Today’s blog is written by Georgina Chandler, Senior International Policy Officer, and Fiona Dobson, International Policy Officer and takes a deep dive into the UK Government’s progress in putting words into action for nature.
One year on since the UK signed up to the globally ambitious Leaders Pledge for Nature (LPN), and the RSPB finds that words have failed to turn into tangible action. In fact, the RSPB’s analysis shows that for 9 of the 10 LPN commitments the UK Government has been “talking the talk” but not doing enough to “walk the walk” and take the action that nature needs to recover at home. This blog takes a deep dive into the promises the government has made, where they fall short and what we need to do to turn this around for nature.
In September 2020 the UK launched the Leaders Pledge for Nature (LPN) where a coalition of political leaders from across the world committed to be “United to Reverse Biodiversity Loss by 2030 for Sustainable Development” by taking action in 10 key areas. These areas include: a green recovery from COVID-10, ambitious global biodiversity targets, integrated action on nature and climate, sustainable production and consumption, ambitious climate policies, tackling environmental crimes, mainstreaming biodiversity, taking a ‘One Health’ approach, strengthening finance, and taking science-based and inclusive approaches.
To date, 89 world leaders have signed up, firmly signalling that they will step up action to truly bend the curve of biodiversity loss. The RSPB strongly supports this pledge and we welcome the UK’s pivotal role as a champion of the process, which is especially important in the lead up to two vital upcoming summits for climate (COP26 in Glasgow) and nature (COP15 in Kunming, China). But in order for this pledge to drive real progress, we need the UK Government to lead by example and show how they are taking action to deliver for nature at home. As previous failed commitments show, if words don’t turn into actions on the ground, this pledge will mean nothing.
One year on and the RSPB’s analysis shows the government is falling short in implementing 9 out of the 10 LPN commitments. Here, we take a look at 3 examples where government promises have fallen short and urgent action is needed.
The Leaders Pledge for Nature promised to strengthen all financial means of implementation, build climate resilience in our economies and ecosystems, promote convergence between climate and biodiversity finance, and transform our economic sectors to safeguard the planet and its people.
However, instead of increasing the contributions as pledged, financing for nature in the UK has declined significantly in recent years . We estimate a need of £6.8bn per year in total, which includes getting on track to halt the decline of nature by 2030; contributing to meeting climate change mitigation targets; and providing equitable access to a healthy natural environment. This is an estimated £4.6bn greater than estimated current annual spend. To achieve priority habitat and species objectives alone, we estimate an annual scale of need of £1.8bn.
We need sufficient financing and costed plans to be able to tackle the ecological and climate emergency. The Comprehensive Spending Review (expected this November) provides the opportunity to level up investment in our neglected national asset, and truly kick start a green recovery for people and nature.
The LPN promised to significantly increase the protection of the planet’s land and oceans through well connected and effectively managed systems of protected areas. And the UK has committed to protect 30% of land and seas by 2030 (also known as 30x30).
However, the current extent and condition of protected areas exposes a huge chasm between rhetoric and reality on the ground. A recent paper by the RSPB has found that as little as 5% of land is being effectively protected and managed for nature across the UK – far from the 28% claimed by the UK government and the 30% they have committed to globally. Restoring and expanding the UK’s protected wildlife sites is essential to delivering 30x30 but the evidence shows that their condition is worsening, which is unsurprising given the significant declines in monitoring, resourcing, staffing and enforcement for these sites across all four countries of the UK over the past decade.
In order to be included in the 30% target, areas must be protected in the long term and effectively managed for nature, meaning they are regularly monitored with appropriate investment, in order to ensure that they are in good condition or showing evidence of recovery. The onus is now on Governments across the UK to commit to and set out how they will achieve 30x30.
Under the LPN, the UK committed to transitioning to sustainable patterns of production and consumption, including through shifting land use policies away from environmentally harmful practices and eliminating unsustainable uses of the ocean and its resources.
Agriculture remains the dominant land use across the UK, and the most significant driver of biodiversity loss. In England, the Agriculture Act (2020) provides a strong foundation to help achieve this. However, the tests of success will hinge on both the funding for the new Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes matching the scale of environmental need, and ensuring that each scheme is sufficiently ambitious. We have significant concerns that ambition is not yet where it needs to be – for example there are no clear environmental objectives and so far, there has been a lack of progress on the targeted schemes. In the marine realm, concerningly there is no suitable equivalent scheme to drive sustainable fishing practices.
We know that with the right policies, regulations and incentives in place, farming can play a key role in reversing biodiversity declines and tackling environmental challenges. Each of the four UK countries needs robust farming and land management legislation and policies to help transform the way we farm and manage land. In England, ELM should make a significant contribution to halting the loss of species abundance by 2030 by encouraging farmers to manage areas of their farm for nature. It should also help support the delivery of the net zero emissions target by supporting a shift to regenerative farming practices and the deployment of nature-based solutions.
On the marine side, sustainable fishing practices are vital not only for biodiversity but also for climate, given the role our seas play in tackling climate change. The UK Governments must address unsustainable practices, including through action to eliminate accidental bycatch of species, and make good on the commitment made in the Fisheries Act (2020) to adopt a ‘climate-smart’ strategy for UK fisheries.
The UK Government has a key role as hosts of the UN Climate Convention in Glasgow (COP26) – and as part of the UN Biodiversity Convention negotiations in spring next year (COP15), to continue to raise international political momentum and ambition for nature. We welcome the report released today by the UK’s statutory nature agencies which provides positive high-level recommendations for how to deliver on the promise of becoming nature-positive by 2030.
But to truly demonstrate this ambition and show leadership, the governments of the UK need to deliver concrete action on the ground.
This one-year-on stocktake of UK Government progress towards the Leaders Pledge for Nature reveals that so far, global rhetoric is not translating into domestic action. We know that words alone will not revive our world or tackle the twin crises facing nature and climate. Nature cannot keep waiting for us to act, let’s make sure it doesn’t have to.
This week is Great Big Green Week – where thousands of events across the UK are celebrating action on climate change and biodiversity loss. Together we will call on politicians to raise their ambition and champion action for nature and climate. Visit the website to see how you can add your voice and get involved.