As a leading conservation and education charity, we urge the Government to make a number of practical changes to ensure it has the best possible impact on protecting the future of wildlife, both in the UK and overseas.
** Update: 19 August 2020 **
Chester Zoo welcomes the further detail on the time-frame and process for developing new long term targets as part of the Environment Bill, and we look forward to working with the Government, parliamentarians and sector colleagues to ensure they are robust, scientifically based and legally binding.
Long term targets are of course important but need to accompanied by urgent action. We cannot afford to wait 15-20 years to ensure the prevention of mass extinction of species and the reversal of nature and habitat loss.
6 March 2020: Chester MP debates new Environment Bill at the House of Commons
In March 2020, members of parliament including MP for Chester, Chris Matheson, gathered at the House of Commons to debate the proposed new Environment Bill. As part of the debate, politicians discussed the challenges faced by climate change and the ongoing loss of biodiversity around the world.
Right now, the planet has reached an environmental tipping point and it’s imperative that the Government gets this absolutely right for it to be the landmark Bill we all need it to be.
Experts at the zoo have reviewed the proposed bill alongside Chester MP, Chris Matheson, who called upon the Government to be more ambitious in its approach to protecting UK wildlife and nature.
PSSSTT
One of the great pleasures of representing my hometown of Chester is representing Chester Zoo, which is more than simply a tourist attraction; it is leading the way in conservation and wildlife protection, and is a centre of global expertise and leadership in conservation and environmentalism. We should be following the lead of Chester, led by Chester Zoo, which has developed the sustainable palm oil city model, making Chester the first city in the world to adopt sustainable palm oil city status.
Chris Matheson MP
In the coming months, zoo conservationists will continue to work closely with MPs to further influence new and effective changes to the Environment Bill that will have a positive, lasting impact on nature.
Take a look at the debate here!
NOW is the time to ACT FOR WILDLIFE. Conservation is CRITICAL; species are under threat. TOGETHER we can make a BIG difference. Take action TODAY and join us in PREVENTING EXTINCTION.