Gove finds his calling in the environment

SINCE the post was established in 1970 by Edward Heath, we have had a mixed bag of Secretaries of State for the Environment. Some of them seemed to be more like Secretaries of State Against the Environment. Every so often though one comes along who seems to have a genuine understanding of the post. Now, to some, an unlikely new champion has emerged: Michael Gove.

Since his appointment in June this year Gove has been saying the right things and announcing promising initiatives. Three in particular should please the green lobby.

In his first major speech he promised to incorporate effective environmental protection into post-Brexit rules and regulations, saying “the UK should be the global home of the highest environmental standards” and green action “central to our national mission”, for both the intrinsic beauty of nature and the prosperity of the economy.

He said that Britain would now support a ban on the bee-harming pesticides neonicotinoids, after years of government resistance. While good news for the bees, and the environment in general, this will be a political hot potato among government supporters in the farm industry.

A few days later he announced that an independent environmental and nature watchdog is planned “…to hold the powerful to account and deliver a green Brexit” in relation to wildlife, land, water and air.

Gove deserves credit for introducing these policies, and encouragement to do more.

Some parts of the green lobby have been very grudging in their responses, pointing out the many government policies and actions which work against wildlife and nature.

There are also the questions of exactly what powers the new body will have, and what has happened to the promised 25-year plan for the environment.

This, though, is the context within which he works. Because everything cannot be put right at once (and never will be) is no reason not to cheer the Mr Gove on. Peter Shirley is a nature conservationist with interests from neighbourhood to global ecological issues