Today is Earth Day when people around the world celebrate our natural environment and demonstrate their support for protecting it. It’s a day on which we can take pride in our achievements at the global, national, and regional level, while also recognising that there is much more to do.
Ruth Edwards, MP for Rushcliffe, commented: “A great deal of progress has been made since Earth Day 2016 when the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change was signed.
“In this country, the Government’s 25-Year Environment Plan set out our approach to protecting and enhancing our landscapes and habitats, reducing carbon emissions, and living more sustainably. Building on this vision, we legislated to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and we have achieved remarkable feats such as cutting emissions by more than 40 per cent while growing the economy by more than two thirds since 1990.
“ However there is still a lot to do. I will continue to support the landmark Environment Bill in Parliament. Through my membership of the Conservative Environment Network, I will devise and promote policies and initiatives that support conservation and decarbonisation. I will also continue to campaign for funding for local environmental issues such as flood resilience.
“As we restart our economy after coronavirus, we should implement recovery policies that are aligned with our net-zero and other environmental goals and support businesses and technologies that will a deliver a cleaner economy.
“Finally, as we return to normality, I think it is important we reach a new international agreement to address the causes of zoonotic diseases. Coronavirus has caused disruption, hardship and grief globally, so we must work internationally to take all possible precautions to prevent the spread of such viruses.”