The Green Party has welcomed the deal to halt biodiversity loss announced at the UN’s COP15 summit in Canada today [1], but warned the UK government and others must now step up to the plate to make the promises a reality.
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said:
“Now that we have reached this point, it is vital that governments step up with the money and the plans to not only halt the destruction of Earth’s ecosystems but actually restore the natural world we all depend upon.
“Here in the UK, we have one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, yet the government has made no progress on its own commitment to restore 30% of land for nature by 2030 [2]. Instead, it has gone in the wrong direction with its foolish and short-sighted attacks on the natural world that have rightly been condemned by charities [3].
“With this international deal now in place, it is incumbent on the UK government to start taking the necessary action on the ecological emergency which currently poses real threats to human society - to food and water supplies, to clean air, to our ability to adapt to a warming world.
“This starts with richer nations contributing money and resources to start taking action to deliver on this deal - as many of the world’s most important countries for biodiversity are also some of the poorest. But it also requires serious attention to the biodiversity loss here in the UK.
“If the government wants to demonstrate a genuine commitment to halting and reversing species decline, it will show leadership by introducing a Rights of Nature Act [4]. This would provide legal protections for wildlife and habitats in England and Wales and be enforced by an independent Commission for Nature. It would also ensure that the regeneration of nature is at the heart of all policy considerations.
“The government must also immediately stop dragging its feet on introducing the promised nature-friendly farming payments scheme, publish a clear pathway to meet its commitment to restore 30% of land for nature by 2030 and scrap plans to weaken protections for nature in the Retained EU Law (revocation and reform) Bill.”
ENDS
Notes
1
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64019324
2
3
4
For more information or to arrange an interview contact the press office on press@greenparty.org.uk or call 0203 691 9401