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Natural Capital report highlights need for urgent government action

news release

The call today (27 January 2015) from the Government’s Natural Capital Committee (NCC) to tackle air pollution, improve farming’s green track record and create new urban green space and wetlands, has been welcomed by Friends of the Earth. However, the environment charity warns that recommendations on fracking and use of funds from developers may do more harm than good for the environment.

In its third and final State of Natural Capital report, the NCC, an independent advisory body reporting to Chancellor George Osborne, stressed that nature is in ‘long term decline’, is fundamental to our well-being and a healthy economy and that a 25 year strategy is needed to restore it. But Friends of the Earth warned that urgent action is needed now and that the Government is behind on its pledge to reverse nature’s decline by 2020. Friends of the Earth also stressed that the true worth of nature is much more than an artificial monetary value placed on it by economists.

Commenting on the report Sandra Bell, Nature Campaigner at Friends of the Earth said:

“The Natural Capital Committee’s timely message is that everyone wins if we look after nature, from a more stable economy to better health and flood protection.

“But nature is in trouble, and there’s no excuse for inaction. Government measures to protect and restore nature are needed now, not in five years’ time.

“The clock is ticking because the Government is already behind on its pledge made just five years ago to restore our nature by 2020.

“MPs must ensure that the next Government gets on track with the right action plan to reverse the decline in bees, birds and other species and to ensure that the natural systems we rely on are healthy”.

Three things Friends of the Earth say the Government should do now for nature:

1. Get on with implementing the National Pollinator Strategy to reverse the worrying decline in wild bees and strengthen action on pesticides and farming [2]

2. Get on track with the biodiversity commitments for 2020 [3] including habitat creation and restoration – according to Government figures only 3% of our most important protected nature sites are in favourable condition

3. Get behind EU nature laws – defend the Birds and Habitats Directives which protect our most important species and habitats from being opened up and weakened by the European Commission Regulatory Fitness Check [4].

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1.  The Natural Capital Committee has today published its third State of Natural Capital report.

NCC recommendations (on Pages 2 and 3 of the report) welcomed by Friends of the Earth include:

New action for nature:
The NCC says that, “significant changes to past practice will be required if we are to achieve the Government’s laudable commitment to be the first generation to leave the natural environment in a better state.”

And although it recommends a new 25 year strategy for natural capital the NCC also states that, “We not only know enough to justify starting now but, as our risk register shows (see Section 4.2), action is urgent for various aspects of natural capital”. (Page 18, paragraph 3.0.4)

Cleaning up our air:
The NCC says, “Urban air quality is the top environmental risk factor for premature deaths in Europe. It causes an estimated 40,000 premature deaths a year and reduces productivity, which together costs the economy at least £20 billion per annum. It also has a significant negative impact on life prospects for children (e.g. by lowering educational achievement)”.

Ending perverse subsidies especially for farming:
The NCC says, “Farming is an important sector of the economy but its impacts on natural capital are substantial. Addressing these impacts would deliver significant benefits for society. Channelling subsidies towards environmental schemes that demonstrate good economic returns would be very worthwhile”.

Investing in urban greenspace:
The NCC says, “Urban greenspaces which can provide enormous recreation values, benefiting millions of people in our towns and cities. They also offer significant potential for improvements in physical and mental health which in turn will reduce health expenditures and improve labour productivity. Reduced health treatment costs alone of £2.1 billion have been estimated”.

Creating new wetlands:
The NCC says, “Over the past 75 years, 45% of wetland habitats have been lost in England. Our analysis demonstrates there is a good economic case for expanding the extent of wetland areas by around 100,000ha, Freshwater wetlands can provide a wide range of benefits, in particular recreation, improved water quality, flood protection, carbon storage and wildlife habitat”.

NCC recommendations not supported by Friends of the Earth include:

The NCC’s proposal to use rent from shale gas fracking to fund investment in natural capital. This is not a good way to fund nature restoration. There is no guarantee that there will be much fracking in the UK – and nor should there be. Extracting climate changing fossil fuels, using a process that could also damage biodiversity, and then using the money to pay for ‘natural capital’ is a perverse proposal.

The NCC’s proposal to use compensation payments from developers to fund restoration of nature or creation of new space for nature. This approach risks becoming a ‘license to trash nature’ as damage caused in one location is allowed as long as payment is made to create new space for nature elsewhere.

2. Bee action plan welcomed – but tougher action on pesticides still needed | Friends of the Earth press release (4 November 2014).

3. Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for England’s wildlife and ecosystem services | DEFRA (19 August 2011).

4. Fitness Check of EU Nature Legislation (Birds and Habitats Directives) | European Commission (February 2014).

5. For more than 40 years we’ve seen that the wellbeing of people and planet go hand in hand – and it’s been the inspiration for our campaigns. Together with thousands of people like you we’ve secured safer food and water, defended wildlife and natural habitats, championed the move to clean energy and acted to keep our climate stable. Be a Friend of the Earth – see things differently. For further information visit www.foe.co.uk

For press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust

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