Defence and Climate Change
Defence Committee
Closed
Inquiry
What needs to be done to achieve the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy’s number one international priority of meeting climate change and biodiversity loss commitments over the next decade? What will be the impacts of climate change on future conflict and how are UK Armed Forces …
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4
Recommendations
12
Conclusions
1
Report
6
Oral sessions
6
Events
Activity timeline 14 events
8 Nov
2023
2023
Report published
18 Aug
2023
2023
Report published
23 May
2023
2023
Oral evidence
23 May
2023
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
21 Mar
2023
2023
Oral evidence
21 Mar
2023
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 6, Palace of Westminster
6 Mar
2023
2023
Oral evidence
6 Mar
2023
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
28 Feb
2023
2023
Oral evidence
28 Feb
2023
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
24 Jan
2023
2023
Oral evidence
24 Jan
2023
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
23 May 2023
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Panel 1
John Kerry · Executive Office of the President of the United States
21 Mar 2023
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Baroness Annabel Goldie, Minister of State
Brig. Adrian Reilly · Ministry of Defence
James Clare · Ministry of Defence
Lt. Gen. Richard Wardlaw OBE · Ministry of Defence
Major General Robert Walton-Knight · Ministry of Defence
Nick Gurr · Ministry of Defence
Shimon Fhima · Ministry of Defence
6 Mar 2023
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David Beasley · UN World Food Programme
28 Feb 2023
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Dr Tim Clack · Climate Change and (In)security Project
Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Dr Andrew Sharpe · Centre for Historical Analysis and Conflict Research (CHACR)
24 Jan 2023
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Panel 1
Dr Stuart Parkinson · Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR)
Linsey Cottrell · The Conflict and Environment Observatory
22 Nov 2022
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Panel 1
Lt. Gen. Nugee (Rtd), Lead of Ministry of Defence’s 2021 Climate Change and Sustainability Review
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eighth Report - Defence and Climate Change | HC 179 | 18 Aug 2023 | 16 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
4 results
9
Conclusion
Rejected
Eighth Report - Defence and Climat…
Measuring total defence carbon emissions provides a gold standard for military reporting.
Measuring and reporting against the total defence carbon emission figure would support both the Government’s agenda of reducing emissions to net zero by 2050, but also provide a gold standard of military emissions reporting for other countries to emulate. Good …
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Government Response
The government states it already publishes emissions data in its Annual Report and Accounts and re-baselined in FY21-22 to capture more directly influenced emissions, with its methodology verified internally. However, it explicitly states there are no plans to independently verify its emission reporting and it does not currently capture Scope 3 emissions from industrial partners, thus not fully meeting the "total" aspect.
Ministry of Defence
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10
Recommendation
Rejected
Eighth Report - Defence and Climat…
Publish in-depth annual review of Defence climate performance and explain reporting discrepancies.
The Ministry of Defence should return to publishing a more in-depth, stand-alone annual review of its climate and sustainability performance, with independent verification of emissions measuring and reporting. It should commission work to better understand total defence carbon emissions. It …
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Government Response
The government explains the discrepancy in reported emissions figures as due to a re-baselining in FY21-22 that expanded the scope of reporting. However, it explicitly states there are currently no plans to return to a stand-alone annual review of its climate and sustainability performance.
Ministry of Defence
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12
Conclusion
Rejected
Eighth Report - Defence and Climat…
Adopt Science-Based Targets for Defence and develop carbon reduction plans for suppliers.
We welcome the Ministry of Defence’s efforts to expand coverage of carbon emissions, but more needs to be achieved to ensure all Defence emissions are measured. Best commercial practice for promoting emissions reductions and net-zero targets are the Science Based …
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Government Response
The government explicitly states it is not planning on using Science Based Targets (SBT) for Defence, citing potential undermining of capabilities. While major suppliers were already obliged to publish climate reduction plans from September 2021 under PPN 06/21, HMG guidance states SBTs are not aligned with these requirements.
Ministry of Defence
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16
Conclusion
Rejected
Eighth Report - Defence and Climat…
Appoint a dedicated Ministry of Defence climate change director for focused decarbonisation coordination.
The Ministry of Defence should appoint a dedicated climate change director who would be able to fully focus on coordinating carbon reductions across the whole of Defence, including holding separate commands and organisations to account for progress in reducing emissions …
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Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation to appoint a dedicated climate change director, stating that the existing Levelling Up, Union, Climate Change and Sustainability (LUCCS) Directorate already coordinates these areas, and that combining these responsibilities brings together the three pillars of sustainability within the MOD.
Ministry of Defence
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