The Wildlife Trusts urge all parties to heed voter concern and pledge bold action on the twin emergencies.

The new poll, which was published today, reveals that a majority of the public think the main parties are doing poorly on river pollution (78%), nature loss (71%), climate change (69%), ensuring communities can benefit from nature (65%), and supporting sustainable food production (63%).

And yet the poll shows environmental issues are a key concern for voters:

• 79% think that nature is important for our well-being and economic prosperity
• Most people (59%) consider environmental issues to be at least as important as other issues facing the country
• 39% will vote based on environmental policies offered by candidates

The poll was conducted by Savanta and commissioned by The Wildlife Trusts: 2,221 UK adults were interviewed between 31^st May and 2^nd June 2024.

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, says:

“People know that our natural world is in crisis and that this disaster has consequences for us all. Last year’s State of Nature report revealed catastrophic declines in wildlife with 1 in 6 species at risk of extinction from Britain. Nature is in freefall and this fact has repercussions for our health, our ability to produce food, and our capacity to withstand floods, drought and heat.

“The UK has endured its first ever 40°C day and we’ve suffered the wettest 18 months since records began. The Climate Change Committee, who advise the UK Government on climate, has cautioned that the UK has lost its position as a global leader on climate, and that policy development and implementation continues to be too slow. We’re appealing to all candidates to champion the greatest challenge of our times and show the leadership that people want to see – they must put restoring nature at the heart of their campaigns.” 

The new poll also asked people to identify environmental priorities for the next government. The top five were:

1. Ensuring nature is properly protected in our seas (50%)
2. Halving pollution in rivers from sewage and farming by 2030 (45%)
3. Upgrading the energy efficiency of homes to tackle fuel poverty and reduce carbon emissions (38%)
4. Helping farmers reduce emissions and adapt to climate change by embedding adaptation into farm payment schemes (37%)
5. Providing more money to support nature-friendly farming (37%)

The Wildlife Trusts are calling on all political parties to commit to halting and reversing the loss of nature by:

• Tackling the climate emergency, reducing emissions while adapting to change, protecting blue carbon in our seas, and upgrading energy efficiency for homes.
• Bringing back the UK’s lost wildlife: protecting and restoring 30% of land and sea by 2030, stopping damage to Marine Protected Areas, and bringing back beavers.
• Ending river pollution and water scarcity: enforcing the law, halving nutrient pollution, and protecting chalk streams.
• Funding wildlife-friendly farming: increasing the budget for nature-friendly farming, halving pesticide use, and supporting farmers to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change.
• Enabling healthy communities: growing community-based health services, guaranteeing a right to a healthy natural environment, and supporting children to learn in and about nature.

There are just over five years until 2030 when the UK Government will be legally obliged under the Environment Act to have halted species decline – but trends are currently moving in the opposite direction. 

On Monday 17^th June, The Wildlife Trusts are filming The Big Nature & Climate Debate before a live audience. It will be broadcast via YouTube at 7pm on Tuesday 18^th June. It will provide a unique opportunity for voters to compare parties’ plans to achieve legally binding nature targets and utilise nature’s recovery to achieve net zero commitments.

On Saturday 22^nd June, The Wildlife Trusts will be at the Restore Nature Now rally in London to call on UK politicians to show strong domestic and global nature and climate leadership.

The Wildlife Trusts are asking people to take a Satisfaction Survey and rate prospective parliamentary candidates on the subject of nature and climate.