I am very keen to see this ratified at the earliest opportunity, which is why I became a co-sponsor of Kevin Foster MP’s Bill. I also attended the event you mentioned in your email.
In December, I had already tabled a parliamentary question regarding this - https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-12-13/6787/ .
As Secretary of State for DEFRA, I joined Lord Ahmad in New York when the UK signed the Treaty last September. This followed my involvement as Environment Minister and that of DEFRA officials in supporting UK government in this challenging negotiation. The Foreign Office, as with most treaties, has taken the lead on this and is going through various processes to ratify. It has already stated that they intend to legislate in 2025 as they need to prepare other pieces of legislation and guidance to enable the ratification to have effect.
I know that Greenpeace has written a Bill. Looking carefully at this, it does leave a considerable amount of work that would still need to be done.
However, I have been working with Kevin Foster MP to see if we can use this as a way to get ratification.
So far, I have met the Minister Lord Benyon and also FCDO officials. I am still awaiting further details from FCDO officials regarding specifically which elements need separate legislation prior to ratification.
While this gets worked through, I support Kevin Foster MP delaying the printing of his Bill and its 2nd Reading. I would like to see legislation pass as quickly as possible.