Environment Secretary appears before climate change inquiry
26 January 2010 (updated on 22 April 2010)
Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is among the witnesses appearing before the Environmental Audit Committee as it holds the fifth evidence session of its inquiry into climate change adaptation policy. Watch live from 2.50 pm
Witnesses
2.50pm
- Professor Lord John Krebs, Chairman, Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change
- Neil Golborne, Team Leader Adaptation, Committee on Climate Change
3.20pm
- Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Professor Robert Watson, Chief Scientific Adviser
- Robin Mortimer, Director, Adapting to Climate Change Programme, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
'Adapting to Climate Change' is the process of building resilience and preparing households, businesses, infrastructure, public services and vulnerable parts of our society to cope with the impacts of climate change, and to take advantage of any new opportunities that result.
The purpose of the inquiry is to assess whether the Government is on the right path to embedding effectively climate change adaptation, and management of risks from future climate change impacts, into Government programmes, policies and decision making, and into those of the wider public and private sectors.
The Committee is also examining whether climate change adaptation is being sufficiently funded and supported as a challenge for the long-term and the extent to which short-term pressures could prevent effective adaptation.