Today, the Government have unveiled their much-anticipated new Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP).  

Whilst there are encouraging signs for nature recovery within the plan, at the same time the Prime Minister continues to favour the false narrative that nature rules are holding back growth, as seen in his speech this morning.  

Joan Edwards OBE, director of policy and public affairs at The Wildlife Trusts, says: 

“The UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world and wildlife is still in freefall – yet just as Defra was unveiling its Environmental Improvement Plan this morning, the Prime Minister spoke out against protecting nature and continued to perpetuate the false narrative that nature rules are holding back growth. In doing so, the PM undermined his government’s promise to restore nature and address worsening pollution within the new EIP.  

“If the EIP is to succeed in enabling the Government to reach its legally binding Environment Act targets and international commitments made under the Global Biodiversity Framework - such as protecting and effectively managing at least 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 - this dangerous scapegoating of nature must stop. Instead, the importance of nature to our economy, health and wellbeing must be recognised, with urgent strengthening of the plan’s detail and then its immediate implementation.”