/05/2022
	answering body	COP26
	answering dept id	210
	answering dept short name	COP26
	answering dept sort name	COP26
	hansard heading	Climate Change
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of international efforts so far to deliver the Glasgow Climate Pact.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
	uin	HL344
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/05/2022 answer text <p>Delivery of the Glasgow Climate Pact is the top priority for the UK Presidency. Six months on from COP26, the UK and Egypt recently convened Ministers in Copenhagen to discuss progress and heard strong commitment to deliver. We reiterated the need for all countries to revisit and strengthen their NDCs as necessary, for donors to deliver on the $100bn goal and the commitment to double adaptation finance by 2025, and for increased support for Loss and Damage.</p><p>Since COP26, and following the call in the Glasgow Climate Pact, 5 Parties have submitted Long-Term Strategies and 11 have submitted updates to NDC. A further eight National Adaptation Plans have been published, meaning 2 billion people are now covered by adaptation plans globally. We recently held the 5th Energy Transition Council Meeting where countries reinforced their commitment to implement tailored solutions to decarbonise the power sector more rapidly. Since COP26, 20 new signatories including Greece have joined the Zero Emission Vehicles Declaration, and four new countries have declared their support for the Agriculture Breakthrough.</p><p>We will continue to provide strong UK leadership and engagement over our Presidency year to make sure promises are kept and delivered to the highest standards, working with all parties and civil society partners to keep momentum high.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 30/05/2022 15:24:47 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4297 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb