The UK’s green groups and business organizations have welcomed Government proposals to establish legally binding nature targets. However, they argue that the current targets should be more ambitious.
Among the targets is a new aim to increase species abundance on land by 10% by 2030
Today (16 March) marks the start of an eight-week consultation by the Department for Food, the Environment and Rural Affairs on new targets for conserving and restoring nature, reducing water and air pollution, improving water efficiency, and slashing waste.
Click here to see edie’s coverageThis document lists all major target suggestions.
After consultation, the targets will be enshrined in law by the Environment Bill, also known under the Environment Act. Defra had previously promised such targets in August 2020. They stated that they would need effect by autumn 2022.
Defra also published today a. ‘Green Paper on Nature Recovery’ – A document that outlines how the Government intends to use legislation and regulation in order to meet the new targets. The document also describes, in broad terms the Government’s approach towards funding.
Detailed in the Green Paper are plans to introduce a streamlined system for classifying protected areas, and introducing new classifications for areas where active restoration efforts are taking place.
In announcing the targets and unveiling the Green Paper, Environment Secretary George Eustice said it was Defra’s intention to “set a clear, long-term plan for nature’s recovery”.
Eustice said: “In a post-EU era, we now have the freedom to move towards a system that focuses on nature’s recovery as well as its preservation, and which places more emphasis on science and less emphasis on legal process. This change in approach will help us in the pursuit of the targets we are setting under the Environment Act.”
We have set world-leading, legally binding targets on:
🦋Biodiversity
💧 Water
♻️Resource efficiency and waste reduction
🍃 Air qualityPlease share your views on the environmental targets consultation until 11 May https://t.co/ljXC7ivi95#EnvironmentAct pic.twitter.com/mMZiB9BFx4
— Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) March 16, 2022
However, some green groups are questioning whether the UK’s targets will be strong enough to fulfill its commitment to leave nature in a better place for the next generation. There are loopholes regarding issues like the pollution of rivers by water firms, the need reduce resource consumption to decrease waste and litter, as well as the need to restore terrestrial habitats which are protected but have declined.
Business groups are also asking whether Defra’s approach will allow them to leverage investment from the private sector in nature restoration at scale.
Here is a summary of the reaction by edie
Wildlife and Countryside Link had hoped for a general target for the state rivers and streams; better targets to water companies and a target for restoring protected habitats on earth.
The NGO’s chief executive Dr Richard Benwell: We fully support the Government’s world-leading target to halt the decline of wildlife by 2030, which we campaigned for in the Environment Act. But the Government must raise its sights on today’s proposals or fall far short of the aim of restoring our environment. We can’t afford to take 20 years to stand still on nature’s recovery.
“The Government first promised to pass on nature in better condition in its 2010 manifesto, and again in its 25 Year Environment Plan. This could result in wildlife being less plentiful than it is today, which is not the original promise.
“The targets for water could give the impression of progress, while allowing the real-world condition of our rivers and streams to decline. They miss major sources of pollution such as sewage companies and water companies. They rely on unreliable methods to measure rivers and set no goals for their overall quality. This is totally incompatible with the need for healthier rivers.
“The Government has asked the right questions about protecting wildlife sites and species in its Green Paper, but it hasn’t come up with the right answer.
“How can we improve protection for wildlife sites and species? The answer isn’t to make changes to names and processes. It is to designate more sites in the network, and increase protection and investment across our important wildlife areas, so that they can no longer be harmed by development, over-exploitation or pollution.”
Greener UK’s senior parliamentary affairs associate Ruth Chambers said: “The targets on offer are a decent start, but it’s hard to see them making the necessary changes at the necessary speed. Real ambition would require targets for protected habitats or resource consumption with shorter deadlines. We cannot wait 15 years or longer to see if there’s an improvement.”
The Aldersgate Group’s head of public affairs and communications Signe Norberg: “Businesses across the economy – from water and food to energy and construction – have a key role to play in delivering a positive step-change in nature restoration and see this as a key part of improving their resilience and competitiveness.
“To this end, businesses are strongly supportive of the introduction of ambitious environmental regulations and targets that are set at the right level, have clear lead-in periods and are properly enforced. Today’s publication and consultation of the Nature Recovery Green Paper is a welcome move forward. To attract long-term, meaningful private investment, however, the final targets and reforms must aim at substantially improving environmental standards. They must also result in bold, forward-looking and well-joined environmental regulations, policies, and market mechanisms that are properly enforced.
“To be credible, the new Nature Improvement Targets under the Environment Act must concentrate on delivering significant environmental improvements. This is not evident from the consultation.
“Critically, businesses can only respond to long-term targets if these are backed by nearer-term interim targets and clear policies and incentives, both of which will need to be clearly set out in the next Environment Improvement Plan due in January 2023. Today’s long-term targets consultation provides us with some important initial building blocks. But to achieve the vision that underpins the Environment Act, it is essential that this process delivers bold and carefully joined-up targets across all key areas of policy, including on resource efficiency where policy progress has stalled in recent years.”
WWF’s executive director of advocacy and campaigns Kate Norgrove said: “Not only do we need to see increased ambition from the UK Government when it comes to setting key targets, but – to make real progress – targets must be matched by bold action. All of government must prepare to go further, faster to protect and restore England’s precious habitats, and to slash the UK’s global environmental footprint.
“Boosting nature will enhance the resilience of our food system and drive down UK emissions but to deliver, ministers now need to supercharge the pace of change, starting with action to accelerate a shift to nature-friendly, net-zero, regenerative farming and land use, and a nature-positive finance system.”
The Food, Farming and Countryside Commission’s chief executive Sue Pritchard spoke: “We are experiencing a game-changing perfect storm. It combines the fallout from the pandemic and ongoing climate and nature crises, and now a geopolitical emergency with both immediate and long-term consequences.
“The temptation in such volatile times is to revert to solutions that mitigate the most immediate crisis. There is no one-size-fits all solution. We must manage food security risks tackle the nature, climate and health crises. The only long-term solution is to end our dependence on fossil fuels, chemical fertilisers, and animal feeds. This will allow us to create a new food system that’s more equitable, sustainable, and secure. It is not the right time to revert to discredited old tactics. It is time to be braver, more resolute and more imaginative than ever.”
The Nature-Friendly Farming Network’s chair Martin Lines“The restoration and preservation of nature is not an option or a luxury. It’s a fundamental building block for sustainable food production. This package of measures will be a crucial starting point for protecting and enhancing biodiversity, which is the lifeblood of our agricultural landscapes.
“As farmers we are proud to produce food for people to eat, and manage landscapes that will allow us to grow future crops. The UK produces half of its arable crops for animal feed or energy. Arable crops that are not suitable for human consumption should not be used to feed livestock. We cannot deny how odiously flawed this system is and it’s one that we pay the price for in times of crisis.”
Natural England’s chair Tony Juniper: “Our network of protected sites has been the backbone of England’s conservation effort for seven decades. It has been crucial for preserving many special places and many of our most endangered species. But we can and must do more. Nature is facing ever-increasing pressures. This includes the effects of climate changes. It is not enough to preserve the remnants of nature that survived. We must invest in large-scale restoration.
“Ambitious targets to halt the decline in species abundance and to increase the area of land and sea protected for Nature, backed by a range of new policies to meet them, means that we are in a strong position to shift up a gear – not only protecting what’s left but also to recover some of what has been lost.
“Natural England will work with government and other partners to help achieve these important new environmental targets, ensuring that any new system of protections not only maintains but restores our depleted natural world, contributing to England’s Nature Recovery Network.”
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Sarah George