The government has reconfirmed its ambition to leave the natural environment in "a better state than that in which we found it". It has also committed to extending the life of the Natural Capital Committee until at least the end of this Parliament and to develop a 25 Year Plan to restore the UK's biodiversity.
These are commendable goals and have helpfully moved the debate on from whether action should be taken, to what this action should be. However these objectives have not yet properly fed through to policy decisions and infrastructure projects. The government must now prioritise action to embed the value of natural capital into mainstream economic activity and formalise its governance.
Authors:
Nick Mohlo, Executive Director, Aldersgate Group
Sarah Williams, Policy Manager, Aldersgate Group
