THREAD: It’s easy to make sweeping claims that Govt ‘isn’t doing anything’, but it’s not true.  Given the scale of the crisis, it’s is true that govts aren't doing enough (no one disputes that), but we are ramping up our ambition & the UK is objectively a world leader. EG:

In the only major intervention at last years UNGA, the PM committed to doubling our international climate finance to 11.6bn. He added that a major part of that uplift would be invested in restoring and protecting nature.

Since then we have trebled the size of the world renowned Darwin fund. We have boosted support for those tackling the grim illegal wildlife trade. We have set up a world first £100m landscapes fund – to protect and restore fragile transboundary ecosystems.

A number of other big and ambitious programs are being developed with a focus on stopping the destruction of forests and other ecosystems around the world.

We are soon to launch another world first– a £500m blue planet fund to help communities protect & restore threatened marine ecosystems. Our Blue Belt program of marine protected areas around British overseas territories is on course to protect 4m km² – with more to come.

Only last week we introduced steps that will prevent big companies importing commodities that have been grown at the expense of forests. Again, we are the first country to do so. If others join us, that alone could fundamentally turn the market.

In the UK we are introducing a landmark Env Bill, & in another world 1st - we are switching our farm subsidy system away from paying people for how much farmable land they own (catastrophic for nature) with a system of payment for public goods, like the environment.

Internationally we are starting a campaign to persuade other countries to do the same. Consider that the top 50 food producing countries spend $700bn a year subsidising – often destructive – land use. If we succeed, the implications will be vast.

We were the first developed country to legislate for Net Zero emissions by 2050.
And so much more besides.

Yes of course people can point to things that still need doing. And I hope and believe we will. But we can also be proud of what we ARE doing.

Ends