Fascinating, the UK debate continues to evolve …

(and Jan and the PIK team, this does subtly signify the value to looking at European parliamentary debates to see what narratives and themes are being deployed, in my opinion, which we had proposed for WP6 😊)

From: Environmental Audit Committee <EACOM@parliament.uk>
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2025 7:51 AM
To: Environmental Audit Committee <EACOM@parliament.uk>
Subject: Antarctica - Government opposed to polar geoengineering

House of Commons 

Environmental Audit Committee

Thursday 11 September 2025

Antarctica: Government opposed to polar geoengineering

· UK also “keen to further engage” China on environmental protection in Antarctica

Government response: The UK and the Antarctic environment 

The Environmental Audit Committee has published the Government’s response to the Committee’s report on ‘the UK and the Antarctic environment’.

In its response, the Government rejects the use of Solar Radiation Management, or ‘geoengineering’, saying the UK has no plans to deploy the technique. This week a group of 42 polar scientists published analysis which found that proposed geoengineering techniques were not feasible and could even be “environmentally dangerous”.

The Government accepts many of the Committee’s other recommendations, including pressing Russia to reaffirm its commitment to the prohibition of mining and prospecting in Antarctic waters and fostering dialogue with all Antarctic Treaty System members, including China, on environmental protection and scientific cooperation.

It also agrees with the Committee’s recommendation that the Government should intensify diplomatic engagement to address the concerns of China and Russia in discussions around fishing quotas and Marine Protected Areas.

“The UK Government is keen to further engage China on the krill management framework and advance discussions on Marine Protected Areas and continues to seek opportunities to advance these discussions,” it says.

ENDS

Further information

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