Next PM must not be allowed to forget there is a nature crisis as well
THE word political is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “relating to the government or the public affairs of a country”. Having spent my entire career in the charity sector, and much of it engaging with politicians, I am acutely aware of the need to ensure no party bias creeps into communications.
But the very nature of work to protect and enhance Nottinghamshire’s natural environment for the benefit of all is inherently political.
When general or local elections are taking place, we are extremely careful to ensure there is no sniff of bias, and we seek to engage with all main party candidates to highlight the policies and investments we feel are required to tackle the ecological and climate crises and put nature into recovery.
However, when one party has been in power for a considerable length of time, there is a risk that some might view criticism of Government decisions or direction as criticism of the governing party – so we have to work hard to ensure we are critical of policy not party ethos.
Whilst few of us will have a direct vote in the process that will ultimately lead to the selection of our next Prime Minister, there are things we can do to ensure that environment issues don’t get completely lost in the scramble for headlines and votes.
Here at Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, we will be contacting all Conservative MPS to highlight the party’s ambitious commitments on environmental issues. We’ll be asking that they do what they can to ensure the next leader of the party and county delivers on these pledges.
Whilst the candidates have so far focused on issues such as Brexit and tax policy, they mustn’t be allowed to forget that nature is in crisis.
Another term bandied about in recent weeks is mandate – and candidates would therefore do well to note the pledges on the environment made in their own party’s 2019 manifesto – with the aim of developing the most ambitious environmental programme of any country on earth.
We will be asking Conservative MPS across Nottinghamshire to ensure the new leadership of the Party tackles the issues of nature loss and climate change head-on.
Whoever is elected as the new leader will take up office at a critical moment in the global fight to halt environmental decline.
The polling, which many politicians set such stall by, consistently shows that the public support ambitious environmental action, and there is huge potential for the UK to play a pivotal role.
The commitments in the manifesto to lead the global fight against climate change – with pledges to deliver Net Zero by 2050 and a system based on ‘public money for public goods’ to support farmers to restore our environment – are vital if we are to safeguard the security and prosperity of future generations.
Once common wildlife species are now on the brink of extinction and pollution continues to affect our land, rivers and seas as well as the air we breathe – at great cost to our economy, health and communities.
Despite the terrible conflict in Ukraine and the deepening cost of living crisis, the need for bold action on climate is greater than ever.
The prospect of global instability, food insecurity and damage to our future economy will be even worse if a decision is taken not to prioritise carbon reduction and nature recovery.
In the days ahead, we’ll be writing to the county’s Conservative MPS on behalf of our supporters to remind them of their nature and climate pledges.
If you are represented by one of these MPS, I’d urge you to do the same.