Labour and trade union lash out at Government pledge to boost environmentalism

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Government’s environmental package aims to “connect the public with the natural world” by improving access to green space and declaring a new part of England as a national park. Under their watch, the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, and waterways face the highest levels of illegal sewage discharges in our history Shadow Environment Secretary Steve Reed The environmental push will also allocate more funding to connect children with nature and put nature at the “forefront of government efforts” to tackle climate change. “Without adequate funding for the guardians of our natural environment, there is little chance the Government’s rhetoric will be able to meet its stated ambition,” he said. “As I head to COP28, we are reasserting the UK’s leading role in promoting our iconic landscapes and keeping nature at the centre of our action to tackle climate change.” Environment Secretary Steve Barclay added that the Government needed to deliver on its commitment to halt the decline of Britain’s natural landscapes.