The UK and the Antarctic environment [revived]

Environmental Audit Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 5 Dec 2024 Parliament page
The Environmental Audit Committee in the 2024 Parliament has revived the Environmental Audit Sub-Committee on Polar Research's inquiry into The UK and the Antarctic Environment . In this revived inquiry the Committee will explore the effects of climate change in Antarctica, and the role that UK science can play in … Read more
34 Recommendations
40 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
4 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 8 events
11 Sep
2025
Report published
11 Sep
2025
Correspondence
9 Jun
2025
Report published
23 Jan
2025
Correspondence
23 Jan
2025
Correspondence
23 Jan
2025
Correspondence
11 Dec
2024
Oral evidence
11 Dec
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
11 Dec 2024
View on parliament.uk
Panel 1; Panel 2; Panel 3
Dr Iain Williams · Natural Environment Research Council James Gray · Environmental Audit Sub-Committee on Polar Research (2023–24) Jane Rumble OBE · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Professor Dame Jane Francis DCMG · British Antarctic Survey Stephen Doughty MP · Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office The Lord Vallance of Balham KCB · Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Title HC No. Published Items Response
3rd Report - The UK and the Antarctic environment HC 499 9 Jun 2025 74 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
1 result
Clear
30 Recommendation Deferred
3rd Report - The UK and the Antarc…
Strengthen UK Antarctic Strategy to prioritise ASPAs, emperor penguins, and plastic pollution mitigation.
This should be reflected in the UK Antarctic Strategy with particular regard to: • Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs): The Government should continue to advocate for a representative and well-connected network of ASPAs, underpinned by the latest ecological and climate … Read more
Government Response
The Government intends to publish an Antarctic strategy before the end of the year and will take the Committee’s report and recommendations into consideration when producing the strategy.
View details
Government Response AI assessment · 74 of 34 classified
Accepted 25
Accepted in Part 8
Acknowledged 39
Deferred 1
Not Addressed 1
Total 34 recs + 40 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
11 Sep 2025 To committee Letter from the FCDO Minister of State for Europe, North America and UK Overseas Territories relating to The UK and the Antarctic environment Government response, 24 July 2025
Parliament page
23 Jan 2025 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), relating to Antarctic tourism, dated 17 January 2025
Parliament page
23 Jan 2025 To committee Letter from the Chair of the Committee to the Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office), relating to Antarctic tourism, dated 18 December 2024
Parliament page
23 Jan 2025 To committee Letter from the Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation (Department for Science, Innovation & Technology), relating to the Antarctic Infrastructure Modernisation Programme, dated January 2025
Parliament page