New plans for nature recovery

On 16^th March 2022 the Government announced new long term environmental targets and plans for nature recovery.

The proposed targets will drive action by successive governments to protect and enhance the environment.

The targets include improving the health of our rivers by reducing nutrient pollution and contamination from abandoned metal mines in water courses. I am reassured that new targets on water quality will tackle the most significant pressures on the water environment and help unlock the most serious challenges to clean up England’s rivers, and support the UK’s wider ambitions under the Water Framework Directive. Other targets include cleaning up air through a target to reduce exposure to PM2.5 by over a third compared to 2018, which will reduce exposure to the most harmful air quality across the country and in locations where levels are highest, with a 50% cut in acceptable levels going well above and beyond previous EU targets while remaining achievable.

I am also pleased that the proposed targets include halting the decline in our wildlife populations through a legally binding target for species abundance by 2030, with a requirement to increase species populations by 10% by 2042.

The Environment Secretary said: “These proposed targets are intended to set a clear, long-term plan for nature’s recovery. 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.”

The proposed targets and green paper proposals will be subject to an eight week consultation period, which closes on 11^th May 2022. The Government’s response to the Green Paper and targets consultation is expected to be published in early summer 2022.

For further information on the Nature Recovery Green Paper consultation please see the helpful link. https://consult.defra.gov.uk/natural-environment-policy/consultation-on-environmental-targets/

I want our environment left in a better state than we found it for future generations. I am confident that these proposals will help care for our environment, which is one of my key priorities I have set out for my constituents.