Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what progress has been made on their stated ambition to deliver £11.6 billion of International Climate Finance between April 2021 and March 2026, of which £1.5 billion should be adaptation and resilience finance for 2025.

Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is on track to deliver £11.6 billion in International Climate Finance by the end of the financial year 2025/26. To support the most vulnerable who are experiencing the worst impacts of climate change, the Government is also on track to triple funding for adaptation from £500m in 2019 to £1.5 billion in 2025.

The UK’s International Climate Finance has helped 137 million people adapt to the effects of climate change, provided 89 million people with improved access to clean energy, and helped to mobilise billions in private investment.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to support global initiatives to reduce deforestation, following the announcement that they will not be investing in the Tropical Forest Forever Facility launched at COP30.

Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Reducing deforestation globally underpins UK security and growth and is vital to delivering our global goals on climate and nature. Tropical forests in particular safeguard regional rainfall and agriculture, underpinning UK food security. The UK will continue to drive progress in support of global efforts to reduce deforestation. We co-chair the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership and work with forest countries and communities to improve forest governance, sustainable trade and mobilise finance for forest protection and restoration. We continue to provide technical assistance in support of the Tropical Forest Forever Facility and have just announced additional support for the Accelerating Innovative Monitoring for Forests programme, which makes use of technical innovations such as space data, to help forest countries monitor and reduce deforestation.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have for legislation to make it mandatory for insurance companies to provide flood cover at an affordable and fair price, to supersede the temporary Flood Re scheme.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

In 2024/25, Flood Re provided cover for over 346,000 household policies. 650,000 properties have benefitted since the scheme’s launch and 99% of householders at high risk of flooding can now obtain quotes from 10 or more insurers.

Flood Re have a statutory purpose to manage the transition to a risk-reflective market of flood insurance between 2016 and 2039 when the scheme is expected to end. Flood Re publishes a Transition Plan every five years outlining progress and actions to manage this transition. Flood Re's next Transition plan (Transition Plan 4) will be published in 2028.

We recognise that climate change and population growth could further impact on the future costs of home insurance. This is why we have committed to reviewing, by the end of this Parliament, how both government and industry are responding to these new challenges and creating the conditions for this transition.

The review will consider current and future actions to ensure that the insurance market can enable access to affordable flood insurance from 2039, without the need for ongoing government intervention.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to include saltmarshes in the UK's greenhouse gas inventory.

Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

Defra is actively exploring the role of marine nature-based solutions, such as seagrass and saltmarsh restoration, to deliver both carbon sequestration and broader benefits.

Defra is working in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Devolved Governments – through the UK Blue Carbon Evidence Partnership – to address evidence gaps that currently prevent the inclusion of saltmarsh in the Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Defra Group have funded five flux towers to provide important carbon emissions data for saltmarsh habitats. Alongside investment to deliver a roadmap setting out the steps needed for potential inclusion of saltmarsh in the Greenhouse Gas Inventory. Other marine habitats will be kept in consideration as the evidence base around them develops.

Reflecting this ongoing work, saltmarsh was included within Defra’s Net Zero pathway for Carbon Budgets 4–6 as an early-stage policy.

Found: • Clause 52 Spatial Development Strategies: – The Lord Bishop of Norwich introduced amendment 94