If my memory serves me right, the last time the environment received a mention in a Budget speech was in 2011 when George Osborne said “we will make sure that gold-plating of EU rules on things like habitats aren't placing ridiculous costs on British businesses”. That was the start of a five year defence of the EU Nature Directives that started in England and spread across the European Union.
So, it was hugely heartening that yesterday the current Chancellor, Philip Hammond said, “Because we can’t keep our promise to the next generation to build an economy fit for the future unless we ensure our planet has a future.” It is incredibly important that the whole government (and not just the incumbent Environment Secretary) both understands and frames the natural environment as fundamental to our economy and prosperity.
The government seems to have renewed enthusiasm to intervene to address environmental problems to improve air quality, to incentivise the development of electric vehicles and to tax plastics. It would be nice to have more specific action on nature but perhaps we shall have to wait until the publication of the 25 year environment plan.
It’s not all rosy, of course. Defra, despite getting a Brexit boost in capacity, has been cut 40% compared to where it was was seven years ago (£1.5 billion this year compared to £2.6 billion in 2009/10). What's more, some of the measures on fossil fuels (such as continued tax exemption for North Sea oil and gas, frozen Air Passenger Duty, frozen fuel tax etc) don’t quite seem consistent with domestic carbon budgets or the commitments made at last week's Climate Change talks in Bonn.
Perhaps the biggest next test of the Government’s green credentials will be the planned infrastructure and new housing. These developments need to be in the right place, away from sensitive wildlife sites and built to high environmental standards.
But my final thought is that a government that believes our economy and prosperity is dependent on the natural environment is a government that has a chance of restoring nature in a generation. And that must be a good thing.
250,000 hectares of new 'Community Forests' around our towns and cities is on the table and we know Defra is paying attention to the Natural Capital Committee who made the recommendation. It would revolutionise opportunities for wildlife and potentially turn our urgently needed new housebuilding into an opportunity rather than a threat. More New Forest than Kielder Forest, new Community Forests would be a mix of habitats, all multi-functional - bringing nature to people's doorsteps, having a huge effect on 1st order issues like health and flooding and re-greening our often threadbare greenbelts. And all at a net economic gain of an estimated £500 million per annum.