Climate Emergency

Why are we facing a climate emergency? 

We continue to lose our most precious remnants of wild natural space and vast numbers of our insects and birds. Our existing laws are too weak and the climate and ecological crisis we face is not being taken seriously enough. We need ambitious natural climate solutions that reduce and capture carbon, stop ecosystem destruction and make our towns and cities cleaner and greener.

The decision to declare a 'climate emergency' at both national and local government level is encouraging, but we must now take decisive actions that support these words. 

What are we calling for? 

• We must come together to restore our habitats on a landscape scale, and bring our seas back to life if wildlife is to thrive again. The damage must stop and the tables must be turned. 
• It’s time to accelerate action on the climate crisis including through restoring our natural world, not least our peatlands.
• It is not acceptable to be building massive new motorways for carbon-hungry cars, destructive High Speed lines or bigger airports across ancient woods and other vital wildlife habitats. 
• It’s time for new laws that will truly give nature and people a safe and healthy future.

What are The Wildlife Trusts doing to tackle this climate emergency? 

Across the UK Wildlife Trusts are working to protect and restore natural habitats. These woods, meadows and wetlands store greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and prevent it's release into the atmosphere. We tackle this climate and ecological emergency every day and lead work on solutions wherever we can, but we all need to work together for a healthy natural world. 

The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire manages over 100 nature reserves and is leading a groundbreaking project to capture and prevent the loss of enormous amounts of carbon from the fens. We believe our Great Fen project is of national importance in the fight against climate change.

Our #WilderFuture campaign calls for a Nature Recovery Network in law. This would stop the damage and expand and re-connect isolated habitats. Rather than just protecting small areas of land, this would enable wildlife to recover and thrive. We need world-leading legislation for nature's recovery. 

How can I help? 

You can call on your MP to support a Nature Recovery Network! 

You can do this by joining our campaign for a #WilderFuture and leaving a message for your MP. We will be sharing these messages with MPs to demonstrate the desire and need for urgent action from constituents across the UK. Be a part of the movement for change. 

Sign up to our #WilderFuture campaign

Keep up the pressure - if you've already joined the campaign, writing to your MP again will keep the environment on the agenda during these rapidly changing political times.

You can also take steps at home to reduce your impact on the climate and environment. Take action against the climate and ecological emergency and join the movement for change.

What is our position on the climate strikes?

The Wildlife Trusts fully support people across the UK who feel compelled to demonstrate their concern. We face heartbreak daily as we see the wildlife we love lost time and time again.  As a movement, The Wildlife Trusts stand united with all those who share our belief that nature is valuable in its own right as well as being essential to our existence.