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That this House recognises the commitment of the Vida Healthcare team to raising money for Saint Michael’s Hospice; acknowledges the importance of their trek in raising vital funds for the Hospice, which provides specialist care and support to people affected by terminal illness; celebrates the dedication of the team in undertaking a six-day trek across the Sahara Desert in support of their local community; and wishes them every success on their journey.
That this House recognises the commitment of the Vida Healthcare team to raising money for Saint Michael’s Hospice; acknowledges the importance of their trek in raising vital funds for the Hospice, which provides specialist care and support to people affected by terminal illness; celebrates the dedication of the team in...
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact global deforestation and desertification on the UK’s national food security, supply chains and food prices.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact global deforestation and desertification on the UK’s national food security, supply chains and food prices.
The UK imports 40% of its food and is therefore exposed to supply chain risks such as deforestation and desertification via food security and price impacts associated with food imports.
Defra routinely conducts and updates assessments on a range of threats. HMG pub-lishes assessments in the National Risk Register and Chronic Risks Analysis, includ-ing on biodiversity loss and its interactions with ecosystems, on gov.uk.
The Government is committed to supporting sustainable production, trade and use of deforestation linked products. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee, sponsored by Defra, have created the Global Environmental Impacts of Consumption indicator, an indicator which includes analysis of the impact of forest risk commodities in global supply chains. The indicator estimates that UK consumption drove 29,300 hectares of deforestation in 2023.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of progress made towards tackling desertification at the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of progress made towards tackling desertification at the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification.
COP16 was the biggest and most inclusive Desertification COP to date. It marked a significant milestone, raising global ambition and mobilising finance to strengthen drought resilience, restore degraded land and combat desertification: issues critically interlinked with the UK's international development, climate and nature goals. We welcome the leadership the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia COP16 Presidency has shown in elevating these critical issues. Many important outcomes were achieved at UNCCD COP16, including over $12 billion announced to support UNCCD issues over the next decade, and the launch of the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership to scale support for vulnerable countries. There is further to go, including reaching an agreed global approach on drought resilience, that drives ambition, progress and delivery.
The UK is committed to supporting vulnerable countries to build resilience and scale action on drought, desertification, water security, and land degradation. Our £11.6 billion International Climate Finance commitment includes £1.5 billion for adaptation in 2025 - a tripling from 2019 levels. This includes an initial investment in the Resilience and Adaptation Fund, which will help hundreds of thousands of vulnerable families across the world secure better access to food, water and productive land.
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Algeria following reports of the expulsion of more than 60 Syrian and Palestinian refugees from Algeria into a desert region of Niger.
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Algeria following reports of the expulsion of more than 60 Syrian and Palestinian refugees from Algeria into a desert region of Niger.
We are aware of reports regarding the deportation of refugees of multiple nationalities to Niger by the Algerian authorities. We hold regular discussions with the Algerian Government on human rights, judicial, and home affairs issues.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Great Green Wall initiative in tackling desertification.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Great Green Wall initiative in tackling desertification.
Desertification is one of the most significant global environmental challenges facing some of the world's poorest communities. It has devastating impacts on lives and livelihoods.
With regards to the Great Green Wall (GGW), the FCDO supports the initiative through multilateral funds: the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). In 2020, an independent evaluation found that only 4 per cent of the 100 million hectare goal for restoration had been achieved in the core GGW geographical implementation area. When considering lands restored in the wider GGW region, the figure was 18 million hectares. Countries reported a range of challenges to implementation, including leveraging investment, technical capacity and governance.
Through the GCF and GEF, the UK is supporting countries, donors and other partners to address these challenges. Between 2018 and 2022, the GEF endorsed US$147.8 million of projects that advance the GGW objectives. The UK pledged £250 million to GEF over this period. Over the same period, the GCF spent US$89.9 million on projects supporting GGW countries. The UK contributed £720 million to GCF for 2015-19 and has committed £1.44 billion for 2020-2023.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to commission research into the capacity of the world's deserts to accommodate toxic wastes and non-recyclable plastics.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to commission research into the capacity of the world's deserts to accommodate toxic wastes and non-recyclable plastics.
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
I attended the EU Environment Council in Luxembourg on 13 October. Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, also attended.
I wish to update the House on the matters discussed.
The Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) and Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry Regulation (LULUCF)
The Effort...
I attended the EU Environment Council in Luxembourg on 13 October. Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, also attended.
I wish to update the House on the matters discussed.
The Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) and Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry Regulation (LULUCF)
The Effort...
My Hon Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment (Thérèse Coffey MP) has today made the following statement:
I attended the EU Environment Council in Luxembourg on 13 October. Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, also attended.
I wish to update the House...
My Hon Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment (Thérèse Coffey MP) has today made the following statement:
I attended the EU Environment Council in Luxembourg on 13 October. Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, also attended.
I wish to update the House...
I will attend the EU Environment Council, which will take place on 13th October in Luxembourg.
Following adoption of the agenda, the list of “A” items will be approved.
Under legislative proposals, the Council will debate two proposals with the aim to get an agreement in the Council of Ministers:
- A Regulation of...
I will attend the EU Environment Council, which will take place on 13th October in Luxembourg.
Following adoption of the agenda, the list of “A” items will be approved.
Under legislative proposals, the Council will debate two proposals with the aim to get an agreement in the Council of Ministers:
- A Regulation of...
My honourable friend the Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry (Claire Perry) has made the following written ministerial statement:
I will attend the EU Environment Council, which will take place on 13th October in Luxembourg.
Following adoption of the agenda, the list of “A” items will be approved.
Under legislative proposals,...
My honourable friend the Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry (Claire Perry) has made the following written ministerial statement:
I will attend the EU Environment Council, which will take place on 13th October in Luxembourg.
Following adoption of the agenda, the list of “A” items will be approved.
Under legislative proposals,...
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she has had discussions with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on the potential role of that organisation in advising the UN and other institutions on desertification.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether she has had discussions with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on the potential role of that organisation in advising the UN and other institutions on desertification.
The UK Government maintains a close dialogue with the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew on tackling international environmental and conservation issues, with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) leading HMG’s relationship with Kew. As a world leading organisation and a holder of the Red List for Plant species, Kew Gardens is already providing valuable information which supports action on desertification, including work by the UN in relation to the Global Goal indicators. Kew Gardens has received funding from the UK government’s Darwin Initiative to improve understanding of the link between conservation and poverty alleviation.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department is offering advice to African countries on desertification.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department is offering advice to African countries on desertification.
DFID supports the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) which has had a strong impact on raising awareness of land degradation in Africa. The UK will hold the EU Presidency during the next UNCCD Conference of Parties and will champion the achievement of the land degradation targets agreed within the 2015 Global Goals.
DFID supports countries on desertification through our forestry and resilience work. For example the Building Resilience and Adaptation to Climate Extremes and Disasters (BRACED) programme works with farmers in the Sahel on better natural resource management and regeneration. DFID also provides support to the Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration, through the International Forestry Knowledge programme (KNOWFOR), to help operationalise the ambitious targets of the Bonn Challenge. KNOWFOR helps countries assess the potential for restoration in their countries, developing tools and carrying out a range of analyses to support decision making, planning and attracting financing. 11 countries in Africa have so far pledged restoration targets (including Niger, Rwanda, Uganda, DRC and Ethiopia); the demand is growing as countries see the potential adaptation as well as mitigation benefits of restoring degraded land.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he is taking in working with EU partners to encourage the development of concentrated solar power in the desert regions of North Africa as part of plans to meet the 15 per cent interconnections target for Europe.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he is taking in working with EU partners to encourage the development of concentrated solar power in the desert regions of North Africa as part of plans to meet the 15 per cent interconnections target for Europe.
The UK fully supports EU efforts to bring about further energy interconnection, both within the EU and linking the EU with third countries, in order to meet energy security and low carbon objectives. Developing concentrated solar power (CSP) in North Africa is potentially a part of these efforts among many others, although more research and development is required to demonstrate further improvements in CSP technology. The UK fully supports EU work in this area, such as in the Horizon 2020 Energy Programme.
Geographical and cost factors mean that CSP development in North Africa is not currently of direct interest to the UK.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will help to set up systems, for example using satellites or drones, in order to prevent migrants attempting to cross the Sahara from dying from heat and thirst.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will help to set up systems, for example using satellites or drones, in order to prevent migrants attempting to cross the Sahara from dying from heat and thirst.
DFID is working in Africa to improve the conditions for the poorest people and to address overall stability and security. DFID monitors the numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Sahel region as part of routine humanitarian surveillance but does not specifically monitor routes followed by irregular migrants. There are no plans to set up such monitoring systems. Similarly DFID provides humanitarian support across the Sahel region to refugees and IDPs, with £12m to UNHCR for refugee support and £17.5m through ICRC in support of conflict affected people provided across the region since January 2013. DFID Ethiopia also is providing £0.5m support to Eritrean refugees. This includes sensitisation messages on the difficulties of legal and illegal migration, and support for unaccompanied children who need special protection.
My Lords, I join in thanking the noble Baroness, Lady Tonge, for introducing this short debate. It is right and proper that we recognise the social and economic progress made by Botswana since independence. Botswana has become one of the world’s largest producers of diamonds but, around the world, an abundance of...
My Lords, I join in thanking the noble Baroness, Lady Tonge, for introducing this short debate. It is right and proper that we recognise the social and economic progress made by Botswana since independence. Botswana has become one of the world’s largest producers of diamonds but, around the world, an abundance of...
My Lords, since independence, the Government of Botswana have made a determined effort to raise education and skill levels and to bring added and diversified value to the economy. Unusually among African states, the Government offer 10 years’ free education to all children. Remarkably, enrolment rates in primary and junior secondary schools...
My Lords, since independence, the Government of Botswana have made a determined effort to raise education and skill levels and to bring added and diversified value to the economy. Unusually among African states, the Government offer 10 years’ free education to all children. Remarkably, enrolment rates in primary and junior secondary schools...
My Lords, I shall go back to the basic research to ascertain the facts for certain—but the figure is big enough. Debswana, the diamond mining joint venture between the Government of Botswana and De Beers, is a key player in the national economy, realising about 80 per cent of the country’s export...
My Lords, I shall go back to the basic research to ascertain the facts for certain—but the figure is big enough. Debswana, the diamond mining joint venture between the Government of Botswana and De Beers, is a key player in the national economy, realising about 80 per cent of the country’s export...
My Lords, I join other noble Lords in thanking the noble Baroness, Lady Tonge, for initiating this debate, and I thank all noble Lords who have participated. I share with her and the noble Lord, Lord Astor of Hever, the view that Botswana is plainly a fascinating country. At independence in 1966, it was one of...
My Lords, I join other noble Lords in thanking the noble Baroness, Lady Tonge, for initiating this debate, and I thank all noble Lords who have participated. I share with her and the noble Lord, Lord Astor of Hever, the view that Botswana is plainly a fascinating country. At independence in 1966, it was one of...
My Lords, I also congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Tonge, on securing this debate. Botswana is a beautiful country and close to my heart. I have travelled to it on many occasions, experiencing the warmth, determination and generosity of its people. As other noble Lords have highlighted, since independence in 1966, Botswana has gone...
My Lords, I also congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Tonge, on securing this debate. Botswana is a beautiful country and close to my heart. I have travelled to it on many occasions, experiencing the warmth, determination and generosity of its people. As other noble Lords have highlighted, since independence in 1966, Botswana has gone...
My Lords, when I went up to Balliol 61 years ago, my greatest friend there was Seretse Khama, as my noble friend Lord Jones has reminded me. He used to say that when he became chief he would invite me to stay with him. Some 20 years later, when the CPA proposed to send only...
My Lords, when I went up to Balliol 61 years ago, my greatest friend there was Seretse Khama, as my noble friend Lord Jones has reminded me. He used to say that when he became chief he would invite me to stay with him. Some 20 years later, when the CPA proposed to send only...