Reporter (c) The Climate Reality Project on Unsplash
As it happens
The latest updates about the UK Government announcements regarding nature and wildlife legislation, our response and what we're doing to #DefendNature.
25 May
A crucial vote is took place on Wednesday 24th May that could have serious ramifications for nature. Thousands of Wildlife Trust supporters acted fast to convince MPs to vote for amendments to the Bill in order to ensure Parliament isn't left out of key decisions in future and that the laws that protect nature are not weakened.
Disappointingly, despite almost 10,000 of you contacting MPs, the UK Government and Conservative MPs voted down this amendment. The Bill will now be voted on in the House of Lords on 6th June, where we hope an amendment will be reinserted to ensure our environmental protections are not watered down.
15 May
The UK Government had been forging forward with a ‘sunset clause’ on the Retained EU Law Bill that would bulldoze hundreds of important laws that protect nature and people at the end of the year (2023).
On the 15th May 2023, UK Government announced that it had scrapped the ‘sunset clause’, which means many vital environmental laws will remain in place in 2024. Your passionate postcards, emails and tweets to MPs raised the alarm. Thank you for your support. However, the fight is not yet over. Please read our response below for more information.
18 January
The Retained EU Law Bill (REUL) had Report Stage and third and final reading in the House of Commons. It has now moved on to the House of Lords.
In addition to having serious implications for environmental protections in England, the Bill will have major consequences for environmental law and legal certainty in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The Scottish Government has strongly opposed the Bill, calling it a “deregulatory race to the bottom” and the Welsh Government has labelled the Bill a “power grab”.
11 January
The Government reverses ban on bee-killing neonicotinoids after mounting pressure from the National Farmers Union. It has agreed to authorise the use of the highly damaging neonicotinoid thiamethoxam for the treatment of sugar beet seed in 2021.
05 January 2023
The Government announced new payments for farmers which raise serious questions as to whether we’ll see any better environmental outcomes now than the era of the much-derided Common Agricultural Policy.
Tim Bevan, GWT’s Lead Farm Advisor said:
"Farmers and landowners have the potential and the appetite to turn around wildlife declines, but they need the right incentives to do so. Getting these Government schemes right is critical as most farmers in Gloucestershire will rely on them to improve the natural environment.
The announcement today is welcome but more detail is urgently needed for farmers to make decisions about future management. The release of information on these schemes has been too slow and in some cases the payment rates are too low to support small family farms through the uncertainties ahead. The initial ambition for the Environmental Land Management schemes has been seriously watered down, with less incentive for farmers to collaborate to restore nature across wider landscapes.
Farming is facing a huge transition but these changes need to be supported. Farmers can only help to tackle the climate and biodiversity emergencies if they can make it pay."
19 December
Landmark COP15 agreement gives nature hope for the future, that is if implementation follows. Negotiations in Montreal may have felt slow, but after twelve days of talks and two years of delays due to Covid-19, negotiators have secured a historic global deal.
The new Global Biodiversity Framework enshrines the target of protecting 30% of land and sea for nature in international law and commits richer countries to providing $30bn a year to help developing countries safeguard nature and wildlife.
Dive into more detail about what this deal entails and what it means for the UK in this blog.
07 December
Today marks the launch of COP15, the Conference of the Parties where world leaders come together to review the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (or CBD). The Wildlife Trusts want to see bold decisions made at COP15 to ensure that by 2030, 30% of land and sea is protected for nature's recovery.
We need wildlife and wild spaces to be thriving to help us adapt to the changes brought on by climate change. We want to see the following included in the COP15 agreement:
- COP15 must agree to a legally binding global treaty to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2030. World leaders must make nature a priority, this is the only way we will reach our target of 30%.
- We must make progress at home! If we want to be seen as a world leader on climate and nature it is vital UK Government commits to protecting 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030.
- The UK must provide effective financial and practical support to communities that need it. Indigenous communities manage some of the earth’s most precious natural resources, the UK must help protect these. The UK also needs to provide finance to global majority countries for nature restoration. These countries are often on the front line of the climate catastrophe.
10 November
The UK risks major embarrassment on the global stage at COP15 due to the long list of unfulfilled green promises leaves nature at risk. You can find out more about these promises here.
8 November
Our members speak out about what the loss of nature and wildlife would mean to them. A poignant sentiment shared by one of the young adults in the film: "If there was no nature left, then I'd be sad because humans would be alone by themselves."
6 November
COP27 begins today, but it got off to a delayed start as the delegates struggle to reach an agreement over what should be discussed at the conference, primarily the discussion of loss and damage. This is the first time the finance of loss and damage will be discussed.
4 November
Farming is experiencing huge challenges with rising costs and a transition away from direct payments. For farms and nature to survive, the Government's new ELMs scheme must enable farms to make effective change that can benefit both nature and sustainable food production.
Find out what we've been doing to make ELMS work for the farmers of Gloucestershire, the history of farming regulation and what losing ELMS could mean for farmers and wildlife with Tim Bevan, Senior Wildlife and Farming Manager.
31 October
Downing Street state that Sunak may yet attend COP27 after ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would attend to show his solidarity with the battle against the climate crisis on Saturday, but this is "under review".
The announcement that Sunak wouldn't attend the climate summit provoked huge criticism from environmental organisations and concern from other governments. Sunak's official spokesperson has said that “...any attendance at COP would depend on progress on preparation for [the autumn statement], and that work is ongoing. The prime minister fully recognises the importance of the COP summit and is fully committed to addressing climate change.”
28 October
We publish our myth-busting webpage, responding to misinformation seen in news articles or that have been sent in to us regarding MP and councillor response letters.
Downing Street release a statement saying that Sunak would not attend the COP27 climate summit beginning on Sunday 6 November.
26 October
Rishi Sunak will keep ban on fracking in UK, saying he stands by Tories’ 2019 manifesto policy when asked in Commons.
The 2019 manifesto said the ban would be in place until there was new scientific evidence about the safety of fracking, reading:
“We placed a moratorium on fracking in England with immediate effect. Having listened to local communities, we have ruled out changes to the planning system. We will not support fracking unless the science shows categorically that it can be done safely.”
25 October
Liz Truss resigns as Prime Minister and Rishi Sunak is appointed. There is potential to rebuild the green agenda that was torn up during Truss’ short tenure, though Sunak has never been considered fully on board with the green agenda.
19 October
The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries on the planet. Of 218 countries assessed for their biodiversity intactness, the UK is ranked 189. Join Dr Juliet Hynes, Interim Director for Nature's Recovery, as she breaks down the timeline of Government policy.
18 October
Every nature reserve owned by GWT, every landscape, every farm and every person will be affected if the Governments damaging proposals go ahead. Find out what the latest announcements could mean for our wild places with Ian Stevenson, Head of Nature Recovery Zones.
11 October
We’ve been working with farmers around the county trialling the Government's new Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMS), which will provide crucial support to help them manage their land sustainably, whilst also caring for our natural world. The recent Government announcements have left the future of this scheme in jeopardy, with a real risk of this leading to more intensive farming and more impacts on our county’s wildlife.
Discover what this could mean for farmers in Gloucestershire with David Wilson, owner of Fir Farm, an organic farm on the outskirts of Lower Swell.
10 October
Charities like RSPB decide to not rule out direct action to defend nature from Government policy. The head of the RSPB, Beccy Speight, says that RSPB is ruling nothing out as it organises a mobilisation of millions of people.
6 October
Join Roger Mortlock, GWT CEO, as he dives into the latest Government announcements and the three areas of which are of greatest concern to Gloucestershire's wildlife.
4 October
Wildlife Trust Vice Presidents, Amir Khan and Iolo Williams, Wildlife Trusts ambassador, Sophie Pavelle, and Wildlife Trusts Chief Executive, Craig Bennett, speak up about their concerns in The Wildlife Trusts short video below.
28 September
Roger Mortlock, GWT CEO, published a blog in response to the latest Government announcements, further detailing the three areas of concern and how they could impact wildlife.
27 September
GWT’s Defend Nature webpage goes live, detailing actions you can take to raise awareness and add your voice to the conversation.
23 September
The UK’s mini-budget for 2022 was announced by then Chancellor, Kwasi Kwarteng. There are three key areas of concern:
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Plans to amend or scrap crucial environmental laws. These not only protect vulnerable wildlife and green places, but also clean water, air, beaches and rivers.
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Plans to introduce at least 38 ‘Investment Zones’ in England. This means housing and commercial developments could be incentivised to damage nature with little or no restriction. There is an aspiration for these to be extended to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well.
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The consideration of scrapping the Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS). Currently in the early stages, this scheme aims to support and incentivise farmers and landowners to create space for wildlife and green spaces, as well as using their land to absorb carbon and work towards net zero.
22 September
The UK Government formally lifted a ban on fracking for shale gas in England despite there being no categorical evidence that proves fracking is safe. Fracking in the UK was halted in 2019 due to safety concerns.