Select Committee · Environmental Audit Committee

The UK and the Antarctic environment [revived]

Status: Open Opened: 5 Dec 2024 34 recommendations 40 conclusions 1 report

The Environmental Audit Committee in the 2024 Parliament has revived the Environmental Audit Sub-Committee on Polar Research's inquiry into The UK and the Antarctic Environment . In this revived inquiry the Committee will explore the effects of climate change in Antarctica, and the role that UK science can play in understanding and protecting the region …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
3rd Report - The UK and the Antarctic environment HC 499 9 Jun 2025 74 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

1 item
30 Recommendation 3rd Report - The UK and the Antarctic e… Deferred

Strengthen UK Antarctic Strategy to prioritise ASPAs, emperor penguins, and plastic pollution mitigation.

This should be reflected in the UK Antarctic Strategy with particular regard to: • Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs): The Government should continue to advocate for a representative and well-connected network of ASPAs, underpinned by the latest ecological and climate science, and should support efforts to streamline and strengthen the …

Government response. The Government intends to publish an Antarctic strategy before the end of the year and will take the Committee’s report and recommendations into consideration when producing the strategy.

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
11 Dec 2024 Dr Iain Williams · Natural Environment Research Council, James Gray · Environmental Audit Sub-Committee on Polar Research (2023–24), Jane Rumble OBE · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Professor Dame Jane Francis DCMG · British Antarctic Survey, Stephen Doughty MP · Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, The Lord Vallance of Balham KCB · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology View ↗

Correspondence

4 letters
DateDirectionTitle
11 Sep 2025 To cttee Letter from the FCDO Minister of State for Europe, North America and UK Oversea…
23 Jan 2025 To cttee Letter from the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territ…
23 Jan 2025 To cttee Letter from the Chair of the Committee to the Minister of State for Europe, Nor…
23 Jan 2025 To cttee Letter from the Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation (Departm…