Baroness Boycott
Main Page: Baroness Boycott (Crossbench - Life peer)
Lord Lemos (Lab)
I thank the noble Baroness for raising the Tropical Forest Forever Facility; it is a very important part of the direction of travel on this subject and we welcome Brazil’s leadership on global forest finance, climate and nature, particularly in the lead-up to COP 30. We do need to find new ways to leverage private sector investment, as I think we all agree, into forest protection, and bold new ideas such as the Tropical Forest Forever Facility are really exciting and show great promise in the eyes of the Government and others. We are working with Brazil and other partners on the design and feasibility of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility ahead of COP 30 and we are keen to make as much progress as possible. We are hoping to see prioritisation of forests as an essential part of the solution to the climate and nature crisis. The Tropical Forest Forever Facility is developing at pace, and it is testament to President Lula’s leadership that he has committed to a $1 billion investment. The UK has provided over £1 million in technical assistance.
Baroness Boycott (CB)
My Lords, last week I read with concern a piece in the Times saying that No. 10 is apparently blocking a report by the Joint Intelligence Committee, which it saw as “too negative”, as it was apparently warning that we are approaching serious tipping points in the Amazon rainforest that would create food shortages as well as huge national security threats. Can the Minister tell me whether this is true, whether the report exists and whether it is going to be published?
Lord Lemos (Lab)
I thank the noble Baroness for her question. I am afraid that we do not comment on speculation. This Government are taking robust action to boost UK food security and turn the tide of nature’s decline, as well as prepare for the impacts of a changing climate and nature loss. This includes treating biodiversity loss as a security risk, investing in nature protection and restoration at home and abroad, and delivering £11.6 billion in international climate finance.