Zoom in on Net Zero - with Natural England's Mike Morecroft

Michael Holder
clock • 1 min read

VIDEO: Principal specialist on climate change at advisory body chats to BusinessGreen about England's potential for harnessing nature-based solutions to fight climate change

Mike Morecroft is an ecologist at government conservation agency, Natural England, where he leads work on climate change adaptation and mitigation.

As the public body's principle specialise on climate change, he is a scientist who works closely with policy makers and practitioners on a range of issues including carbon storage and sequestration by habitats, nature reserve management and adaptation to climate change. In addition, Morecroft is a lead author on ecosystems for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and has published over 140 scientific papers, reports and book chapters. He also led a research group at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology before joining Natural England in 2009.

Recently, Morecroft led Natural England's year-long study of the ability of England's landscape and natural stores of carbon to help mitigate the country's emissions.

In a wide-ranging chat with BusinessGreen's deputy editor Michael Holder recently, Morecroft set out the challenges and opportunities of restoring natural landscapes and habitats - such as peatlands, seagrass and forests - to help meet climate goas. An edited version of the conversation can be watched in full above.

More on Biodiversity

30x30: Is the government's ambitious nature conservation goal still achievable?

30x30: Is the government's ambitious nature conservation goal still achievable?

The government has unveiled a 'delivery plan' for protecting and conserving 30 per cent of land in England for nature - but environmental groups fear the strategy remains badly underpowered

Michael Holder
clock 15 July 2026 • 16 min read
Woodland Trust calls on government to allocate a fifth of £1bn tree planting budget to urban 'tree deserts'

Woodland Trust calls on government to allocate a fifth of £1bn tree planting budget to urban 'tree deserts'

Just 14 per cent of people living in England have access to woodland within a 500 metre walk of their home, conservation charity warns

Stuart Stone
clock 14 July 2026 • 4 min read
Government plots path to protecting 30 per cent of England for nature by 2030

Government plots path to protecting 30 per cent of England for nature by 2030

Defra's 30x30 delivery plan comes backed by £37m in funding to help National Parks and landscapes step up nature recovery efforts - but campaigners claim new strategy remains badly underpowered

Michael Holder
clock 13 July 2026 • 8 min read