Defra ‘In a speech delivered at Forestry England’s Delamere Forest, Environment Secretary George Eustice announced new measures to tackle climate change and the biodiversity crisis and deliver our net zero commitment. The Minister announced new action plans on trees and peatlands, as well as plans to boost biodiversity through a new species reintroduction task force and amendments to the Environment Bill including a historic, new legally binding species target for 2030 which will drive action to halt the decline of nature and wildlife, amongst other measures.

Speaking from Delamere Forest, the Environment Secretary, said:

This is a huge step forward, and a world leading measure in the year of COP15 and COP26 as we build back greener from the pandemic. We hope that this will be the Net Zero equivalent for nature, spurring action of the scale required to address the biodiversity crisis.

Our press release outlining the key elements of the speech was reported widely. The week will culminate in the G7 Climate and Environment Ministers meeting to be held tomorrow and Friday.’