The government must stop dragging its heels on urgent environmental issues
Illegal deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest to open area for agriculture | Image by: Paralaxis / Alamy Stock Photo
4 min read
From tackling illegal deforestation in UK supply chains, to conserving our wild peat bogs and the biodiversity of our oceans, Labour must act now to protect our natural world
A year is a long time in politics. This time last year, I was putting the finishing touches to a new law to tackle illegal deforestation in UK supply chains, welcomed by business leaders, supermarkets and shoppers. Since the general election and the change of government, it has quite literally sunk without a trace, with ministers unable to give a meaningful timetable for action.
Dealing with deforestation was a major commitment in the Environment Act 2021, supported by all parties. Parliamentarians have repeatedly called for action since then. I know, because, as environment minister, I was on the receiving end for a while, which is why I pushed my boss Steve Barclay to expedite getting this law into Parliament. We were on the brink of doing it when the election was called.
Since then, there have been plenty of words but little action. In an April debate on global deforestation, Defra minister Mary Creagh appeared to filibuster her own speech, dodging questions from MPs about when these important laws would be activated.
I’m baffled why this isn’t a priority, especially as this year’s COP will be held in the heart of the Amazon and is expected to focus strongly on protecting forests.
Research from Global Witness has revealed that Labour’s continued dithering has cost the planet dearly. We have lost an area of forest the size of Liverpool since Labour took office.
This is urgent. Action is needed right now to safeguard forests and protect the rights of those who have looked after them for generations. It’s a tragedy that legislation passed in 2021, four years ago, allowing the government to clean up supply chains is lying dormant while the destruction continues.
I understand getting legislative slots can be hard, presided over as they are by whips and business managers. But, as this deforestation measure already exists in an Act of Parliament, it only needs secondary legislation to move it forward.
As this deforestation measure already exists in an Act of Parliament, it only needs secondary legislation to move it forward
Sadly, government delays are evident elsewhere.
On 9 June, the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) kicks off in Nice. The Global Oceans Treaty is a framework to protect marine biodiversity, but 60 nations must ratify it before it becomes international law. The UK government has pledged that it will but, once again, there is an inexplicable delay. Earlier in May, Lucy Powell, Leader of the House of Commons, was pushed on this by Labour MP Barry Gardiner. She did not give a timetable. At the very least, the government must introduce a bill to ratify this important treaty before the UN conference begins. There is under a month to go before this chance will be lost to demonstrate to the world that we, a proud maritime nation, care about protecting the oceans.
As an MP and minister, I fought tirelessly for action on nature and climate. One of the Conservative government’s commitments was to end the damaging practice of digging up precious wild peat bogs for garden compost. Continued uncertainty stemming from this government’s inertia to bring in the ban is affecting businesses, as the Royal Horticultural Society explained in March. Eighty per cent of England’s peatlands are in a dry and degraded state, which threatens their viability as carbon stores, increases the risk of wildfires and puts the nature they support at risk. Peat bogs have been described as Britain’s ‘rainforests’ because of their scarcity and environmental importance. Why on earth are we continuing to allow this to happen when peat free alternatives are now so widely available?
With nearly 20 government bills queuing up to complete their journey through Parliament, this parliamentary session is congested. But governments can always find space for political priorities. Allowing this foot dragging and filibustering to continue will not help Defra Secretary Steve Reed achieve his goal to deliver Britain’s “most nature positive government”. He must make, and win, the case for these important environmental laws to be passed. Nature can’t wait.
Rebecca Pow is former Conservative MP for Taunton Deane and minister for nature
