International Relations and Defence Committee
Wednesday 8 December 2021
Witness: The Right Hon. the Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park, Minister for the Pacific and the International Environment, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs;
Andrew Murdoch, Legal Director, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Lord Alton asked about the existential threat of rising sea levels to small island states.
He asked what the Government’s response is to the Pacific Island Forum’s 2021 Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones in the Face of Climate Change.
Related to Sea-Level Rise he asked if the Government think baselines should ambulate with sea-level rise, or should they be fixed? and how does the Government plan to support those affected by sea-level rise, and how prepared is the UK to support climate change refugees – not currently covered by the 1951 Convention on Refugees or 1967 Protocol.
Lord Alton asked about the Falkland Islands and also the need to take more effective action to fill the gap in UNCLOS in upholding human rights
