The government should work with local leaders to put nature at
the heart of its plans for economic recovery in the North, the
leading think-tank for the North of England has said today.
In a new report (attached) published by IPPR
North, experts have called for a “Plan for Nature in the
North”, setting out how investment from government in
restoring nature can be a stimulus for future prosperity. They
say that it should be developed by leaders in the region and be
backed by a £50 billion investment from government over
the next 25 years. The plan would aid
the region’s post-Covid-19 recovery and build a
cleaner, greener future North with the potential to create jobs,
improve resilience and “level up” the economy and public
health.
According to the report, projects to restore
nature, including restoring peatland, planting
trees, and creating new green spaces in urban
areas, can bring significant economic, social
and environmental, benefits. These
include increased flood resilience, improved air
quality, and lower net carbon emissions, as well as
the mental and physical health benefits of
increased access to nature.
The report shows that the size and
the distinctive qualities of nature in the North of England
means that a regional approach to investment is urgently
needed. The North covers a quarter of land in England, and
yet it is home to:
-
70 per cent of all wetland areas in
England, including 88 per cent of all
peatland- crucial for carbon
capture
-
71 per cent of all moor and
heathland in England, 70 per cent
of all
natural grasslands and 28 per cent
of all forest (including 51 per cent of all
coniferous forest)- important habitats for
wildlife
-
31 per cent of all water bodies (lakes,
reservoirs etc.) in England, and 49 per cent of
all water courses (rivers, streams etc.)-
vital for our health and economy
But researchers warn that for too long, leaders have failed
to value Northern nature, leaving the region’s natural assets
in a poor condition, and undermining its economic
and human potential.
They also point to access to nature, an issue that had been
catapulted to the fore during the ongoing lockdown, as
a key consideration for policymakers. The report warns
that those in deprived areas and BAME groups are
significantly less likely to have regular access to nature. IPPR
North have challenged Northern leaders and government to make it
their priority to change this.
Report author and Research Fellow at IPPR North Jack
Hunter said:
“Here in the North, we have some of the
most incredible landscapes in the world.
Nature has defined
our history, and shaped our people and our places. Now,
it could be the foundation of a greener, fairer and
more prosperous North.
“But much of nature in the
North - from our peatlands to our parks
- is in a very poor state. As recent
flooding and moorland fires have shown, the wellbeing of our
natural environment underpins people’s health and wellbeing, and
the strength of our economy. Now, in the
face of a climate emergency, we risk
far graver consequences for us all without urgent
and ambitious action.
“We need
a determined, pan-regional effort,
led by the North’s leaders and backed by
government, to invest in
nature – as a cornerstone of a successful
economy and a healthy population. And that effort must
begin today”.
Sarah Longlands, Director of IPPR North
said:
“The impact of
the lockdown during the
Covid-19 crisis has been
a timely reminder of just how much we
value nature in the North.
Not only for its contribution
to health and wellbeing but its
economic value for
tourism, recreation, and the visitor
economy.
“Up until this
point, the existence of
nature has been largely taken for granted in the
debate on the northern powerhouse and levelling
up. We’ve assumed that air pollution,
congestion, loss of habitats and flooding are just inevitable
consequences of economic growth.
“As the lockdown eases, we must
re-evaluate our approach and build on the
North’s natural strengths to help
support new jobs and investment in a
lower carbon economy and in
doing so, held to champion the
North’s economic renewal and
recovery”.
Jack Hunter, Research Fellow at IPPR North, and Sarah
Longlands, Director of IPPR North are available
for interview.
As part of IPPR North’s work to raise awareness of, and
start a conversation about how important nature is to each and
every one of us- from pockets of green space in urban areas, to
the incredible and varied landscapes across the North, we will be
encouraging people to share their photographs of nature with us
using the hashtag #NorthernNature on Monday
1st June.
IPPR North is the leading think-tank for the north of
England, developing bold ideas for a stronger economy and
prosperous places and people. For more information, visit
ippr.org/north.
