Chalk Streams (UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site) - 25th February 2026

Here are the climate-related sections of speeches by MPs during the Commons debate Chalk Streams (UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site).

Full text: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-02-25/debates/DCFFEDDC-1287-42EB-B6F8-C435A24ADACA/ChalkStreamsUNESCONaturalWorldHeritageSite

Pippa Heylings (Liberal Democrat)

There are only 260 chalk streams worldwide. Their number is small due to the unique conditions and alchemy needed to form them. They exist only where water filters slowly through chalk aquifers and emerges at springs crystal clear, mineral rich and at a near constant temperature throughout the year. Or rather, that is what used to happen. Today, our chalk streams are in a perilous state. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to our nature and wildlife. Extreme droughts are exacerbating the damage already being done. We are letting our streams be drained dry because of untrammelled growth and allowing water companies and agricultural run-off to create a chemical cocktail of sewage and slurry. Wildlife is suffering. The chalk stream Atlantic salmon is close to extinction in some rivers and rising temperatures threaten the survival of trout. That is why this House should make a clear commitment to restoring and conserving these rivers.

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