Greener UK: playing our part for the environment

Why the Greener UK coalition is needed

This is a pivotal moment for the environment. We are depleting our soils and water supplies, generating mountains of food and plastic waste, changing our climate and making the air in our cities dangerous to breathe. Our wild places are dwindling, and we face the sadness of once familiar animals and plants fading away from our gardens and countryside.

Many of the UK’s environmental protections have been developed with the European Union, and we believe that it is in everyone’s interests that, following Brexit, strong standards remain in place to ensure clean air and water, a stable climate and thriving wildlife.

We all need to play our part in safeguarding and restoring our natural environment.

How the Government can play their part

The Greener UK coalition has launched a manifesto calling on the UK Government to restore and enhance the environment as they plan future policy outside of the European Union by:

• Securing the benefits of existing environmental laws and principles as the UK leaves the EU 
• Ensuring the UK continues to co-operate with the EU on energy and climate change, and affirming ongoing investment in, and deployment of, clean energy infrastructure
• Introducing new policies and investment that create thriving farming and fishing industries, working with the grain of nature to return our land, seas, lakes and rivers to good health
• Passing an ambitious new Environment Act for England, building on the 25 year plan with measurable milestones for environmental restoration and high standards for pollution and resource efficiency. (New, separate Acts may also be required in the devolved nations).

Over 180 MPs from across the UK’s political parties have signed up to the Greener UK coalition’s Pledge for the Environment.

How we're playing our part

We worked with partners at Greener UK to influence the Agriculture Act – when the National Trust first introduced the concept of public money for public benefits, which became enshrined into the Bill in 2018.

The Agriculture Act is one of the most important pieces of farming legislation for decades and we particularly welcome the Government’s commitment to begin the transition to the new Environmental Land Management scheme. This will play a critical part in helping meet the goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan and the Government’s net zero carbon target by 2050.

We're now turning our attention to the necessary secondary legislation that will bring the new farming system to life, whilst also working to ensure the Environment Bill delivers the restoration that the natural environment so desperately needs.