Nature charities have sounded a wake-up call for the Government to meet its targets to restore nature.
The National Trust, RSPB and Wildlife and Countryside Link warned 18 out of 23 targets are currently not on track with “good progress”.
Action on 11 of the targets was assessed to have either stalled or gone backwards and seven of the targets had seen some progress but required urgent action to be met.
Beccy Speight, chief executive of the RSPB, said: “This dismal progress report should set alarm bells ringing for all our political leaders.
“The action plan agreed in Montreal to halt and reverse the loss of nature by 2030, which the UK championed, was a critical moment for the future of our natural world.
“Yet success hinges on these global commitments being translated into action at home. The fact that progress towards two-thirds of the targets assessed has either stalled or gone backwards in England must be a wake-up call for politicians across all parties.
“It is clear that fighting for the wildlife and greenspaces we love has never been more important. Nature can’t wait and it is only immediate, decisive action that will put us on the right path to restoring nature for the sake of all people and our planet.”
Targets analysed as being in the “dark red”, meaning that progress has either stalled or is going backwards, include chemical pollution and sustainable agriculture.
Backtracking on net zero pledges, new oil and gas licences and inadequate use of nature-based solutions put climate change in the “dark red” category.
Richard Benwell, the chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said: “This tracker shows that, since the Environment Act was agreed in 2021, Government environmental ambition has been in hibernation.
“The policies aren’t in place to meet any of the key pledges made in Montreal last year. A spring revival in investment and action for nature-friendly farming, habitat restoration, and marine protection is needed to meet the targets and bring life to a greener economy.”
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has been contacted for comment.
