We are one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. The latest State of Nature report revealed the rapid decline in our wildlife, with more than a quarter of mammals in Britain now facing extinction.
The nature and climate crisis are inextricably linked. We need a healthy natural world if we are to have any chance of tackling the climate emergency.
We must urgently review the way we treat nature. And we must be honest about how much we depend on it, not just for our food but also for our own well-being and ultimately our own survival.
The Green Party has always had the most ambitious policies on nature of any political party
- more than 70 proposals in our last election manifesto
- reducing pesticide and fungicide use
- reforestation and rewilding
- repurposing our economy so that human well-being and sustainability are indicators of success, not rising consumption and continuous GDP growth
We way we produce our food needs to change, away from the damaging use of pesticides and fungicides and an approach which leaves no room for nature. We need a ten-year transition to agroecological farming, using subsidies to support farming methods and food systems which create jobs and restore ecosystem health, and the health of our soils and rivers.
The Climate & Ecological Emergency Bill
I introduced the CEE Bill as a private member's bill in Parliament in September 2020 and it's winning the support of MPs from across the House of Commons. The CEE Bill updates the existing Climate Change Act and fills in gaps to address the latest science on climate AND nature. The Bill seeks to
- set legally binding targets for the UK to achieve its fair share of emissions reductions, in line with the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement which we signed in 2015
- restore and enhance nature, addressing the biodiversity crisis while recognising the importance of nature's role in tackling the climate crisis
- give a voice to ordinary citizens via a citizens' assembly which would work with government to ensure the UK achieves its objectives
There's more information about the CEE Bill here, where you can sign up to support the campaign.
