Why does the state of nature matter in a general election? Yes, we know that things are bad, and getting worse more quickly with nearly one in six UK species now at risk of extinction compared to one in ten in 2019[1]. But... so what?
In a cost-of-living crisis the election is going to be all about the economy, isn’t it? The current Prime Minister’s opening election speech stated:
‘We prioritise energy security and your family finances over environmental dogma in our approach to net zero.’
Sadly, lazy soundbites like this will dominate the dialogue until we see all the parties manifesto commitments, and these soundbites can create the impression that climate and nature are luxuries which we can only afford to pay attention to when things get better.
This ignores the views of voters. People in the UK care deeply about climate and the environment. It is a top five issue, sometimes higher[2].
This also ignores the damage which could be done to the UK economy if we let things carry on. Research from the University of Oxford[3] published earlier this year shows that ruining nature will lead to a 12% reduction in the standard economic measure, Gross Domestic Product. To put that into context, the damage we are allowing to happen to our environment means we are facing a bigger hit to the economy than either the global financial crisis (5%), or Covid-19 (11%). Nature matters to the economy after all.
So at a time when everyone is preaching economic prudence, silence on the environment is odd. Worse, antipathy to the environment is rash.
The good news is that we know what to do. We can limit greenhouse emissions and restore nature. More good news! We have already decided to do this. The UK has promised to manage 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030. And it will be the job of the next parliament to make that happen. We simply need to follow our words with action.
Politicians standing in this election know that the climate and nature crisis will increasingly shape our lives. Yet it is extraordinary to hear them talking about issues such as the economy, health, migration and housing as if they were separate and without making the connections between all these issues and a healthy environment.
A general election is a rare chance for us as voters to tell them. Nature only has our voice and now is the time to make it heard.
References:
[1] State of Nature reports 2023 and 2013
[2] The most important issues facing the country (yougov.co.uk)
[3] Assessing the Materiality of Nature-Related Financial Risks for the UK
