Committee publication · Correspondence · 15 July 2026
Letter to the Under Secretary of State for Nature relating to the National security assessment on global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, 15 July 2026
Summary
The Environmental Audit Committee's chair writes to the Under Secretary of State for Nature following her 8 July evidence session on the Government's national security assessment of biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse. The letter raises concerns about inter-departmental coordination on Rio Convention negotiations, DEFRA's absence from the climate security taskforce, ODA funding levels, the Government's failure to pledge to the Tropical Forests Forever Fund, and timelines for deforestation supply-chain regulations.
Key findings
- Government lacks coordinated approach across three Rio Conventions (UNFCCC COP31, UNCBD COP17, UNCCD COP17); Minister indicated minimal cross-departmental engagement ('20 minutes over breakfast') with no timeline for integration.
- DEFRA has no representation on the climate security taskforce co-chaired by Home Office and DESNZ, risking failure to integrate nature protection into climate security work.
- Government established separate 'environmental resilience taskforce' within DEFRA but lacks clarity on aims, membership, and coordination with other taskforces.
- Despite widespread support from International Development Committee evidence, Government rejected a dedicated nature sub-pledge within fourth round of International Climate Finance; ODA set at only 0.3% of GNI.
- UK has not pledged to Tropical Forests Forever Fund despite playing a development role; Prime Minister stated decision is 'not now' rather than 'never', undermining UK standing ahead of UNCBD COP17.
Tone
CriticalTopics
Key actors
Toby Perkins MP, Mary Creagh CBE, Ros Eales, Minister White, Minister Eagle, Environmental Audit Committee, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Notable line
“"Minster White will be doing her stuff and I will be doing my stuff, and we might see each other for 20 minutes over breakfast"”
Key Quotes
“Minster White will be doing her stuff and I will be doing my stuff, and we might see each other for 20 minutes over breakfast”
“… this was not happening "at the speed or intensity that I would wish"”
“… the Prime Minister was quite clear last year that it was not never. It was about not now.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗