The UK government has tabled amendments to the Environment Bill aimed at strengthening its commitment to protecting the environment and rebuilding the economy post-pandemic in a sustainable manner.
The amendments were tabled earlier this week and include the addition of a legally-binding target designed to stop species decline by 2030.
Between 1932 and 1984, the UK lost 97 per cent of its species-rich grassland, while indicators showing the state of birds dependent on farmland stand at less than half their value compared to 1970.
The amendments come in the wake of the pledges made by prime minister Boris Johnson during the UK's leadership of the G7 summit.
The G7 has made commitment to reversing the loss of biodiversity by 2030 and signed up to the global ‘30x30’ initiative to conserve or protect at least 30 per cent of the world’s land and at least 30 per cent of the world’s ocean by 2030.
"The Environment Bill is at the vanguard of our work to implement the most ambitious environmental programme of any country on earth," said environment secretary George Eustice.
"We have been clear about the need, and our intention, to halt the decline of our natural environment, and so we are strengthening our world-leading target to put this beyond doubt. It will be a challenging task, but halting this decline is a crucial part of our commitment to be the first generation to leave our environment in a better state.
"Our new package of measures on storm overflows will help crack down on the pollution in our rivers, waterways and coastlines, to better tackle the harm that they cause."
The news comes shortly after Eustace committed to trebling the rate of tree planting within the next three years.
The ambitions tie into efforts to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with the government hoping to plant around 7,000 hectares of woodlands per year until 2024.
