Keir Starmer has raised concerns regarding ministers' inconsistent support for investment initiatives aimed at protecting nature. Members of the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) have issued a warning that the UK's ambitious goal of safeguarding 30% of land by 2030 may not be achievable without significant private investment and unequivocal governmental commitments.

Toby Perkins, the chair of the EAC, stated, “No ifs, no buts: we need Ministers to facilitate private investment by setting out a clear commitment to the biodiversity net gain (BNG) policy.” The BNG approach is designed to secure meaningful and enduring recovery of nature while allowing for necessary development across various regions. However, Perkins expressed concern that any speculation regarding a retreat from this policy in favour of broader public funding for nature restoration could undermine market confidence, thereby risking a further decline of natural environments in certain communities.

Perkins highlighted the potential for the government’s growth strategy to integrate nature conservation with economic development, asserting that failure to monitor and support appropriate investment projects could lead to the erosion of green spaces in areas already lacking in natural resources.

The EAC has called upon ministers to definitively support the BNG policy and ensure it aligns with governmental objectives. The BNG initiative mandates that developers enhance biodiversity by a minimum of 10%, which can be achieved either on the development site, in another location, or by purchasing government credits as compensation.

The committee’s warnings highlight the critical intersection between environmental policy and urban development, suggesting that a lack of decisive action could have long-term repercussions for communities reliant on green spaces. The discussion around the future of BNG and its role in environmental sustainability is increasingly urgent as the 2030 target approaches.

Source: Noah Wire Services