The Government launched its updated Environmental Improvement Plan a few weeks ago – here’s what our national office of Friends of the Earth had to say about it:
“Although this Environmental Improvement Plan is far more detailed than its predecessor, it still falls short of what’s needed to reverse the alarming loss of nature. There are several areas of grave concern – not least that the UK is still going backwards on its nature targets, including species recovery.
“Ministers talk about a ‘step change’, but too much of this plan relies on future consultations, voluntary measures and vague private finance. We need concrete action and investment to meet the UK’s legally binding targets to restore habitats, clean up rivers and protect communities from pollution.
“Without stronger enforcement against polluters, clear safeguards against environmentally damaging development and firm protections for the natural world written into planning and land-use decisions, nature will continue to decline. The government must turn promises into delivery or risk another decade of missed targets and worsening environmental harm.”
Find the plan here