'No ambition at all': Defra accused of watering down new nature targets

clock • 9 min read
The UK population of red squirrels once stood at a high of 3.5 million, but is now less than 140,000 | Credit: iStock
Image:

The UK population of red squirrels once stood at a high of 3.5 million, but is now less than 140,000 | Credit: iStock

Government belatedly confirms suite of 13 legally binding targets to reverse species loss, boost water and air quality, cut waste, and increase tree cover over the next 20 years

The government has today unveiled its hotly-anticipated suite of legally-binding environmental targets for England, confirming a sweeping package of goals to reverse species loss, increase tree cover,...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Policy

UK and Brazil team up to tackle environmental impact of fertilisers

UK and Brazil team up to tackle environmental impact of fertilisers

Nations announce collaborative effort to drive research and innovation into sustainable fertilisers use in order to boost supply chain resilience and food security

Michael Holder
clock 11 September 2025 • 3 min read
Marine Protected Areas: Government rejects calls for 'outright ban' on bottom trawler fishing

Marine Protected Areas: Government rejects calls for 'outright ban' on bottom trawler fishing

Defra is widening protections from destructive fishing practices in UK seas, but has confirmed it is not planning 'to introduce whole-site bans on bottom towed fishing gear in MPAs'

Michael Holder
clock 09 September 2025 • 4 min read
Hundreds of investors and business groups urge EU to 'preserve the core' of sustainability reporting rules

Hundreds of investors and business groups urge EU to 'preserve the core' of sustainability reporting rules

As many as 475 organisations raise alarm over plans in EU 'Omnibus Package' to streamline and simplify CSRD and CSDDD, which they argue are 'essential for long-term resilience'

Stuart Stone
clock 05 September 2025 • 5 min read