The Landscape Institute has sent a joint letter to the new Environment Secretary, the Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP, as part of a coalition of 13 professional bodies in the Environmental Policy Forum (EPF), representing around 70,000 environmental professionals across a variety of different disciplines.
The EPF network strives to promote environmental sustainability and resilience for the public benefit.
During the most crucial era for the environment, the government is implementing the mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) legislation with ambitious legally binding environmental targets and national commitment to reach net zero by 2050.
However, more needs to be done to implement effective delivery of these commitments. To ensure the UK can meet its environmental targets, the letter asked the government to focus on the following priorities:
1. Invest in green skills to achieve long-term environmental goals, stimulate economic growth, and foster a more sustainable and resilient global workforce.
2. Adopt a consistent, joined-up approach to counteract recent incoherent and inconsistent policy across government, which has undermined the delivery of environmental commitments.
3. Consult the experts to ensure policy is effectively delivered, reducing the likelihood of unforeseen consequences.
In addition, the letter highlights a concern with Defra consultations and its increasingly limited scrutiny and consultation with experts.
EPF look forward to collaborating in order to ensure the UK’s environmental commitments and stand ready to facilitate consultation with its vast network of competent environmental professionals.
Follow the link below to read the letter in full. It can also be found on the EPF website.
