1. What the King’s Speech Should Have Said – Friends of the Earth, 7th November 2023
The “King’s Speech” is an annual speech given by the reigning monarch which outlines what new laws the government aims to bring in. Despite its name, the speech doesn’t necessarily reflect what the King believes is needed. In fact, it’s written by the government. The King is just the mouthpiece, whether he likes it or not.
On 7 November 2023, we witnessed a speech motivated by culture wars and an attempt to drive a wedge between the Conservative Party and Labour on issues such the environment. What should have been an opportunity to address the climate and nature emergencies that scientists keep warning us about, was instead a cynical move by the Conservatives to backtrack even further on environmental measures.
For example, an annual granting of licenses for offshore oil and gas licences was announced, despite the government admitted this will not reduce energy bills. The King also had to read out a promise to scrap minimum energy efficiency standards in the private rented sector, a move that has been estimated to cost renters up to £1.4 billion a year.
2. Environmental charities pledge to become more diverse and inclusive – Civil Society, 6th November 2023
Some 67 environmental charities and charitable incorporated organisations including CPRE, the National Trust, RSPB Cymru and Woodland Trust have committed to changing their recruitment processes to become more diverse and inclusive.
Today, Groundwork, a federation of charities, launched the Force of Nature campaign, which aims to encourage environmental organisations to do more to diversify the green jobs workforce.
Last year, a report by the RACE Report campaign showed that 7% of those working in the environmental charity sector are from Black, Asian and minority backgrounds, compared with a 14% national average across all people in employment and 9.5% of the civil society workforce.
3. The Wildlife Trusts publish list of the UK’s Government’s broken promises to nature – Wildlife Trusts, 3rd November 2023
Today, Friday 3rd November, The Wildlife Trusts publish a list of 10 broken promises by the UK Government on the environment. Despite the UK Government’s assurances of leaving nature in a better state by the end of its tenure, there are increasing concerns that its nature-negative agenda is undermining its manifesto commitment. This includes repeated attempts to water-down environmental protections through ditching nutrient neutrality rules, the recent announcement not to prioritise species reintroduction, and the passing of the Retained EU Law Act which allows the UK Government to revoke or weaken environmental legislation without parliamentary scrutiny.
4. Brits reveal how much time they get in nature each day – and it’s not enough – The Sun, 7th November 2023
The average Brit only gets 32 minutes in nature a day – with more than half saying they struggle to find time to get outdoors.
Londoners see the least amount of nature in comparison to the rest of the UK, as they’re exposed to only 28 minutes a day.
The study of 2,000 adults found more than a quarter (26 per cent) find it harder to connect with nature now than they did 10 years ago.
And 46 per cent of those blame this on living in cities and built-up areas with less greenery.
While nearly six in 10 of all those polled feel that no matter how much time they get in nature – it’s never enough.
Walks in the park (58 per cent), enjoying a coffee in the garden (39 per cent), and taking off shoes and going barefoot (10 per cent) are among the ways we connect with the Earth.
5. Wildlife Trust buys pub to promote nature – BBC News, 8th November 2023
A wildlife charity has bought an empty pub to try to help more people connect with nature in The Broads national park.
Norfolk Wildlife Trust paid “the market rate” for the Pleasure Boat Inn in Hickling, which has been closed for about three years.
It hoped the purchase would attract people who “might not normally go to a nature reserve” to get connected with the outdoors.
The charity plans to hire experienced pub managers to run the inn and extensive refurbishment will be carried out before it opens in 2024.
6. Woodland birds in quickening decline in UK, with risk of extinctions, say experts – The Guardian, 8th November 2023
Woodland birds are facing an accelerating decline in the UK, with species at risk of extinction if the government does not act, experts have said.
Data released by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has revealed that almost all bird types are reducing in abundance, despite years of warnings from nature bodies that action needs to be taken to protect habitats and save species.
Bird campaigners have warned that urgent measures must be taken to “bend the curve” of nature loss.
Faring the worst are woodland birds. Their indicator of abundance has fallen by 37% since 1970, and by 15% in just the past five years, which suggests an accelerating decline. In general, bird indicators have fallen by 6% in the past five years and 15% since 1970. In the last five years just three species in the woodland bird group have increased – blackcap, nightingale and nuthatch – but 23 have declined.
7. Delight as more baby beavers are born at Willington Wetlands – BBC, 8th November 2023
Conservationists say the first family of beavers to breed in Derbyshire for 800 years has grown again.
The aquatic animals were reintroduced at Willington Wetlands, near Repton, in 2021, leading to the birth of two babies in the county for the first time since the 13th Century.
Now two more babies, called kits, have expanded the family.
The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said it was thrilled to see more of the dam-building creatures.
This one isn’t UK specific, but we thought it deserved a highlight anyway…
8. These haunting underwater photos portray climate change in a new way – CNN, 4th November 2023
Akessa stares straight ahead with a look of fierce indignation.
The 15-year-old is sitting in a rickety chair. Her hands are clasped in her lap. Her white skirt is billowing ever so slightly in what, at first glance, you might assume is the wind.
The scene seems nearly normal until more details come into focus: The background is an eerie shade of blue you wouldn’t see on land. Thousands of broken shards of coral cover the ground. And a reef looms behind her.
There is no breeze blowing here.
This girl and her searing gaze are underwater.
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