Do this Government see that, as a massive consumer still driving climate change, we have a duty to people who are fleeing drought and floods, as well as to refugees from war zones?
I intervened in yesterday’s debate on immigration to say: There are likely to be more refugees because of climate change—people who are fleeing drought and floods. Do this Government see that, as a massive consumer still driving climate change, we have a duty to those refugees, as well as to refugees from war zones?
Lord Hanson of Flint replied for HMG:
I agree with the noble Baroness that climate change is a potential driver. The noble Lord, Lord Alton, has mentioned this on a number of occasions as well, and we agree that those issues drive asylum and refugee claims. She might be interested to know that the highest numbers of people claiming asylum last year were from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. However, I accept her point; we need to address the wider climate change issue in relation to those who claim asylum or refugee status in this country.
Read the whole debate here
