A new poll reveals how badly people think all main parties are faring on tackling the nature and climate crises. It reveals that individuals across the West Midlands think the main parties are doing poorly on river pollution (80%), nature loss (73%), climate change (66%), ensuring communities can benefit from nature (72%), and supporting sustainable food production (63%). 

And yet the poll shows environmental issues are a key concern for voters in the West Midlands: 

• 80% think that nature is important for our well-being and economic prosperity 

• Most people (58%) consider environmental issues to be at least as important as other issues facing the country 

• 34% will vote based on environmental policies offered by candidates 

The poll was conducted by Savanta and commissioned by The Wildlife Trusts: 2,221 UK adults were interviewed between 31st May and 2nd June 2024. 

Craig Bennett, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, says: 

“People know that our natural world is in crisis and that this disaster has consequences for us all. Last year’s State of Nature report revealed catastrophic declines in wildlife with 1 in 6 species at risk of extinction from Britain. Nature is in freefall and this fact has repercussions for our health, our ability to produce food, and our capacity to withstand floods, drought and heat. 

“The UK has endured its first ever 40°C day and we’ve suffered the wettest 18 months since records began. The Climate Change Committee, who advise the UK Government on climate, has cautioned that the UK has lost its position as a global leader on climate, and that policy development and implementation continues to be too slow. We’re appealing to all candidates to champion the greatest challenge of our times and show the leadership that people want to see – they must put restoring nature at the heart of their campaigns.”  

Shropshire Wildlife Trust is calling on all political parties to commit to halting and reversing the loss of nature by:  

• Bringing back our lost species. Put nature into recovery in order for lost and declining species to thrive again.  

• Enforcing the law on river pollution. Empower environment watchdogs to monitor and respond to pollution incidents. 

• Funding wildlife-friendly farming in full. Increase the budget for wildlife-friendly farming to ensure a fair transition for farmers.  

• Giving every child the best start in life. Embed outdoor learning in schools for happier children who understand their impact on nature.  

• Tackling the climate emergency. Put climate change at the top of the political agenda to combat flooding and drought.  

Richard Grindle, CEO of Shropshire Wildlife Trust, says: 

“Shropshire’s hills, rivers, meres, and mosses are home to an extraordinary variety of plants and animals; they are also key to our wellbeing, to climate resilience, and to water quality and flood management. But nature is threatened by habitat loss and climate change. We need to put nature into recovery in Shropshire, working with land managers so that they can continue to produce food as part of a thriving natural landscape. We have set out our five priorities for action and we call on candidates from all parties to tell voters how their party would address these priorities if elected. We welcome the recent policy announcements from two parties on water quality and regenerative farming and hope to see the others follow suit.”  

There are just over five years until 2030 when the UK Government will be legally obliged under the Environment Act to have halted species decline – but trends are currently moving in the opposite direction.   

On Monday 17th June, The Wildlife Trusts are filming The Big Nature & Climate Debate before a live audience. It will be broadcast via YouTube at 7pm on Tuesday 18th June. It will provide a unique opportunity for voters to compare parties’ plans to achieve legally binding nature targets and utilise nature’s recovery to achieve net zero commitments.  

On Saturday 22nd June, Shropshire Wildlife Trust will be at the Restore Nature Now rally in London to call on UK politicians to show strong domestic and global nature and climate leadership.  

On Wednesday 12th June, Clun Climate and Environment Group (CCEG) will be hosting a hustings for South Shropshire Prospective Parliamentary Candidates. This will take place 6-8pm at Clun Memorial Hall, Guilden Down, SY7 8NY 

On Tuesday 25th June, There will be a community-organised hustings for Shrewsbury Prospective Parliamentary Candidates. This will take place at Shrewsbury United Reformed Church. More information to follow. 

Please watch this space for announcement of further hustings held across the county. 

Shropshire Wildlife Trust is asking people to take a Satisfaction Survey and rate prospective parliamentary candidates on the subject of nature and climate.