Professor Gideon Henderson has been appointed by Defra to be the department’s new Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA).

Professor Henderson, currently a Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Oxford and until recently its head of department, will join Defra in October this year.

He will replace Sir Ian Boyd, who is leaving Defra after seven years in the post.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove said:

Sir Ian Boyd’s contribution to Defra’s work has been invaluable, and I am immensely grateful for all the advice he has provided over the past seven years, informing key government policies.

I warmly welcome Professor Henderson to the role and look forward to working with him and seeing his positive impact on science in the department going forward.

It is absolutely crucial that all our policies are based on sound scientific advice to ensure we are addressing the UK’s most pressing environmental issues in a targeted and innovative way, and Defra’s Chief Scientific Adviser is vital to this process.

Commenting on his appointment, Professor Henderson said:

I am thrilled to be joining Defra at a time when the environment is such a strong priority and there is an ever-growing public level of environmental awareness.

The UK faces many challenges – among them responding to climate change and helping meet a net zero emissions goal, as well as ensuring our food’s security and realising the goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan.

I look forward to working closely with colleagues to help achieve these ambitions with the support of the UK’s excellent scientific research.

Tamara Finkelstein, Permanent Secretary at Defra, said:

High quality science is central to everything this department does, as our recent investment in a Systems Research Programme reinforces.

I am delighted that Gideon Henderson is joining us as the new CSA for Defra, bringing with him strong experience in geochemistry, ocean sciences and climate. I look forward to working with him as part of the Defra executive committee and as a leader of our superb scientist community.

Sir Patrick Vallance, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, said:

Congratulations to Professor Gideon Henderson FRS on his appointment as the new Defra Chief Scientific Adviser. He is an exceptional scientist and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this vital and varied role in a key department for science.

I would like to extend a warm welcome to Gideon to the network of Chief Scientific Advisers across government and I look forward to working with him.

The CSA sits on Defra’s Board and is responsible for overseeing the quality of evidence that the department relies on for policy decisions. The CSA also provides Ministers with scientific advice and sets the priorities for scientific research and evidence-gathering.

Biography

• Professor Henderson has been Professor of Earth Sciences at the Department of Earth Sciences in the University of Oxford since 2006. He has also jointly held positions as Senior Research Fellow at University College, Oxford since 2012 and as Adjunct Associate Research Scientist at the Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University since 1999.

• His awards include the 30th Annual Plymouth Marine Science Medal 2016, European Union of Geosciences outstanding young scientist award in 2001, and the Leverhulme Prize Fellowship in 2001. In 2013 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS).

• As of 2019, he is the chair of the Royal Society Global Environmental Research Committee, a NERC Member of Council and a Member of the Royal Society Science Policy Expert Advisory Committee. He has also recently been appointed chair of the National Oceanographic Centre (NOC) Association Board, overseeing the body formally tasked with ensuring good science and infrastructure interaction between the NOC and the broad UK oceanographic community.

• His research uses geochemistry to understand surface earth processes, particularly those relating to climate, the ocean, and the carbon cycle. Two major themes have been the use of past climate to assess climate issues relevant to the future, and assessment of the cycles of metals in the modern ocean, including contaminants and nutrients. His present work includes researching the potential and risks of accelerating natural processes to removal CO2 from the atmosphere.

• He holds a PhD from St John’s College, Cambridge, and gives regular keynotes at international conferences in geochemistry, ocean sciences and climate.

Professor Gideon Henderson has been appointed the new Defra CSA

Thank you Mr President,

The UK has to the honour to present draft resolution L.25 on the human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic, on behalf of a group of states: France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, the Netherlands, Qatar, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Mr President,

It is with deep regret that we are again compelled to present a resolution on the human rights situation in Syria. But the grave human rights situation continues to demand a response by this Council.

This draft resolution reflects recent developments on the ground, which must be of concern to us all, including the ongoing crisis as a result of military action in Idlib. Since April, shelling and air strikes have resulted in 350 deaths and the displacement of over 300,000 people. These are violations causing suffering on a massive scale.

It is simply unjustifiable that 25 health facilities and 45 schools are reported to have been damaged due to airstrikes. And, in some cases these airstrikes took place despite the facilities sharing their coordinates with the UN deconfliction mechanism. As a result of these attacks, 49 health facilities have stopped or suspended all services, leaving the 3 million civilians in Idlib even more vulnerable.

The resolution also reflects the latest findings of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, and includes new language expressing concern regarding the use of landmines by all parties to the conflict and on the need for all parties to search for missing persons in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2474, led by Kuwait. The resolution also reflects recent developments in OPCW investigations into the use of chemical weapons.

The negotiation process for this resolution has been open and transparent, and we have reflected many of the key concerns raised by states during the informal negotiation process. Once again we would like to thank member states for their constructive participation.

Mr President,

This text should be adopted without a vote being called. As we have said before, this resolution should enjoy the support of all at this Council. We urge all member states to put the plight of the Syrian people first, to support the UN-led political process under the auspices of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General, and adopt this text by consensus.

In the event we must have a vote on this text, we urge all delegations to vote in favour of the text as drafted.

Thank you, Mr President.

Environment Agency teams have restocked a total of 91,000 so far to help the river recover after a devastating pollution last year

Another 17,000 fish have been reintroduced into Lincolnshire’s River Witham by Environment Agency teams as part of ongoing efforts to help the river recover from last year’s devastating pollution.

It brings the grand total of fish restocked into the river to 91,000 so far, plus around 1.5 million larvae.

The restocking will help restore the river to its natural, healthy state, after a serious pollution in March 2018, when ammonia badly affected the river and its ecosystems from Bardney to the Wash. More than 100,000 fish were killed in what’s thought to be the worst river pollution ever recorded in the county.

The last round of restocking took place in May, when 34,000 roach and bream were placed back into the river.

All the fish were bred at the Environment Agency’s national coarse fish farm in Calverton, Nottinghamshire, before being transported and released into the river by fisheries officers.

Darren Randall, fisheries officer at the Environment Agency, said:

Last year’s pollution had a devastating impact on the Witham and its wildlife, but we’re doing all we can to help return it to its former glory.

A river can take years or even decades to recover from such a serious pollution, but reintroducing these fish will help restore its complex ecosystems and natural balance. It’s just one way we’re working to protect and improve the environment, for people and nature.

Strong, healthy fish and larvae from Calverton play an important role in the work of the Environment Agency to restore sustainable fisheries – they replace stocks lost to pollution, improve stocks where natural reproduction is low, and help create fisheries in areas where there is a shortage of angling opportunities.

All the fish farm’s work is funded by income from fishing licence fees – you can find out more about fishing licences, including how to buy one, on GOV.UK.

Anyone who suspects a pollution incident is urged to report it to the Environment Agency’s incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.