Floods, droughts, and rising food prices have marked the start of this year, underscoring the urgency of tackling the UK’s environmental crises. Communities are still reeling from floods, while the UK Government continues to blame nature for housing shortages. 2025 broke historical records, with provisional Met Office figures showing it was the UK’s warmest and sunniest year on record, highlighting the accelerating climate emergency. Reports continued to emerge of severe wildlife declines and threats to species and habitats.* 

2026 marks the 5^th anniversary of the Environment Act 

The Environment Act legally commits the UK to targets for land, water, and sea by 2030. The long-delayed Environment Improvement Plan (EIP), published in December 2025, should outline how these targets will be met. Yet the Office for Environmental Protection warns the Government is “largely off track” to meet its targets on biodiversity and its 30 by 30 commitments.  

The UK must meet its environmental targets 

The Prime Minister and Chancellor need to understand that meeting our environmental targets isn’t optional - it’s a legal obligation. Yet recent planning reforms, proposed further changes and weakened Biodiversity Net Gain rules represent the worst setback to protections since the 1940s. This Government is acting as if voters don’t care about nature, despite Wildlife Trust surveys showing 93% of people see loss of nature and climate change as serious threats¹. 

Nature protections underpin our economy and safety. They prevent flooding, secure water supplies, and support food production. A nation that undermines nature is a house of cards with shaky foundations. 

Five areas where we need to see political action for nature recovery in 2026 

It is vital that the UK Government improves its focus on supporting nature-friendly farmers and restoring rivers, lakes and streams to make us more resilient to the climate crisis. Changes to farming practices, like improving soil health, growing trees and habitats, buffering rivers and restoring peat soils will all help store, slow and clean our water systems and reduce soil run off into rivers. But farmers can’t do this without the right financial support and advice.  

It must recognise that the nature and climate crises are the biggest long-term threats to economic growth. 

This year, with elections in Scotland and Wales and local elections in England, millions of voters will be heading to ballot boxes with nature in mind. The Government can listen to the growing demand for more environmental ambition by taking action to:  
 

1. Stop environmental regression and breaking nature promises 

2025 was dominated by rhetoric blaming the housing crisis on jumping spiders, newts and bats, with calls to “tear down barriers” to growth. But blaming nature makes no sense: economic growth and nature recovery can go hand in hand. 

By embedding nature recovery into our economic plans, we can tackle the challenges of economic shocks from climate chaos, development and housing. We must see strong leadership around properly enforced regulation, to provide simplicity and certainty for business and to drive innovation. Planning reform must also integrate green spaces into housing and ensure major projects avoid harming protected sites. 

We must see strong leadership around properly enforced regulation, to provide simplicity and certainty for business and to drive innovation. Planning reform must also integrate green spaces into housing and ensure major projects avoid harming protected sites. 

But the threat of further anti-nature policies looms large. Weakening the Habitats Regulations, which protect internationally important sites for wildlife, would threaten species like otters and dolphins and iconic places like the New Forest and Thames Estuary.  

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The Prime Minister’s endorsement of bypassing environmental rules contradicts the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) and risks deepening public distrust. 

2. Restore rivers and seas 

England’s rivers are among the most polluted in Europe, with poor water quality affecting every waterway. This is bad for wildlife and bad for people’s health. The Cunliffe report’s recommendations, including a catchment-based approach to tackle all pollution sources, must be implemented through the Water Reform Bill. 

The Wildlife Trusts propose a Wilder River Banks policy to restore land along waterways, which would:  

• create a stronger barrier against pollution from surrounding fields
• provide a boost for nature recovery
• create new income opportunities for farmers
• offer protection against flooding, and
• contribute to climate and public health efforts 

This holistic approach - linking riverbank restoration with catchment plans and river channel improvements - offers the best chance to meet legal obligations and public expectations. 

3. Restore nature to protect the UK from climate chaos 

Some powerful people continue to downplay climate change, yet climate change is driving more frequent floods and droughts, threatening food security and public safety.  

Nature-based solutions, such as restoring wetlands and woodlands, can, if given the chance, hold back floodwaters, reduce drought impacts, and prevent pollution. Thriving ecosystems provide the pollinators, healthy soils, and clean water that sustain us. The Government must deliver a cross-departmental climate adaptation plan, which was a serious omission from the Environmental Improvement Plan.

4. Back farmers to restore nature 

Farmers face rising climate risks with instability and unpredictable weather patterns. Embracing nature-friendly practices, including organic and regenerative farming, can increase profitability and improve food security. 

These practices focus on:

• restoring soil health
• increasing wildlife
• reducing chemical inputs

Public investment is essential to help farmers transition and ensure food security. With 70% of UK land farmed, agricultural policy must reward nature-friendly and climate resilient farming. From pollinating our crops to helping to tackle climate change, our natural systems provide a whole range of public goods, and we must value this far more fairly at the farm gate. 

Post-Brexit, Parliament agreed that public money should deliver public goods. Yet progress has stalled. Environmental Land Management schemes must urgently get back on track.  

5. Deliver 30 by 30 – for wildlife and people 

The UK is legally committed to protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030, but progress is woefully inadequate. Just 3% of land and 9.5% of seas are currently protected. The State of Nature report revealed that one in six species is at risk of extinction in Great Britain, underscoring the need for immediate and decisive action. A clear delivery plan is needed, including: 

• establishing a temperate rainforest programme
• strengthening protections for Local Wildlife Sites
• restoring and re-wiggling rivers
• increasing tree cover in towns and cities
• reintroducing species like beavers to slow floods and improve water quality 

This isn’t just about wildlife - it’s about people, too. Access to nature improves physical and mental health, reduces healthcare costs, and creates happier communities. Achieving 30 by 30 would ensure wildlife-rich spaces in every community, delivering benefits for generations to come. 

UK Government must act now – the clock is ticking 

Nature and climate crises are the biggest long-term threats to economic growth and public health. The UK Government must act decisively in 2026 to reverse environmental regression and deliver on its legal commitments. Restoring nature is not a barrier to progress. It’s the foundation of a safe, prosperous future. 

¹ The Wildlife Trusts' Great Big Nature Survey