Tag: climate change

Bishop of Manchester asks about role of faith leaders in tackling climate change

On 21st November 2024, the Bishop of Manchester asked a question on government commitment to working with faith leaders to tackle the climate emergency:

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, last year I took a group of leaders from different faiths in Greater Manchester, along with civic leaders, to meet Pope Francis in Rome to discuss his work on climate change, which makes me think: will the Government commit to working with faith leaders, in this country and overseas, as we seek to mitigate the climate emergency?

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Bishop of St Albans urges government to ensure that farmers are included in discussions on the climate change agenda

On 24th October 2024, the Bishop of St Albans took part in a debate on the impact of the climate agenda on jobs, growth and prosperity, urging the government to consult farmers in the pursuit of the climate change agenda and pledge a renewed and improved agricultural budget of at least £4 billion per year:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I too thank the noble Lord, Lord Lilley, for securing this important debate. I am looking forward very much to the maiden speech of the noble Baroness, Lady May, who I know will bring great insight and experience to your Lordships’ House. I declare my interest as president of the Rural Coalition.

We need to take climate change extremely seriously. I commend the previous Government, and indeed some of the plans of the present Administration, for the steps they have taken and are taking. I support the plea by the noble Lord, Lord Lilley, for open and transparent costs of net zero so that we can make informed choices; that seems fundamental to all that we do in every part of our work. Other noble Lords will be able to speak in a more informed way than I can about the positive impact that net zero can have on the economy, not least in terms of jobs in new and emerging sectors such as renewable energy. It will also offset the negative economic impacts that climate change brings with it, such as droughts, pollution and ill health.

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Bishop of Norwich asks about upcoming convention on biological diversity, international cooperation on conservation, and outdoor education

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answers on 7th October 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • what their priorities are for the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to be held in Colombia in October.
  • what assessment they have made of the theme of the forthcoming Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) being designated “Peace with Nature” by the government of Colombia, and in particular of the link between environmental breakdown and conflict internationally; and what are their objectives for COP16 regarding the relationship between humanity and nature to ensure greater global peace.
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Bishop of Norwich takes part in debate on report from Environment and Climate Change Committee

The Bishop of Norwich spoke in a debate on a report from the environment and climate change committee on 11th September 2024, emphasising the need to protect and safeguard the natural environment:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I believe that restoring land and sea for nature is a crucial part of our response to the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. It is a great privilege to follow four outstanding speakers, real heroes of the environment, particularly for the environment in this nation. It is indeed an extraordinary challenge that we face, but one that I hope we can rise to.

The report contains many excellent recommendations. I commend the noble Lords on the Select Committee who have taken evidence, distilled it and brought us a report containing so much clarity and wisdom. It is imperative that the regulation of habitat protection is retained and strengthened to make sure that protected land is truly being managed for nature. Alongside that, and ultimately far more effective, is for those who own and manage land or use the sea to have a great pride for the natural world in their stewardship and for society at large to value nature. I see the beginnings of a positive change in that regard, as more and more landowners, tenants and people who work the land and the sea recognise our negative impact on the environment and notice the silenced song of creation in so many places.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about health effects of climate change in Latin America

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 23rd May 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the increasing level of hunger and disease in Latin America due to extreme climate conditions.

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Bishop of Manchester supports motion to regret on National Networks Policy statement

On 8th May 2024, Bishop of Manchester spoke in support of a Motion to Regret tabled by Lord Berkeley: “That this House regrets the Government’s decision to lay the National Networks National Policy Statement, laid before the House on 6 March, without carrying out the systematic review of road projects recommended by the Climate Change Committee; addressing the risk of insufficient environmental action by the Department for Transport highlighted by the National Audit Office; or joining up their policies with the missions presented to Parliament under the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.“

The Lord Bishop of Manchester: My Lords, as it seems compulsory in this short debate to quote Voltaire, perhaps I might take us to his wonderful creation, Dr Pangloss, who continues to assert:

“All is for the best in this best of all possible worlds”

even while the horrors are descending around him. I feel there is something of that in the statement; it is a bit Panglossian. As noble Lords have already said, we face a climate emergency and crisis, and this statement is not adequate to the seriousness of the situation that we are in.

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Bishop of Newcastle asks about food security in the event of flooding or extreme weather

The Bishop of Newcastle asked a question on government plans to ensure food security in the event of extreme weather events and flooding affecting supply lines on 16th April 2024, during a discussion on compensation for farmers affected by flooding:

The Lord Bishop of Newcastle: Climate change and global events have exposed the vulnerability of relying on imported foods. Given the extreme weather events and flooding, the likelihood that this will continue and the impact on farming, what plans do the Government have in place to ensure food security?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about effects of climate change in the Horn of Africa

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 20th March 2024:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked  His Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to increase climate funding available to drought-affected and flood-prone communities in the Horn of Africa.

Lord Benyon (Con, FCDO): Building climate resilience is central to the UK’s work in the Horn of Africa where flooding and drought have impacted tens of millions of people.

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Bishop of Norwich asks about government plans to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty

The Bishop of Norwich received the following written answer on 26th February 2024:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty.

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Bishop of Norwich calls for greater global investment and cooperation to tackle climate change

The Bishop of Norwich spoke in a debate on the impact of climate change on developing nations on 11th January 2024, focusing on the need for global investment and cooperation to support projects tackling climate change:

The Lord Bishop of Norwich: My Lords, I too express my appreciation to the noble Baroness, Lady Northover, for securing this debate and congratulate my right reverend friend the Bishop of Winchester on his informative and passionate maiden speech.

The UK rightly has a distinguished record in overseas development aid and I look forward to the urgent return to the Government’s manifesto commitment of 0.7% of GDP being spent on it. There also needs to be transparency in new funding announcements about whether the funding is new money or comes from salami-slicing existing programmes. The priorities for climate change aid must be focused on three areas: mitigation, resilience and emergency response. I will look briefly at each in turn.

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