Committees

Ministers to give evidence on British science in Antarctica

5 December 2024

British scientists and researchers have been active in Antarctica for over a century: but what is their role in the region, and how is their work deepening our knowledge of climate change?

Science Minister Lord Vallance and Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty MP will give evidence to the Environmental Audit Committee as members conclude its predecessor Committee’s work on ‘The UK and the Antarctic environment’. The inquiry was established to examine the role of UK science in understanding the effects of climate change in Antarctica, and how well the UK Government is meeting its obligations under the Antarctic Treaty.

In addition to the evidence session, the Committee is inviting further written evidence to help inform its conclusions and recommendations to Government.

During the evidence session on Wednesday, former Chair of the Environmental Audit Sub-Committee on Polar Research, James Gray, will discuss the predecessor Committee’s findings and its visit to Antarctica in December 2023 and January 2024. Members will also hear from Professor Dame Jane Francis of the British Antarctic Survey and Dr Iain Williams from the Natural Environment Research Council on the role of UK science, Antarctic infrastructure and logistics, and funding.

The final panel will include Science Minister Lord Vallance, Foreign Office Minister Stephen Doughty MP and Head of the Polar Regions Department at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Jane Rumble. Members will be keen to hear the Government’s key priorities for science in the region, how UK involvement in the Antarctic Treaty can help protect biodiversity and combat the effects of climate change, and the future of Government funding to support science and research efforts in Antarctica.

Terms of reference:

The Committee invites written submissions addressing any or all of the issues raised in the following terms of reference by 5.00pm on Monday 23 December 2024:

The Antarctic environment

  1. What are the most significant climate and environmental changes taking place in the Antarctic? What might they mean for the UK, for example in terms of sea level rise and our weather? How well prepared is the UK Government for these impacts?
  2. What is the extent of plastic and microplastic pollution in the Antarctic? What could the UK Government do to reduce it?
  3. What effect is climate change having on biodiversity in Antarctica? To what extent does the UK’s Blue Belt Programme address the protection of biodiversity in the Antarctic and the Overseas Territories in the South Atlantic?
  4. What impact is tourism having on the Antarctic? How can the UK Government promote good business standards and best practice to reduce the environmental impact of commercial activities?

UK Science in Antarctica

  1. How well placed is the UK to deliver the scientific priorities identified by national and international research communities?
  2. How well does the UK support research in and about the Antarctic, and what can the UK do to position itself at the forefront of Antarctic science? What role does international collaboration play in understanding the global implications of climate change in Antarctica? How can the UK ensure that opportunities for international collaboration are maximised, and are there key partners with whom the UK should seek to work?
  3. What impact has the UK’s investment in science infrastructure, through the RRS Sir David Attenborough and modernised station facilities, had on UK science in the Antarctic? How can the UK ensure that use of the UK’s infrastructure in the Antarctic is maximised, while minimising the environmental impacts of research activities?
  4. How does HMS Protector benefit UK Antarctic science and how can her contribution be maximised?
  5. What impact did the UK’s science Strategy UK science in Antarctica: 2014-2020 have and is a further strategy needed, especially in light of the UK’s recent capital expenditure on science infrastructure in Antarctica?

Antarctic Governance 

  1. What further action is needed through the Antarctic Treaty System to protect the Antarctic? What can the UK Government do to drive international action on environmental management alongside competing demands for the use of Antarctic resources?
  2. What impact do current geopolitical tensions have on Antarctica, and the Antarctic Treaty System? What issues are affecting the treaty system and how can the UK use its influence to ensure that the continent remains a place of peace and cooperation?
  3. How effective are the Protocol on Environmental Protection and the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources at managing Antarctica’s environment? What could the UK Government do to advocate for further environmental protections through the Antarctic Treaty System?

Further information

Image: adobe stock/zhu difeng