Our nature teeters on a cliff edge. Protecting biodiversity, halting the decline of nature and restoring habitats and wildlife must be a priority. I am clear I want to see the COP15 summit deliver for the planet’s wildlife and its people.

The second part of COP15 was due to take place in spring 2022, with aims for governments worldwide to agree a new set of goals for nature over the next decade, transforming society’s relationship with biodiversity, but will now take place in December in Montreal, Canada. We absolutely need bold and ambitious biodiversity targets, not only to halt the decline of nature but to reverse it. I realise such targets will not be easily achieved but it is essential we aim for a dramatic incline in species abundance and create a strategic approach to species conservation, including the protection, restoration and creation of habitats over a wide area.

The Habitats Regulations provide for an extremely high level of environmental protection for our most precious and vulnerable habitats and species. The Environment Act 2021 gives the Government the power to amend the Habitats Regulations, and the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill will give it the ability to stipulate how the Regulations interact with other environmental reports known as Environmental Outcome Reports. The Government states it believes the Regulations to be flawed and recommended changing them in its Nature Recovery Green Paper. This underwent consultation from 16 March to 11 May 2022 and responses are being analysed. I will follow developments on this.

Concerning farming, I do not believe that it and the environment should be in conflict. The climate crisis cannot be tackled without sustainable farming. I stand behind our farmers and food producers and I believe people in the farming sector overwhelmingly want to see farming conducted more sustainably. Farming’s position at the forefront of the climate crisis means it offers a powerful tool for fighting back. With the right support, agriculture can play a critical role through conserving, protecting and enhancing our natural ecosystems. These practices can generate healthier soil, good food and greater biodiversity. So it is disappointing the Government’s Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries Acts were not part of an overall strategy for how we feed ourselves in a fair and sustainable way. I am also concerned its Sustainable Farming Initiative is a sticking plaster that might help some farmers but may undermine environmental land management more broadly.

It is troubling that the UK continues to be among the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Research by the Natural History Museum shows the world has passed the safe limit for humanity in terms of biodiversity loss, and the UK’s score places it in the bottom 10%. It is very concerning 11 of the 47 native mammals to Great Britain are at risk of extinction.

The Nature Recovery Green Paper includes plans for a legally binding target to halt the decline in wildlife populations in England by 2030, and to increase species populations by 10% by 2042. It also said it would create or restore over 500,000 hectares of wildlife-rich habitat outside protected areas by 2042 compared to 2022 levels. I am concerned these proposals do not map out a credible path to achieving these targets, and that there is a lack of seriousness about the catastrophic decline of nature, habitats and wildlife that we are facing.

While we absolutely need biodiversity targets, I do not believe the ambition to halt the decline of species abundance in the UK is good enough. We must be nature-positive and should be aiming for a dramatic incline in species abundance. Protecting biodiversity, halting the decline of nature and restoring habitats and wildlife should be priorities, not just because they are key to tackling the climate emergency, but also because it is intrinsically important to protect species.