Pledging to increase species abundance by at least 10%, the new Labour Government has offered a promising shift in priorities and a commitment to biodiversity– but – after the first 100 days in office – how does this translate into policy and action?
Labour’s promise to “deliver for nature” formed a key part of its manifesto, serving to take votes from the Conservatives, who – thanks to their rollbacks on sustainable initiatives – have been accused of turning Britain into one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Indeed, we are experiencing a veritable crisis, with the 2023 State of Nature report revealing that almost one in six UK species are now at risk of extinction.
The built environment and Labour’s environmental policy
Although it may sound contradictory, the built environment plays a critical role in Labour’s ecological plans. Both 2022 targets – committed to improving national air quality, water, waste and biodiversity – and the regulations on biodiversity net gain (BNG) coming into force in February 2024 have laid the groundwork for the present party, which has launched a ten-year infrastructure strategy to “get Britain building again” – centred around creating nature-friendly housing and services as we go.
Put simply; the BNG framework will ensure that through a mixture of avoidance, habitat enhancement, and habitat creation, developers will be required to quantifiably boost biodiversity by at least 10%.
The question, however, is if this is enough?
It’s clear that resolving the country’s housing shortage is a key priority for Labour, with biodiversity gain emerging as a secondary benefit of construction. This is similar to the ecological outcomes of the Warm Homes Plan, which, due to the £6.6 billion investment in clean energy and insulation, will see the nation burning fewer fossil fuels. Rather than criticising the new government for achieving eco-positive outcomes via other priorities, we should be applauding such efforts – encouraging additional future actions that see the party tackling multiple national problems with one stone.
The 30 by 30 target: A commitment to biodiversity
Labour’s August report from the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee certainly promises such action, with officials pledging to restore 30% of England’s land and sea by 2030. It’s an initiative known as the 30 by 30 target, which will require much more targeted action to prove successful. If things go well, 30 by 30 could have a huge impact on our nation’s biodiversity – but a clearer national spatial plan that governs everything from the role of our green belts to the management of our natural resources would certainly help with achieving that goal.
Pledging to restore 30% of England’s land and sea by 2030
To be truly impactful, Labour will need to implement strict legislation aimed at ensuring we meet our environmental targets in terms of both timescale and quality. It remains to be seen whether this will happen, with the results of the “rapid review” on the Conservatives’ strategy to be delivered by the end of the year – alongside a new statutory plan to “protect and restore our natural environment”.
Key themes are likely to include improvements in water and air quality, as well as the creation of a more circular economy – all of which should consequently encourage the survival and prosperity of our native species, given that habitat protection will be among the results.
Making BNG mandatory across all land and sea developments would certainly be a huge help to this, with the Chief Executive of the government agency, Natural England, suggesting that under Labour’s upcoming “golden rules”, developers may also be required to meet more than the minimum 10% biodiversity targets if they want to work on green belt land. Once again, we are awaiting more stringent regulations and more direct messaging on land usage – with th potential of “grey belt” land still in question.
A series of changes
Of course, Labour has already made significant progress in other areas of environmental law, committing to a ban on all new coal, oil and gas exploration licenses as well as promising a permanent ban on fracking in its manifesto. This is in addition to its promise to “champion British farming whilst protecting the environment” and making “environmental management schemes work for nature and farmers” – all of which should have a knock-on effect when it comes to protecting biodiversity. For instance, certain pollinating insects are worth millions to British agriculture, and by maintaining focus on these species, Labour can protect the industry and our wider economy while reducing biodiversity decline.
Access to nature
Many are concerned, however, that Labour’s manifesto promise to improve access to our landscapes and natural environments could compromise progress. The plan is to establish nine new National River Walks and three new National Forests across England, in addition to expanding existing nature-rich habitats like forests, peat bogs and wetlands.
Establish nine new National River Walks and three new National Forests across England
Whilst this is clearly great news for the plant and animal species currently struggling to find the ideal habitat, the fact that humans will also be encouraged into these spaces in a bid to improve the nation’s health could threaten positive outcomes, particularly as the Right to Roam sees an increase in littering which already impacts nature.
The best solution Labour could take here would be to encourage more deliberate and responsible engagement with the environment, informing the public of its eco intentions through visible initiatives and signs. This would likewise prevent the widespread dissonance with the environment seen lately in Switzerland, where voters rejected biodiversity plans. If Labour can’t get the public on board, we’ll continue to fall behind with the environment, regardless of agenda and actions.
A holistic solution: Continued commitment to biodiversity
In summary, then, whilst Labour may have other priorities like the built environment, it has still promised to make biodiversity part of these plans. Yes, there is room for more strategy and public involvement, but what will come out of upcoming reviews and regulations remains to be seen.
There have already been some promising signs of a greener future, supported by talk of the UK potentially hosting the COP17 in 2026 – something that could reflect a deepening commitment to the environment.
To reach the 30 by 30 goals and beyond, however, we will need more than this, funding more projects – like those we currently support through the Darwin Initiative and Global Challenge Research Fund – to convert our ad hoc approach to biodiversity into a more holistic solution.
Having said that, we mustn’t underestimate the power of the moves that the Labour government has already made. The fact that it has made tangible progress towards boosting biodiversity as a result of hard-hitting actions across sectors as varied as construction and farming proves that it is capable of resolving multiple national problems through specific, multifaceted efforts.
It’s initiatives like these – that simultaneously advocate for nature, economy and human health – that will make a difference within the party’s relatively short five-year term, with Labour’s ambition to prove that it’s worthy, hopefully pushing us further ahead with our climate goals.
