Nature, Who Cares? Ask Your Parliamentary Candidates!

With a week to go till the General Election, discover why Kaye Brennan, The Wildlife Trusts’ Head of Campaigning, wants to make sure election candidates know they must prioritise nature, if they want to be your MP!

According to The Wildlife Trusts Great Big Nature Survey, 93 per cent believe nature loss “is a serious threat to humanity.”

Britain is truly a nation of nature lovers.

It’s the reason why Sir David Attenborough was once named as the UK’s ‘dream Prime Minister’ and it’s also why millions of Britons belong to nature organisations such as The Wildlife Trusts. In fact, our movement’s numbers dwarf the membership of all the country’s main political parties!

Even with this innate connection many of us feel that for nature, our planet’s warning lights are flashing red. The most recent ‘State of Nature’ report revealed one in six species is in danger of going extinct in Great Britain. 2023 was reported as the hottest year in UK records, smashing previous highs.

Action can’t be delayed any longer.

And so, the upcoming General Election could be the most important for a generation when it comes to the future viability of life in the UK – and beyond.

But does anyone really care about nature, enough to make it an Election issue?

Trees lining a field — Credit: Paul Harris/2020VISION

As registered charities, Wildlife Trusts have no interest in party politics and are entirely non-partisan. Charity law permits us to campaign to achieve our aims and unfortunately, nature loss and climate action are political issues. While polling shows that a huge majority of the UK population – over 80% – are already speaking up for and caring for nature, this must be accompanied with effective action led by business and industry, and by land managers and landowners, like farmers. Typically, this comes in response to government policies and legislation, with the necessary resources delivered through public funds – currently lacking in many areas for the natural world.

In addition, whichever Party wins they will be responsible for meeting national and global targets to halt nature’s decline while protecting at least 30% of land and sea before 2030. We need all political parties to set out a vision for a brighter, wilder future and to commit to bringing back some of the UK’s most iconic lost species, ensuring everyone can enjoy the natural world on their doorstep and making our rivers safe again for people and for wildlife.

Politicians will be judged by the electorate, and by history, on whether they meet the scale of this challenge. We need voters to ensure this year’s election candidates know that they must prioritise nature, if they want to be elected as an MP.

We work with all kinds of decision makers on nature’s behalf but in an election year, it is what voters say and do that gets attention. At this critical time, we hope to see at least half a million voices speaking up for nature and urging candidates to step up their environmental ambitions where necessary.