Select committee: Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 51
Sixth Report - The UK and the Arctic Environment
Published 13 Oct 2023
Paragraph 313
Environmental Audit Committee All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
Changes to the Arctic as a result of warming temperatures will allow more access to resources such as oil, gas and minerals. The potential for expansion of these industries must only be pursued in ways that are consistent with the Paris Agreement commitment to reduce carbon emissions. The risks to the climate and environment from mining in the Arctic, especially extractive industries, is significant, as many industries contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and habitat destruction. We welcome the Government’s commitment not to sponsor or support the issuing of any exploitation licences for deep-sea mining projects until there is further evidence about the potential impact and enforceable regulations are in place. However, the Government must go further and commit to a precautionary pause for deep sea mining which would be directly analogous to the precautionary pause in fishing in the Central Arctic Ocean.
From: Environmental Audit Committee, Sixth Report - The UK and the Arctic Environment (HC 1141), paragraph 313, 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.