Labour has committed to halting the decline of British species and protecting at least 30% of the UK's land and sea by 2030 if it wins the next general election. Shadow Environment Secretary Steve Reed announced the pledge, accusing the Conservatives of leaving Britain as "one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world."
Reed vowed to set a new land-use framework prioritising nature protection and to deliver on environmental targets. He highlighted that almost half of bird species and a quarter of mammal species face extinction risks, while national parks are in decline and waterways suffer from record sewage levels. These are the first explicit Labour commitments to uphold biodiversity targets.
The shadow minister argued that nature is central to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's missions on the economy, health, and net zero. The Conservatives have been criticised for setting ambitious goals without adequate policies or enforcement, with agencies like the Environment Agency facing budget cuts and staff reductions.
Reed emphasised that achieving the 2030 targets would require partnerships with civil society and businesses. Measures include natural flood defences, ending illegal sewage dumping, and boosting investment in water companies. The Office for Environmental Protection has found the government off track on its nature targets.
Responding to Labour's plans, Farming Minister Mark Spencer accused Labour of risking rural jobs, citing eco-schemes in Wales that he claimed cost over 5,000 jobs. He said Labour would take the countryside "back to the 1970s." Craig Bennett of The Wildlife Trusts welcomed the pledges but called for more detail before the election.
