The Wildlife Trusts, together with a coalition of more than 50 nature organisations as part of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said the ‘net zero for nature’ target would be transformative for the natural environment and demonstrate international leadership on biodiversity loss.
By Alex Black
The Wildlife Trusts, together with a coalition of more than 50 nature organisations as part of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said the ‘net zero for nature’ target would be transformative for the natural environment and demonstrate international leadership on biodiversity loss.
Giving evidence to MPs on the Environmental Audit committee as part of their inquiry into biodiversity and ecosystems, Joan Edwards, director of policy and public affairs at The Wildlife Trusts and Dr Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said there was a risk that Government rhetoric on the environment would not ‘ring true’ without a legally binding target on nature decline.
They also claimed targets which have been set under the Environment Bill framework were ‘too technocratic and slow’ and would miss the boat for influencing international negotiations.
In a letter to the committee, the pair wrote: “Setting a legally binding target for the Government to reverse the decline of nature by 2030, taking into account species abundance, species extinction risk and the extent and condition of habitats, would ensure words become action and a crucial moment for international nature and climate diplomacy is not missed.
“This level of ambition will not only set us on a path to improving our natural environment at home – it will boost the UK’s environmental credibility across the world.”
They highlighted this year’s COP15 biodiversity convention to be held in China, where the international community is expected to agree a new set of global goals for nature for 2030.
Originally published at Farmers guardian insight