Wednesday 8 July 2026,
14.30, Committee Room 8, Palace of Westminster
On Wednesday the Environmental Audit Committee will question
Minister for Nature, MP, on the
consequences of global biodiversity loss on the UK's national
security.
In January, the government published a 14-page National Security
Assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem
collapse and national security. The document warns that global
ecosystem degradation and collapse threaten UK national security
and prosperity and could lead to instability, conflict, migration
and greater competition between states for resources.
Some media outlets claim to have seen a full unpublished version
warning of mass migration to the UK and escalating nuclear
tensions, but the government has so far not confirmed that this
document exists, despite several requests from the committee.
MPs are likely to ask the Minister what the government is doing
to collaborate across government and internationally to deal with
the risks of biodiversity loss, such as rainforest collapse, for
UK national security.
They are also likely to ask how cuts to aid funding will impact
the government's ability to respond, and how the assessment is
informing the UK's approach to the COP17 biodiversity conference
in October.
Witnesses
Panel one, from 14.30:
-
CBE MP,
Minister for Nature, DEFRA
- Sally Randall, Director General, Environment, DEFRA
- Andrea Ledward CBE, Director, International Biodiversity and
Climate, DEFRA
- Ros Eales, Director, Energy and Climate Directorate, FCDO
