Speeches by Gelderd.

“I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this vital debate. As she knows, the ongoing climate crisis is making more regions of the world uninhabitable, fuelling conflicts that disproportionately affect women and girls. In humanitarian conflicts, up to 70% of women and girls experience gender-based violence, and we mus…”

“In your organisations, as scientists, have you seen a trend that greater scientific advice has led to decisions being taken within that scientific advice?”

“We have heard already, Mr Evans, that there is an opportunity for better co-ordination of the information that we already have. What is the role for emerging technologies in developing a greater understanding of the marine environment here in the UK?”

“Thank you for those important reflections. It is interesting to hear those missing pieces. What you talked a lot about there is some of the hard technology—the submarines, the pieces of equipment that need to be in the water. The Committee is very interested as well in the soft tech, such as the AI data processing, wit…”

“There are perhaps a couple of examples, but there is more to do to create a trend that that scientific advice is then acted upon. It would be good to hear any further examples you want to share with us later, perhaps in written form.”

“How effective are non-legally binding instruments such as memoranda of understanding in protecting the marine environment, compared to ratified treaties, which are legally binding, on the states that are party to them?”

“That is very helpful to hear. We have heard some of the advantages of these instruments, but are there any commitments made under these instruments that would be better implemented through legally binding treaties?”

“Thank you. Those are really useful and interesting examples. Finally, speaking of long documents, is the trade and co-operation agreement with the EU, as drafted, sufficiently robust to allow the UK to manage marine protected areas and fish stocks as the UK’s legislation and the scientific advice requires in respect of…”

“We have heard already, Mr Evans, that there is an opportunity for better co-ordination of the information that we already have. What is the role for emerging technologies in developing a greater understanding of the marine environment here in the UK?”

“Thank you for those important reflections. It is interesting to hear those missing pieces. What you talked a lot about there is some of the hard technology—the submarines, the pieces of equipment that need to be in the water. The Committee is very interested as well in the soft tech, such as the AI data processing, wit…”

“In your organisations, as scientists, have you seen a trend that greater scientific advice has led to decisions being taken within that scientific advice?”

“There are perhaps a couple of examples, but there is more to do to create a trend that that scientific advice is then acted upon. It would be good to hear any further examples you want to share with us later, perhaps in written form.”

“How effective are non-legally binding instruments such as memoranda of understanding in protecting the marine environment, compared to ratified treaties, which are legally binding, on the states that are party to them?”

“That is very helpful to hear. We have heard some of the advantages of these instruments, but are there any commitments made under these instruments that would be better implemented through legally binding treaties?”

“Thank you. Those are really useful and interesting examples. Finally, speaking of long documents, is the trade and co-operation agreement with the EU, as drafted, sufficiently robust to allow the UK to manage marine protected areas and fish stocks as the UK’s legislation and the scientific advice requires in respect of…”

“We are interested in the connections, as we have said, between those three different areas. With plastics being such a huge part of not just the pollution that catches animals, but the chemicals that come out of them, there is a lot of work here in the UK that the Government are leading on. Anything you want to say on …”

“Does that include the PFAS element of chemicals leakage from plastics?”

“That is good to hear. I want to bring your attention to publication of a report yesterday, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services “The Nexus Assessment”, which emphasised those interlinked areas of climate and biodiversity that we have been discussing. You have outlined som…”

“It is really important that we discuss the interlinked nature and climate crises, and very good to hear that the UK was at the forefront of bringing nature to the forefront of the climate agenda at COP19. How did the UK get nature firmly on the agenda, and how successful were those efforts?”

“Thank you. That is very helpful. We look forward to engaging with you further on that topic.”