Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that destruction of the world's forests reached the highest level ever recorded in 2024, primarily due to a surge in fires.

The UK is deeply concerned by the record-breaking levels of forest loss, linked to climate-driven wildfires, identified in the recent World Resources Institute report (WRI-latest-analysis-deforestation-trends, 21/05/25).

The UK remains steadfast behind the shared commitment to halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation by 2030. We are working with partners to strengthen ambition and accelerate delivery of efforts to protect, restore, and sustainably manage critical ecosystems, including by supporting global action on wildfires through the G7. As co-chair of the Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP), we are pushing for greater political focus on tackling deforestation as we approach COP30.