A Resilient Economy, Healthy Communities and the Natural World Dear Prime Minister, Re: A Resilient Economy, Healthy Communities and the Natural World It is now clearer than ever before that the health of humanity is inextricably bound to the health of our planet. Your government has the opportunity to show global leadership, forging a path out of this crisis by putting a resilient economy, healthy communities, and a thriving natural world at the heart of the relief and recovery effort. We call on you to: Create A More Resilient Economy - Invest in infrastructure, technology and skills to generate thousands of new jobs that directly contribute to a climate-safe future. Exclude high-carbon infrastructure, such as road-building and airport expansion, from being prioritised in public and private finance by putting every measure in the economic recovery package through a ‘net-zero test’. Increase Space for Wildlife and People - Place the health and wellbeing of people and nature at the heart of the recovery by increasing access to nature-rich green space for everyone, as well as restoring and protecting our wild places on land and sea. Invest in nature-based projects, incentivise walking and cycling, and support sustainable food, farming and fishing. Strengthen Nature’s Protections - Tighten the laws that ensure the natural world is protected not exploited, by ensuring the swift passage of environmental legislation, especially that needed as we leave the EU Transition phase. Rapidly scale up the implementation, monitoring and enforcement of our environmental protections (including on animal welfare) - and introduce targets in law across the UK for the restoration of nature on a massive scale. Build Global Ambition - Lead the world in tackling the climate crisis and restoring nature by bringing global leaders together to plan for a green and sustainable recovery in the run-up to the United Nations COP26 event in Glasgow next year - making the most of the UK’s Presidency of the G7 in 2021, as well as cooperation with China in the run-up to the equally important CBD COP15. Reducing our collective global footprint on nature is of the utmost importance. This crisis has shown us the power of the collective human spirit - the value of community, friendship, and hope. There will be difficult choices in the weeks and months ahead as your government leads us out of this crisis. In doing so, we ask you to create something better and lead our countries to a new normal: a climate-safe, nature-rich, healthy world for all. We would welcome the opportunity to meet you to discuss these principles - alongside relevant cabinet colleagues and heads of agencies - and would be happy to host such a meeting. In the meantime, we wish you all the best with the relief and recovery efforts over the coming weeks and months. Yours sincerely, Craig Bennett – Chief Executive, The Wildlife TrustsHilary McGrady - Director General, National Trust Bella Lack – Nature Writer and CampaignerRichard Walker – Managing Director, Iceland FoodsBecky Speight – Chief Executive, Royal Society for the Protection of BirdsAnuradha Chugh – Managing Director, Ben & Jerry’s EuropeKevin McCloud MBE – Journalist and PresenterDavid Thomas – Group Chief Executive, Barratt Developments plcDara McNulty – Nature Writer and CampaignerRichard Benwell – Director, Wildlife and Countryside LinkDavid P. Boynton – Chief Executive, The Body ShopShaun Spiers – Executive Director, Green AllianceDeborah Meaden – Business LeaderHolly Gillibrand – Climate Campaigner and WriterHugo Tagholm – Chief Executive Office, Surfers Against SewageBevis Watts – Chief Executive Officer, Triodos Bank UKJohn Sauven – Executive Director, Greenpeace UKLouisa Ziane – Chief Operating Office, Toast AleChris Packham – BBC Wildlife PresenterCanon Giles Goddard – Co-founder, Faith for the ClimateDarren Moorcroft – Chief Executive, The Woodland TrustPeter Holbrook CBE – Chief Executive Officer, Social Enterprise UKTanya Curry – Director, Ramblers UKMartin Bunch – Managing Partner, Bates WellsJuliet Davenport – Executive Director, Good EnergyJerome Flynn – Actor and CampaignerMartin Lines – Chair, Nature Friendly Farming NetworkBen Cullen – Managing Director, OlioRichard McIlwain - Deputy Chief Executive, Keep Britain TidyShane Holland – Chief Executive Officer, Slow Food UKAbigail Forsyth – Executive Director, KeepCupChris Tuckett – Director of Programmes, Marine Conservation SocietyIan Dunn – Chief Executive, PlantlifeDominic Dyer – Chief Executive Officer, the Badger TrustMatt Shardlow – Chief Executive Officer, BuglifeDavid Bunt – Chairman, Institute of Fisheries ManagementCorinne Pluchino – Chief Executive, Campaign for National ParksDr. James Robinson – Director, Wildfowl and Wetlands TrustJulie Williams – CEO, Butterfly Conservation TrustSusie Hewson, CEO of NatracareCrispin Truman OBE - Chief Executive, CPRE The countryside charityKate Ashbrook – General Secretary, Open Spaces SocietyKate Metcalf – Co-Director, Women’s Environmental NetworkProf. Alastair Driver FCIEEM – CEO, Rewilding BritainChris Butler-Stroud – CEO, Whale and Dolphin ConservationSteve Andrews – CEO, EarthWatchKit Stoner – Chief Executive, Bat Conservation TrustDr. Michael Warhurt – Executive Director, CHEM TrustJeremy Biggs – Co-founder and Director, Freshwater Habitats TrustPaul Knight – Chief Executive, Salmon and Trout ConservationPaul Cox – Managing Director, Shark TrustDavid Greenfield – Director, Circular Economy ClubJamie Cook – Chief Executive, Angling TrustNicky Bull – Chair, Operation NoahJill Nelson, Chief Executive – People’s Trust for Endangered SpeciesStuart Dawks – CEO, Peterborough Environment City TrustJaqueline Bourne, Chair – One World VoiceSue Riddlestone – Director, BioregionalMatt Godfroy – MD, SunFresh Produce UK Youth for Nature For more information on this letter, please contact:Chris Venables – Head of Politics, Green Alliance – [email protected]n-alliance.org.ukSarah Whitebread – Head of External Affairs, RSPB – [email protected]Natasha Yorke-Edgell – Head of Campaigns, RSPB – [email protected]