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Written question asked by James MacCleary (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 7 September 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 September 2026. It was answered by Luke Pollard (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 September 2026 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Armed Forces: Environment Protection

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to commission an assessment of the military implications of ecosystem collapse in the six critical ecosystem regions identified by the Joint Intelligence Committee.

Answer

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is actively integrating the findings of the Joint Intelligence Committee’s assessment on global biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse into its strategic planning and intelligence work.

While MOD has not separately commissioned a dedicated military implications assessment focused solely on the six critical ecosystem regions, it is working closely with cross-government partners and internal analysis teams to understand and anticipate the security risks arising from ecosystem degradation globally. These considerations are embedded within the broader Strategic Defence Review and ongoing resilience planning, such as the UK’s National Adaptation Programme, to ensure military preparedness for emerging environmental challenges.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
27752
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Armed forces Environment protection Joint Intelligence Committee
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk