Global Deforestation

I share your concern about deforestation around the world and the UK’s implied complicity in enabling this because of weak regulation. The previous Conservative Government and the current Labour Government have failed to act on the legal powers available to them through the Environment Act 2021.

My Liberal Democrat Parliamentary colleagues and I recognise that climate change is a significant threat to nature and wildlife. We are committed to ensuring rainforests are protected and urge the Government to work with international partners to tackle global deforestation. The protection of the world’s forests is vital, not just for biodiversity and the millions who depend on them, but also in our collective fight against climate change. The UK cannot rely on voluntary commitments from businesses that have repeatedly failed to ensure deforestation-free supply chains.

We have been concerned about the inaction of this Government to take the climate crisis seriously, not least through their decision to extend subsidies to biomass power plants, such as at Drax, which causes environmental harm by its reliance on primary forestry for fuel. Poor government decision-making has become all too familiar after the Conservatives abandoned the UK’s role in climate leadership and damaged the UK’s reputation on the world stage.

Ahead of COP30, I urge Ministers to implement the due diligence regime immediately and ensure it has real teeth—high thresholds, robust oversight, and meaningful consequences for non-compliance. Part of this must include work to tackle illegal deforestation in the supply chain. Nature has no borders, so collaboration with international colleagues to protect forests is crucial to tackling the nature and climate emergency together.