Asked by: Baroness Willis of Summertown (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will use the powers available to them under section 1 of the Environment Act 2021 to set targets for adaption and resilience to climate change; and if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The primary statutory framework for climate adaptation and resilience is the Climate Change Act 2008. Through this, the Government produces regular Climate Change Risk Assessments and the National Adaptation Programme. This Government is committed to strengthening adaptation objectives to improve preparedness for climate impacts and will launch an ambitious fourth National Adaptation Programme in 2028, which will deliver more integrated and effective resilience planning.
Alongside the National Adaptation Programme, action towards delivering existing environmental targets under the Environment Act will support climate resilience by improving the condition of the natural environment, with a clear plan set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan.
Asked by: Baroness Willis of Summertown (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government to ask whether they will use their powers under section 1 of the Environment Act 2021 to set targets for adaption and resilience to climate change; if not, why not; and whether they have any other powers to do so.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The primary statutory framework for climate adaptation and resilience is the Climate Change Act 2008. Through this, the Government produces regular Climate Change Risk Assessments and the National Adaptation Programme. This Government is committed to strengthening adaptation objectives to improve preparedness for climate impacts and will launch an ambitious fourth National Adaptation Programme in 2028, which will deliver more integrated and effective resilience planning.
Alongside the National Adaptation Programme, action towards delivering existing environmental targets under the Environment Act will support climate resilience by improving the condition of the natural environment, with a clear plan set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan.
Asked by: Baroness Willis of Summertown (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the full impact assessment referred to in the consultation document Biodiversity Net Gain — considering a targeted exemption for residential brownfield development, published in April; and whether that assessment will include an equality impact analysis addressing differential effects on communities with limited access to nature.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Biodiversity Net Gain consultation on a potential additional targeted exemption for certain residential brownfield development closed on 10 June 2026. All responses and evidence submissions are being analysed and this Government will respond to the consultation in due course. If any regulatory changes are confirmed in the response, the Better Regulations Framework and the equality impacts will be considered under the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Asked by: Baroness Willis of Summertown (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of proposed biodiversity net gain exemptions for brownfield residential development on communities with the least access to nature.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Biodiversity Net Gain consultation on a potential additional targeted exemption for certain residential brownfield development closed on 10 June 2026. All responses and evidence submissions are being analysed and this Government will respond to the consultation in due course. If any regulatory changes are confirmed in the response, the Better Regulations Framework and the equality impacts will be considered under the Public Sector Equality Duty.
Asked by: Baroness Willis of Summertown (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to re-open the Local Authority Treescapes Fund or to replace it with another similar fund.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra and the Forestry Commission are confirming plans for 2025-26 following the Autumn Statement and will be able to share more following the conclusion of our internal business planning exercise.