Today (3 September 2026) MPs in Parliament had an opportunity to debate the national security assessment on global biodiversity loss.
Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield, and Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, spoke in the debate, highlighting the significance of this dire report and asking the government for further action to protect and prepare the UK for the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.
Toby’s full speech is below, and you can watch his speech online here: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/d01b4723-b547-472e-a5ca-71809e83bf11?in=15:36:09.
Toby Perkins MP:
“Today is an important opportunity to highlight the national security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and national security, in which government intelligence authorities spell out a clear warning: environmental degradation is an existential threat to UK national security.
The assessment lays out the consequences of environmental degradation – food insecurity, economic insecurity, increased migration and refugees, increased inter-state competition, conflict, and geopolitical instability – all of which will threaten British national security and prosperity.
Experts told the Environmental Audit Committee that this means we must intervene internationally to halt and reverse environmental degradation, as well as prepare for impacts at home.
Whilst I entirely support the government’s commitment to ensuring that every penny of international aid spending is well directed, but abandoning those on the front line of the climate crisis will, as this report makes clear, have disastrous consequences for us at home.
I’d like to conclude to ask by asking the Minister:
Firstly, what specific actions has the government taken since this assessment was completed?
Secondly, I welcome that the government has joined other countries in investing in TFFF, conserving the world’s rainforests is absolutely fundamental to protecting us here in Britain.
Finally, will the Minister consider bringing forward National Adaptation Plan 4? NAP3, published by the previous government in 2023, was deemed ineffective by the Climate Change Committee. NAP4 is not due until 2028, but can we afford to wait two more years before we have an adequate plan?”