Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 28
Sixth Report - The UK and the Arctic Environment
Published 13 Oct 2023
Paragraph 196
Environmental Audit Committee All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
We understand that the station is typically open from March to September, in line with demand from researchers. On our visit to Svalbard we also heard that the Arctic ecosystems are more active over winter than scientists have previously thought, requiring more active and regular monitoring. The UK has the opportunity to enhance the international scientific community’s understanding of Arctic winters, and their role in environmental change, by conducting more research in Ny- Ålesund over the winter. We recommend that the station is given enhanced support by NERC to enable it to open for a longer period during the year and that researchers be encouraged to use the station during winter. NERC should give consideration to maintaining a year-round operational presence in the station.
From: Environmental Audit Committee, Sixth Report - The UK and the Arctic Environment (HC 1141), paragraph 196, 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.