Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee
Conclusion 16
Sixth Report - The UK and the Arctic Environment
Published 13 Oct 2023
Paragraph 134
Environmental Audit Committee All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has fundamentally undermined the role of the Arctic Council as an intergovernmental forum on cooperation in the Arctic. While our witnesses were clear that the Arctic Council had historically been the most suitable forum for promoting cooperation in the Arctic, the geopolitical balance at the Arctic Council has been disrupted by Russia’s egregious war in Ukraine. We have very substantial concerns about whether the Arctic Council, without Russia, can ever in the foreseeable future fulfil its former role.
From: Environmental Audit Committee, Sixth Report - The UK and the Arctic Environment (HC 1141), paragraph 134, 13 October 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 28 December 2023 (deadline 13 December 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government's response agrees with some recommendations, partially agrees with others, and disagrees with the proposals for an Arctic Envoy, an additional research ship, a dedicated coordinating body and a national Arctic research plan.
- On ministerial coordination, the government agrees and says it is "looking to build on this by establishing a Ministerial group" of Ministers whose portfolios concern the Arctic, which "would meet periodically".
- It disagrees with appointing an Arctic Envoy, saying responsibility "best sits with" the Minister for the Polar Regions in the FCDO, and disagrees with a strategic national Arctic research plan because it "would not add significant value".
- On research ships, it disagrees with an additional vessel, stating that total research time available for Arctic work in any given year is "likely to be 45–50 days" for the RRS Sir David Attenborough, and points to other NOC ships and partnerships with other countries.
- On fisheries, it agrees and is "committed to joining CAOFA at the earliest possible opportunity". On deep-sea mining it partially agrees, supporting a moratorium on exploitation licences at the ISA.