AboutThe All Party Parliamentary Group
for the Polar Regions
The APPG for the Polar Regions exists to raise awareness of Polar issues with UK Parliamentarians and the wider Polar community
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Polar Regions is a cross-party forum for Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The Group works to improve parliamentary understanding of the polar regions, examine the implications of rapid change across the Arctic and Antarctic, and connect parliamentarians with the scientists, institutions, communities, policymakers and innovators working at the frontiers of polar knowledge.
The current APPG was formally re-established on 25 February 2026 under the leadership of George Freeman MP. The renewed Group is building on the valuable work of its predecessor while establishing a fresh programme, leadership structure and network for the new Parliament.
Why the polar regions matter
The Arctic and Antarctic are central to understanding the future of our planet. They are critical environments for climate and Earth science, increasingly important arenas for diplomacy and international security, and test beds for technologies designed to operate in some of the world’s most extreme conditions.
Developments in the polar regions have consequences far beyond the poles: for sea levels, weather systems, biodiversity, international governance, shipping, defence, energy, data and the global economy.
The APPG exists to help Parliament understand these interconnected issues and consider their implications for the United Kingdom.
Our three areas of focus
Polar science and planetary change
Supporting parliamentary understanding of polar research, environmental change and the role of the Arctic and Antarctic in the wider Earth system.
This includes the study of ice, oceans, atmosphere, biodiversity and climate, as well as the UK’s contribution to world-leading polar research.
Geopolitics, diplomacy and security
Examining the growing diplomatic and geopolitical importance of the polar regions, including international cooperation, governance, sovereignty, security, shipping and the UK’s role within a rapidly changing strategic landscape.
The Group also recognises the importance of the people and communities who live and work across the circumpolar north.
Technology, innovation and data
Exploring the technologies that make polar research and operations possible, from satellites, autonomous systems and advanced communications to ships, sensors, robotics and equipment designed for extreme environments.
The Group will also consider how polar data is gathered, shared and applied, and how innovations developed for the poles can create wider scientific, environmental and commercial value.
Strategic objectives
The APPG for the Polar Regions exists to:
- Keep Parliament informed about significant developments across the Arctic and Antarctic.
- Provide a trusted, cross-party forum for evidence, expert insight and informed discussion.
- Strengthen UK engagement in polar science, diplomacy, governance, security and innovation.
- Connect parliamentarians with the people and organisations working in and on the polar regions.
- Improve public understanding of why the poles matter to the United Kingdom and the wider world.
- Encourage constructive international cooperation around the shared challenges and opportunities presented by the polar regions.
What the APPG does
The APPG convenes briefings, discussions, visits and events that bring parliamentarians into direct contact with leading researchers, institutions, policymakers, explorers, communities and technology organisations.
Its programme will include activity within Parliament alongside visits to research organisations and facilities, public-facing events, expert roundtables and, where appropriate, parliamentary delegations.
The Group also aims to share trusted and accessible information about the polar regions, helping complex science, policy and technology reach audiences beyond the specialist polar community.
George Freeman MP
Chair & Registered Contact
Conservative — Mid Norfolk
George Freeman is the Member of Parliament for Mid Norfolk. Before entering Parliament, he spent 15 years working across the life sciences sector. He has subsequently served in a series of ministerial roles spanning life sciences, transport, science, research and innovation.
George currently serves on the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee. As Chair of the APPG for the Polar Regions, he is leading the Group’s renewed programme around polar science, geopolitics and frontier technology, with a particular focus on communicating why developments in the Arctic and Antarctic matter to the United Kingdom and the wider world.
Lord Mann
Officer
Life Peer - Cross Party
Lord Mann is a Labour member of the House of Lords and a former Member of Parliament for Bassetlaw. He brings extensive parliamentary experience to the Group and supports its cross-party work, public engagement and long-term continuity.
Blake Stephenson MP
Officer
Conservative — Mid Bedfordshire
Blake Stephenson is the Member of Parliament for Mid Bedfordshire. He serves on both the Environmental Audit Committee and the Public Accounts Committee, bringing experience of environmental scrutiny and public accountability to the Group’s work.
Baroness Northover
Officer
Liberal Democrat — House of Lords
Baroness Northover is a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords. She has held ministerial and spokesperson roles covering international development and foreign affairs and has served on parliamentary committees concerned with science, technology, environment, climate change and national resilience.
She brings considerable experience of international affairs, resilience and science policy to the Group
Registered contact
George Freeman MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
george.freeman.mp@parliament.uk
020 7219 6502
Public enquiries
Fiona Walker
Office of George Freeman MP
fiona.walker@parliament.uk
All-Party Parliamentary Groups are informal cross-party groups that have no official status within Parliament. They are run by and for Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, although they may involve individuals and organisations from outside Parliament in their activities.
The current entry for the APPG for the Polar Regions can be viewed in the official Register of All-Party Parliamentary Groups.
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