Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the the top five impacts of air pollution in England on each of (a) the climate, (b) the environment and (c) public health and their cascading effects.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UKHSA Health Effects of Climate Change (HECC) in the UK: 2023 report considered the relationship between climate change and outdoor air pollution and included new analyses of the health burden from long-term and short-term exposure to air pollution.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evidence exists of direct and indirect impacts of ambient air pollution on (a) the climate, (b) the environment and (c) public health and their cascading effects.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The UKHSA Health Effects of Climate Change (HECC) in the UK: 2023 report considered the relationship between climate change and outdoor air pollution and included new analyses of the health burden from long-term and short-term exposure to air pollution.
Asked by: Kevin Bonavia (Labour - Stevenage)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she made of the potential implications for her policies of trends in the level of coral bleaching; and what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help tackle coral bleaching.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The impact of climate change and marine heatwaves on coral reefs is increasingly concerning. A network of global coral reef scientists under the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) confirmed the 4th global coral bleaching event in 2024. While we cannot yet quantify the full impact to reefs, we do know this is the largest bleaching event ever recorded. UK Government is currently working with international partners at the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network to develop the Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2025 report, which will combine monitoring data from over 120 countries to provide a comprehensive view of the status and trends of the world’s reefs.
We have taken action both at home and abroad to support a resilience-based management approach in addressing the range of threats facing coral reefs. By tackling local and regional threats and combined with action on climate change, we are supporting coral reefs to resist and recover from coral bleaching and changing environmental conditions. This includes funding the Coral Conservation in UK Overseas Territories working group to share best practice on reef management and support partnership working between UK Overseas Territories, committing £40.25 million to the Global Fund for Coral Reefs between 2021 and 2026 through our International Official Development Assistance Marine Programming, and contributing our scientific technical expertise to international organisations like ICRI and the Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform.
Asked by: Steff Aquarone (Liberal Democrat - North Norfolk)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support his Department provides to the baking industry to decarbonise.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Businesses in the baking industry can benefit from the Climate Change Agreements scheme, which provides Climate Change Levy discounts of up to 92% in return for improved energy efficiency and reduced emissions.
More broadly, our Clean Power by 2030 mission is working to reduce reliance on volatile fossil fuels and lower electricity costs for businesses. We are also continuing to develop policies to bring down electricity costs relative to gas and intend to consult on options to make electrification an economically rational choice for a wide range of businesses.
In due course, we will also set out a clear plan for industrial decarbonisation to support a competitive low‑carbon industrial base and to ensure growth opportunities are realised alongside emissions reductions.
Asked by: Victoria Collins (Liberal Democrat - Harpenden and Berkhamsted)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of climate change on UK wildlife.
Answered by Mary Creagh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Under the UK Climate Change Act 2008, the Government must complete a Climate Change Risk Assessment every five years, followed by a National Adaptation Programme outlining how identified risks will be addressed. The fourth Climate Change Risk Assessment will be published in 2027, informed by the independent assessment and advice provided by the Climate Change Committee. This will include a Technical Report outlining UK climate risks, including risks to terrestrial, coastal, freshwater, marine and soil ecosystems, and a Well-Adapted UK Report that will advise on how to address them.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to her Department’s World News Story entitled Cameroon: UK supports new generation of Central Africa researchers, published on 29 January 2026, what assessment she made of the potential impact of allocating the funding provided to Congo Rainforest Alliance for Forest Training for Sustainable Development to forest protection and community-based conservation on development and research for climate resilience.
Answered by Chris Elmore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Congo Rainforest Alliance for Forest Training (CRAFT) for Sustainable Development programme is a major milestone in advancing world‑class, locally led scientific research across the Congo Basin. Further details of all FCDO-funded programmes can be found at the Development Tracker website on GOV.UK. Each proposed programme is assessed in advance for the impact it will have on the UK's partnership objectives in the country in question, and for its cost-effectiveness in achieving that impact. Each approved programme is subsequently evaluated on an ongoing basis for its performance against agreed objectives, and for its delivery on time and on budget.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what evidence exists of the direct and indirect impact of air pollution on (a) crop yields, (b) biodiversity, (c) pollinator, (d) rain, (e) stratospheric ozone, (f) water quality and (g) soil quality.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Evidence is set out in the recent house of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee’s Nitrogen report:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5901/ldselect/ldenvcl/161/16102.htmand and the Critical loads expert report Air_Pollution_Trends_Report_2024.
Asked by: Scott Arthur (Labour - Edinburgh South West)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has considered international policy frameworks that distribute responsibility for emissions reductions to account for historic and present inequalities between high-emitting and low-emitting nations.
Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Under the Paris Agreement, 194 parties have committed to act to limit global warming.
It is right that developed countries should take the lead by undertaking economy-wide absolute emission reduction targets.
However, every country must accelerate action to tackle climate change this decade, recognising different national circumstances and in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty.
Countries on the front lines of the climate crisis face barriers to investment and increasing costs of dealing with the current and future impacts. The UK is committed to supporting them build resilience to current and future climate impacts.
Asked by: James McMurdock (Independent - South Basildon and East Thurrock)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of trends in the levels CO2 emissions caused by importing foreign steel for British manufacturing projects.
Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department estimates greenhouse gas emissions (including carbon dioxide) on a territorial basis, meaning emissions that occur within UK borders. This is the approach required by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the UK’s Climate Change Act 2008. The latest estimates are published here: UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions statistics - GOV.UK
Defra publishes consumption-based emissions statistics, calculated by the University of Leeds, which include emissions associated with imported goods and services. The latest estimates are published here: UK and England's carbon footprint to 2022 - GOV.UK
Last year, the Department consulted on measures to accelerate the adoption of low carbon products, including low carbon steel. The consultation is published here: Growing the market for low carbon industrial products: policy framework - GOV.UK
Asked by: Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat - South Cambridgeshire)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the potential impact of the United States leaving the Paris Climate Agreement on the global, collective effort to lower fossil fuel emissions and tackle climate change.
Answered by Katie White - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Decisions on participation in the Paris Agreement are for individual countries to make. The UK supports the UNFCCC and wants to see as many countries as possible participate.
The UK will continue to work with all countries to tackle the urgency of the climate crisis, and will pursue an energy policy that gives us energy security and helps get bills down for good.