🚨⚠ "Confidence and stability". As we hear the Chancellor’s words today, we ask the UK Government to now give us confidence that they recognise that economic growth depends on a healthy natural environment, and that we can move on from this #AttackOnNature …
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We need to hear that the reckless gamble that is the Retained EU Law Bill will not be allowed to waste 2 years of gov time, tying up civil servants/parliament & threatening vital laws that have been proven repeatedly to deliver for nature and people. UK just can't afford this. 2/
We need to hear that important planning rules that protect our much-loved green spaces and wildlife will not be weakened within new Investment Zones. 3/
And we need to make sure in this time where every penny counts, that precious taxpayer’s money spent on supporting farming works as hard as it possibly can to halt natures declines. 4/
With these assurances, we can move forward with confidence on the actions needed to deliver the UK Government’s ambitious goals to restore nature, safe in the knowledge that we have stable and robust set of environmental protections on which we can build. 5/
And pass on the environment in a restored and healthy state to future generations. A shared world where wildlife, wild places and all people thrive. 6/
Because we really don't want to go through these past few weeks ever, ever again! #AttackOnNature Ends/
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🌍⚠ URGENT: #AttackOnNature. Despite all the recent U-turns the new UK Government is STILL not listening.
But we will not stand by and let wildlife be trashed.
You’ve been brilliant in your support already🙏but we now need to step up a gear. This is how … 🧵
It looks like the one thing the UK Government has not U-turned on is the #AttackOnNature. We urgently need them to do this. Nature needs them to do this! 2/
One of the key ways we will achieve this this is by getting MPs of all political parties to stand with us and oppose the #AttackOnNature. We are already seeing signs of this. But we need more. 3/
Explainer! You’ve asked for more info on #InvestmentZones and the #AttackOnNature. We are worried these zones won’t work for nature, but will they even deliver for growth?
We asked one of our RSPB planning experts, Simon Marsh @RSPBplanner, to take a closer look. Thread …
The UK Government’s proposed #InvestmentZones (IZs) bear a striking resemblance to Enterprise Zones (EZs) and Simplified Planning Zones (SPZs). 2/
SPZs have been around for about 50 years, but there are very few of them. It’s a planning, not a tax, designation where the planning process is relaxed to encourage some types of development.
They mostly permit office, R&D and warehouse uses on old industrial sites. 3/
We agree with @nationaltrust director-general Hilary McGrady when she says:
“We are facing one of the biggest threats to nature in my lifetime. It potentially means we will be turning some of our most precious green spaces grey.” 2/
We’ve been overwhelmed by the support for our e-action, 77,284 at last count! Lots of you are getting replies from your MPs. It is great to read the positive ones, but we know many of you are disappointed that some have been less positive (1/5)
Thanks to your support, the media coverage on the recent UK #Government announcements has been very fast-paced. Some MPs have questioned why we are claiming this is an #AttackOnNature, so it’s important that we are clear on why we, the RSPB, are raising concerns about this. (2/5)
We are raising the alarm about what recent announcements could mean for nature, the environment and for people. If you have had a response from your MP questioning our position or facts, here's some guidance to help you respond! bit.ly/AttackOnNature2 (3/5)
🚨Today UK Gov re-committed to its legal obligations in the Environment Act to start nature’s recovery by 2030. But it is still proposing big changes to how it will protect & restore wildlife in England. We want to be reassured. We haven’t yet seen enough to reassure us. Thread👇
Bottom line: a target to restore nature isn’t enough if you’re dismantling the very protections that will help you achieve it. 2/18
It’s like saying you want to drive to London but then removing the wheels & emptying the fuel tank before you set out. The ambition is still there, but there wouldn’t be much progress. 3/18
⚠️⚠️Over the past few days, the Government has launched an #AttackOnNature. We’ve been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from YOU 🙏❤️
Now, what next – here's the plan. Thread 1/14
There’s more to follow. Much more. But the very first thing is to leave all our MPs in absolutely NO doubt as they sit in their party conferences that you care about wildlife, and this is a huge issue. 2/14
To do this all you need to do is click here 👇👇 on our new e-action, and follow the instructions. Please, please help. Click the link now. 3/14