Extinction Rebellion Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Extinction Rebellion

Lord Clark of Windermere Excerpts
Thursday 31st October 2019

(5 years ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Duncan of Springbank Portrait Lord Duncan of Springbank
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I am not quite sure which conclusions I can move towards. As a geologist, I note that we are now entering into a new geological period, which is known as the Anthropocene. Our influence on this world is now much more significant than we could ever have imagined.

Lord Clark of Windermere Portrait Lord Clark of Windermere (Lab)
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My Lords, does the Minister accept that trees have a major role to play in combating the problem? Will he continue to pressurise his colleagues for us to plant more trees? More importantly, will he stop the willy-nilly felling of trees, bearing in mind that it takes 50 years for a tree to grow into a situation where it is absorbing carbon?

Lord Duncan of Springbank Portrait Lord Duncan of Springbank
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I believe trees are an essential element of this. At COP 26, I would like to see every world leader who comes to Glasgow plant a tree. As a result, there should be a forest that stretches from Scotland through all the nations of the United Kingdom.