Sir Keir Starmer will undermine his own climate plans if he trashes the countryside in his drive for wind and solar power, green groups have warned.
Nature charities are concerned that Labour’s plan to decarbonise the power grid by 2030 and build thousands of homes on the green belt are not accompanied by sufficient protection for nature.
They also complain that Steve Reed, the shadow environment secretary, is yet to outline detailed policies for reform of farming, which is a bigger emitter of greenhouse gas than the power sector.
Britain’s biggest rural charities — which have nearly eight million members between them — called for a far more ambitious policy to protect and regenerate nature.
Beccy Speight, chief executive of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said: “Absolutely we have got to get to net zero — but we have to do it in a nature-positive way
Labour has said it will change planning laws to allow more onshore wind and solar power, to try to eradicate gas and coal from power generation by the end of the decade. That transition will require rewiring the electrical network, with a vast network of pylons expected. Green groups said that while they backed renewable energy, it must not be installed at the expense of nature.
Ingrid Samuel, director of placemaking and heritage at the National Trust, said: “The climate crisis does not exist in isolation. Our politicians have a choice. Do they decarbonise our energy system in a way that respects and restores nature, coast and countryside, or will they push through development irrespective of impacts on our landscapes, communities and our natural environment? The next government must get it right.”
Richard Benwell, chief executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition of 83 nature groups, said: “Sir Keir’s mission for better insulated homes and clean power by 2030 would make a brilliant contribution to climate action. However, that ambition would be totally undermined if Labour were to forge ahead with low-carbon infrastructure in a way that heedlessly harms nature. At the moment, the balance is way off.” https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-eco-groups-ready-for-battle-over-keir-starmers-climate-plans-f8xb3z88r?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0ycPjV-6AZpKMK2IbdJJ3eG3c_EtbrTKwb20A0MBSwwCHkwdVJCFgk_I4_aem_AfhNVmgkNDxUUb_QNXpS1Qx3uwNVOA6VkyY3slKQUvMAdLuwxFM2XunQV2ig5m8ef75Ofkj-vSCN6m-O1fPHEK6R
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