Thread by @CraigBennett3

THREAD: A few more thoughts about this v welcome announcement from @DefraGovUK

I know many of you are thinking "Why the need for a consultation?" and I COMPLETELY understand the frustration, of course!

But, it is probably necessary to ensure a ban is legally watertight

https://twitter.com/CraigBennett3/status/1393835388104544257

It is now ESSENTIAL that @DefraGovUK launches that consultation AS SOON AS POSSIBLE so that we get peat sales banned before the UK hosts the UN climate talks #COP26 in #Glasgow in November

No later than that, please @DefraGovUK

Sooner if at all possible

The peat companies and retailers will no doubt complain that they "need more time" to adjust their business model.

Well, they've had 30 YEARS, and if they are not ready yet they only have themselves to blame:

When I first started working on this issue in the 1990s, the then "Peat Producers Association" (now Growing Media Association) used to mock NGOs for saying peatbogs were important carbon stores, saying their role was 'negligible'

They were spectacularly wrong, of course.

In 2001, the retailers promised to 'phase our peat sales' but said they needed 10 years to 'work with suppliers' to do it

@BandQ led the way, committing to end all peat sales by 2011

Others had similar targets but they all failed

Turned out; You Can't Do It When You B&Q It

Only very slow progress was made

This was recognised by @DefraGovUK in 2010, who then warned that retailers should make sure they stop selling peat completely by 2020 - or face legislation to force them to do so

(SO THEY WERE WARNED 11 YEARS AGO)
gov.uk/government/new…

BUT, retailers failed AGAIN to miss this target - quite spectacularly as revealed by a @WildlifeTrusts survey earlier this year

wildlifetrusts.org/news/survey-to…

This all has big implications for issues beyond just #peat

Companies are now lining up to commit to #NetZero targets

That is good, but only if they actually do the follow through and deliver on them

So, today's news is very welcome. And well done @DefraGovUK for finally acting.

BUT - it's not over until peat is banned, and not available for sale

We all need to redouble our efforts and make that happen as soon as possible - and certainly by the end of the year.

Thanks