Following Environmental Audit Committee calls, a Ministerial
group for the Arctic will be established to discuss and
coordinate priorities in the region.
Government Response: The UK and the Arctic
Environment
In its report, the Committee raised concern that Arctic matters
were not being met with enthusiasm at the heart of Government.
Ministers from four Government departments oversee aspects of
Arctic policy, and at the time of evidence gathering, were yet to
meet to discuss priorities in the region. The Committee therefore
warmly welcomes that a Ministerial group will be established to
boost coordination of Government policy.
The Government ‘partially’ accepted the Committee’s
recommendation to strengthen emissions targets to limit global
temperature rises by 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.
It is unclear why this was only partially accepted, although the
Government makes clear in its response that a key priority of the
UK at COP28 was to “deliver an outcome that puts the world on
track to keep temperature rise below 1.5°C”.
Explicit commitments to boost funding or research of Arctic
issues is not forthcoming in the response. However, the Committee
welcomes the assertion that the Arctic is already a priority for
the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and understands
that a number of factors must determine funding arrangements. In
its report, the Committee recommended that the NERC Arctic
Research Station in Ny-Ålesund be open for longer throughout the
year to support further research. In response, the Government
states that a review of the station will be carried out next year
which will look closely at service provision and developing the
Station’s impact.
The Government rejected a number of the Committee’s
recommendations, including appointing an Envoy to the Arctic. It
also rejected the Committee’s calls for the RRS Sir David
Attenborough to voyage to the North Pole, and for an additional
ship to support Arctic research. The Government believes that its
current provision of ships to the Arctic is sufficiently
supporting work in the Arctic, and points to there being
opportunities to collaborate with other countries with research
vessels in the region.
The Government recognises that the Arctic is home to four million
people, and in the event of new commercial opportunities, gives
assurances that increasing access to the region and its resources
is managed safely, sustainably and responsibly. On deep sea
mining, the Government states that it is not sponsoring or
supporting any exploitation licences unless and until there is
sufficient scientific evidence to demonstrate the impacts on
marine ecosystems.
Environmental Audit Sub-Committee on Polar Research
Chair, , said:
“The Committee’s report raised concern that Arctic
matters were not being taken as seriously and urgently as they
should in Whitehall. We were surprised that despite Arctic policy
spanning multiple departments, the responsible Ministers had not
met. It’s therefore very welcome news that a Ministerial group
will now be formed following the Committee’s
intervention.
“While the Committee is disappointed that more of our
recommendations are not being taken forward at the present time,
we welcome the assertion that the Arctic is a priority for NERC
and that a review into its research
station in Ny-Ålesund is being carried out
next year. When the Committee visited the station earlier in the
year, we were impressed with the work being carried out and saw
the potential for further such work during the polar winter. We
look forward to hearing the outcome of its review in due
course.”