Dr James Lea, a glaciologist from the University of Liverpool’s School of Environmental Sciences, gave oral evidence to the Environmental Audit Sub-Committee on Polar Research this week.
The Polar Research Sub-Committee is conducting an inquiry into the UK’s relationship with the Arctic and its environment focusing on three broad aspects: the moral imperative to protect the delicate Arctic environment, the ramifications of the exploitation of the Arctic for its resources, and the UK’s leadership role in Arctic science.
James Gray MP, Chair of the Sub-Committee, led the session and Dr Lea was part of a four-person panel of experts that included Dr Jenny Turton, Arctic Frontiers, Professor Andrew Shepherd, Northumbria University and Centre for Polar Observation and Modelling and Professor Geraint Tarling, BIOPOLE.
During the two-hour session, Dr Lea responded to questions about the UK’s contribution to Arctic science, about funding for Arctic science and about specific issues in Arctic science that need to be studied. The Committee also asked the panel for their thoughts on responsibility and co-ordination for Arctic science, the impact of the UK leaving the EU and how the Russian invasion of the Ukraine has affected collaborative research with Russian institutions.
Dr Lea said: “It was a privilege to be invited to give oral evidence to the Sub-Committee and to have the opportunity to speak to MPs about the Arctic, and the future of Arctic science in the UK. I look forward to reading the final report when it is published this autumn.”
You can watch the session here>>> https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/ac9f55fb-db99-4764-a711-61b1ff3d8820
Dr Lea is Reader in Glaciology and holds a prestigious UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship which aims to improve knowledge of both future global sea level change and understand the risks to future Arctic shipping routes.
Dr Lea previously provided written evidence to the ‘The Changing Arctic’ report published in 2018 which was published by the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee.