Dear John,

UK food production could one day collapse because of biodiversity loss, according to the Joint Intelligence Committee [1]. Put simply, without thriving wildlife and ecosystems, worldwide and at home, the UK won’t be able to feed itself.

And yet the UK government continues to blame the environmental protections we all rely on for the country’s economic woes. But with a Labour leadership battle on the horizon, now is the time to demand an end to the government’s needless attacks on nature.

From the loss of pollinators like bees and butterflies, to the dangers of depleted soils, drought and floods, the Joint Intelligence Committee pinpointed biodiversity loss as one of the biggest threats to domestic food production.

It should be obvious – strong ecosystems and biodiversity make the UK more resilient. So why does the government pretend nature is a threat to development [2]?  It’s the exact opposite.

Research shows that protecting nature is even a vote winner. So with turmoil at the top of government, now’s the time to tell politicians to change course. And turn things around for the sake of future generations.

Thriving nature means a thriving UK. Let’s make it happen.

Sienna,

Campaigner, Friends of the Earth

NOTES:

[1] Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security, Gov.uk.

[2] Government rolls back nature protections to boost housing, BBC News.