The Government has today unveiled its first Budget since the general election.
In the run up to two major UN environmental conferences taking place this year – COP26 in Glasgow and the Biodiversity Convention in Kunming – today’s Budget is a major test of the Government’s ambition to demonstrate world leading action at home to reverse nature’s decline and put us on a path to net zero carbon emissions.
The 2019 Conservative manifesto pledged to “prioritise the environment in the next Budget” with investment in nature, including a £640 million new Nature for Climate fund.
Natural solutions have a big part to play in tackling the climate crisis. Healthy natural habitats can store huge amounts of carbon, and restoring our damaged, fragmented and threatened wild places is essential if we are to reach net zero.
The Wildlife Trusts are playing a leading role in making this happen, with projects around the UK improving, expanding and protecting the wild places that are key for capturing carbon. We are therefore pleased that the Chancellor today pledged to use the new Nature for Climate fund to protect, restore and expand vital habitats, including planting around 30,000 hectares of trees and restoring 35,000 hectares of peatland.
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Posted On: 11/03/2020