CIEEM Joins Cross-Sector Call for Government to Reset on Nature
CIEEM has joined a broad and politically neutral coalition of leaders from across the environmental, education, planning, business and civil society sectors in issuing a joint statement (published yesterday) calling on the UK Government to renew its commitment to nature.
The statement reaffirms support for the Government’s mission to build a fairer, greener and more prosperous Britain. However, it raises serious concerns that recent speeches, legislative proposals and policy decisions risk weakening environmental protections and undermining progress towards legally binding targets under the Environment Act 2021.
Signatories highlight weakening of species protections, the disapplication of important habitat and species safeguards, the sidelining of scientific evidence-based approaches, and the addition of new exemptions to Biodiversity Net Gain requirements. Taken together, these measures risk slowing nature recovery at a time when urgent and sustained action is required.
The coalition notes that commitments to tackle the climate and nature emergencies were central to the Labour Party Manifesto 2024, which pledged to meet Environment Act targets and implement solutions “without weakening environmental protections.” The joint statement calls on the Government to reset its approach and to strengthen, not dilute, the policies that underpin nature recovery.
The breadth of support for this statement reflects the wide-ranging importance of nature to UK society and the economy. Signatories include Mark Avery, Craig Bennett, Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta GBE, Professor Sir John Lawton CBE, Professor Dame E.J. Milner-Gulland DBE, Chris Packham and Dale Vince OBE. Further endorsement comes from professional bodies, environmental NGOs, wildlife trusts, academic leaders, planning and design organisations, environmental education specialists, business figures and nature finance experts. This diversity demonstrates that protecting and restoring the natural environment is not a niche concern, but a mainstream priority shared across sectors.
The statement has already attracted media attention, including coverage in The Telegraph and BusinessGreen, reflecting the growing national debate around the direction of UK nature policy.
CIEEM recognises that robust, science-led environmental policy is fundamental not only to biodiversity, but also to economic resilience, food and water security, public health and national security. Protecting the natural world is not a peripheral issue; it is the foundation of long-term prosperity.
CIEEM stands ready to work constructively with Government, civil society and industry to ensure that ambition on nature is taken forwards, not backwards, and that commitments to restore the natural world are fully realised for the benefit of current and future generations.