All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Environment

@baroness_brown asks the Minister to review the definition of ‘natural polymer’ used in plastic food packaging. The use of natural polymers beyond cellulose could make packaging fully recyclable. ♻️🗑️

On Wednesday’s Oral Questions on Plastic Pollution @RosieBoycott highlights that only 9% of plastic packaging is recycled. ♻️ A strong Extended Produced Responsibility could get companies to change their plastic packaging to make it more suitable to recycle.

I’m holding an enquiry with the Environment APPG into the impact of climate change on us in the UK - flooding, fires and food. Please do submit evidence if you are personally affected or have professional views.

Bottom trawling in our Marine Protected Areas threatens the sustainability and prosperity of our fisheries and coastal communities. Yesterday in @UKHouseofLords I asked the Government when they would act 👇 @OceanaUK @WildlifeTrusts

@liz_sugg Baroness Sheehan asked how progress on 30x30 nature recovery targets is measured 🌍 The Minister acknowledged the challenges of protecting our seas and noted that plans to extend the ban on bottom trawling gear to 41 MPAs would be a key step towards meeting 30x30 targets

Bottom trawling causes irreversible damage to our oceans 🌊 @liz_sugg highlights how heavy nets used by large fishing corporations devastate marine life and threaten coastal livelihoods 🐟 Banning this gear in 41 more MPAs would be a major step forward

@liz_sugg As Baroness Grender notes, 90% of UK MPAs are still exposed to bottom trawling - amounting to 20,000 hours of trawling last year alone 🐠

The final panel of Sarah Mukherjee of @ISEPglobal, Elisabeth Sullivan of @techUK and David Steen of @UKGBC urged the government to treat climate risks as cascading and interdependent rather than separate, and to work with nature not against it.

On Monday, the Environment APPG held the first session of our inquiry: “Is the UK prepared? Resilience in floods, fires and food” with @PutneyFleur, @AdrianRamsay, @Wera_Hobhouse, Baroness Willis and Lord Harlech

Our second panel of Megan Dunford of @Zurich, Katherine Waters of @wsp and Lucas Everitt of @atkinsrealis detailed how flooding is the most significant climate risk the UK faces, and how gaps in the planning system are increasing the number of homes at risk.

We heard from Heather Shepherd and Louis Ramirez of Flooded People on the immense damage repeat flooding inflicts on communities. They emphasised the need for better recovery plans and an honest debate on what policy can achieve

🌊 Bottom trawling is still happening inside UK Marine Protected Areas 40% of England’s seas are MPAs, yet over 1.3m tonnes of fish were caught in them over just four years Without proper protection, MPAs risk becoming little more than lines on a map 🐟 theguardian.com/environment/20…

@EarlRussellLD asks if the Minister can write to him to provide an update on the government’s Wildfire strategy and action plan, which is overdue.

Environment APPG member @bishopnorwich asks about the benefits of peatland restorations for flood resilience and nature recovery during Lords Oral Questions last Thursday 🌊

@MRitchieSD encourages the Minister to ensure legislation is brought forward for a ban on the sale of peat for horticultural purposes.

@annagelderd highlights the possibility to use data in a responsible way to help vulnerable residents impacted by extreme weather events ⛈️

During the debate on Extreme Climate @JayneKirkham4 stressed the need for greater urgency to protect communities from climate change ⛈️

@AndrewGeorge_ warns of the need to learn lessons following Storm Goretti to ensure the right resources are put in place

@SarahDykeLD emphasises the vital role farmers play in managing floodwaters and the immense challenges they faced during Storm Chandra🧑‍🌾

@JimShannonMP highlights that flooding incidents are happening across Northern Ireland which has left many areas vulnerable