We have big concerns about the new #PlanningWhitePaper reforms. They could threaten England’s wildlife, restrict nature into unprotected silos and make it harder for communities to have their say (1/8) #WilderFuture#PlanningWhitePaper
We’re responding to the consultation, and have put forward the following principles we want to see incorporated into the reforms (2/8) #WilderFuture#PlanningWhitePaper
Wildlife recovery, and people’s easy access to nature should be at the heart of the planning reform, with a Nature Recovery Network underpinning local plans (3/8) #WilderFuture#PlanningWhitePaper
Nature protection policies and standards must not be weakened. There should be full assessments of any environmental impact before an application is permitted (4/8) #WilderFuture#PlanningWhitePaper
We need Wildbelt, which will protect new land that is in recovery, and to address the intertwined ecological and climate crises (5/8) #WilderFuture#PlanningWhitePaper
Residents and other stakeholders must be able to engage with the planning system at the point where it’s meaningful to them – not just years before any development occurs (6/8) #WilderFuture#PlanningWhitePaper
Decisions must be based on accurate and up to date nature data. Local Plans, zoned areas and development proposals must be informed by good data throughout (7/8) #WilderFuture#PlanningWhitePaper
This week, 198 countries are coming together for #COP29 to discuss efforts to tackle climate change. The world is still far from where it needs to be on climate action, so what do The Wildlife Trusts want to see? 🧵👇
For the first time, June 2024 marked the 12th consecutive month of global temperature reaching 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This is a wake-up call - swift action to cut emissions is more urgent than ever ⏰. (2/4)
We also want to see nature take centre stage with a continued focus on food and adaptation. We need bold decisions from UK Government translated into real action. This will help us fight the nature and climate crises together. 💪 (3/4)
HS2 Ltd 🚄 claims that our findings are based “on unreliable data” yet we have carefully analysed all data that has been made available, including their own survey data – only amending it where clear mistakes had been made to improve accuracy. (1/4)🧵
HS2 Ltd says that “independent experts from Natural England have consulted on their methodology”, which is true. In 2016 Natural England raised serious concerns about the methodology and advised HS2 Ltd to update its methods. But HS2 has still not addressed all the issues.🌳(2/4)
HS2 Ltd also claims today that it is delivering the country’s “largest environmental programme” yet it admits to not currently meeting its targets to put as much nature back as it will destroy through the construction programme. 🪺 (3/4)
Today @CEN_HQ have called for a change of course on our rivers, recognising that sewage, farm pollution and excess abstraction are ‘red lines’ for the public; 40 MPs & peers are backing the calls in the manifesto that will improve our rivers, lakes and seas. These include: 🧵
💧 Use Water Company fines to restore rivers: Of course we’d prefer they didn’t pollute in the first place! But we agree that where the environment is damaged, it must be made good.💧 Label unflushables: To help householders avoid blockages that can cause sewers to overspill
💧 Build reservoirs & cut water demand: We’ll see low river flows & drought more often as our climate changes. Reservoirs secure supplies for farming, homes & businesses - but cutting demand means less need for expensive infrastructure, so efficiency standards must come first.
This Bill threatens to revoke hundreds of laws that protect wild places and ensures standards for water quality, air pollution and the use of pesticides. This #AttackOnNature must be stopped NOW. 💦🌍🌱
New PM must recognise our environmental protections are not a 'burden'. Let’s make the UK world leaders in the race to the top in terms of environmental sustainability, not in the race to the bottom. #AttackOnNature
We face an urgent nature and climate crisis. But instead of a plan for nature's recovery on land and at sea, the UK Government is pursuing a dangerous agenda of deregulation that puts the very laws protecting wildlife at risk. But what does this mean exactly? (1/12)
Deregulation means removing rules and protections, often characterised as “cutting red tape”. In reality, it means polluters can get away with poisoning our rivers and countryside. (2/12)
It also means ripping up the rules that protect our most important wildlife sites from damage and removing funding that supports farmers to restore wildlife across our landscapes. (3/12)
By lifting the ban on #fracking in England, the Conservative Government has gone against its manifesto commitments. Here’s why 👇🧵 (1/6)
The Conservative Government committed to only explore fracking if science shows categorically that it can be done safely. And the @BritGeoSurvey review does not conclude that fracking is safe. (2/6)
We do not support #fracking in the UK because
a) of the potential for negative environmental impacts
b) it does not reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, and
c) it does not help to reduce household bills (3/6)