Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps his Department is taking to support the Overseas Territories with climate change adaptation.

The UK is committed to strengthening our partnership with the Overseas Territories (OTs) to protect and sustainably manage our unique and globally significant environments, and to tackle climate priorities.

The FCDO is working in partnership with the Territories to develop Climate Security Assessments through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund. Our Blue Belt Programme has provided over £35 million since 2016 to enhance marine protection and build climate change resilience. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), as the lead UK Government Department in this area, continues to make support available through Darwin Plus for biodiversity and conservation projects in the OTs which aim to improve resilience to climate change.