October 20th 2023
MPs, peers, NGOs issue UK Government open letter on biodiversity
Nature 2030 is calling on policymakers to step up efforts at restoring nature and protecting vital habitats following major climate u-turns.
30 MPs, peers and NGOs have signed the document do far, with Caroline Lucas MP, Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park, and Kerry McCarthy MP, Shadow Minister for Climate Change, among the names showing cross-party support for the Greener Britain Campaign.
Signatories also include Chris Packham, Greenpeace’s Will McCallum and James Wallace of River Action. Among the recommendations are rewilding at a national level, and more support for local councils to implement strategies aimed at improving ecological health.
Over the past two months the UK Government has been widely criticised for a number of agenda changed critics argue amounts to reneging on environmental commitments and threatens legally-binding targets. These include delays to the introduction of a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars from 2030.
A recent State of Nature Report has revealed the urgency with which Britain’s mounting environmental crisis must be addressed. Just one-in-14 woodland areas and a quarter of peatland is considered to be in good health. 16% of the 10,008 species in the study were deemed to be at risk of extinction. Meanwhile, goals such as the restoration of 30% of degraded habitat by 2030 are unlikely to be met based on current progress.
‘It is clear that time is running out for the health of our country’s biodiversity. we can no longer let yet another report go idly by, it is time to act, it is time to restore,’ said Packham. ‘This restoration will look different around the country. Pockets of nature in urban environments will have an important role to play in rescuing British biodiversity, and this will require collaboration between campaigners, councils, government and the public if it is to be successful.’
You can find and sign the open letter here.
More on biodiversity:
‘Stand strong on environment’ Keir Starmer told as Labour conference ends
Plant extinction is major threat to healthcare and biodiversity
Image: OC Gonzalez