Grants from £50k to £5 million are now
available to help the nation build back greener from the
coronavirus pandemic, the government announced today [14
September].
The £40 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund,
part of the government’s wider green economic recovery, jobs and
skills package, brings forward funding for environmental
charities and their partners to start work on projects across
England to restore nature and tackle climate change.
The fund will help create up to 3,000 jobs and
safeguard up to 2,000 others in areas such as protecting species,
finding nature-based solutions to tackling climate change,
conservation rangers and connecting people with nature. Up to
100% of project costs will be available.
The fund will be delivered by the National
Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the
Environment Agency.
- nature conservation and restoration;
- nature-based solutions, particularly focused on climate
change mitigation and adaptation such as through tree planting
and restoring peatland; and,
- connecting people with nature.
Projects will be favoured that create or
retain jobs, creating opportunities and benefits for all ages,
including young people. The fund is open to environmental
charities and partnerships that include at least one
environmental charity, while projects from both rural, urban and
inshore marine areas are welcomed.
The fund will create a broad range of jobs
such as ecologists, surveyors, nature reserve staff and education
workers in environment organisations, and support their suppliers
in areas such as agricultural engineering, horticulture, and
equipment and seed supply.
Environment Minister , said:
“I am delighted to launch our game-changing
fund to kick-start projects to halt the loss of wildlife and
tackle climate change, as we build back greener from the
coronavirus pandemic.
“Our ambitious fund will help environmental
organisations employ more people to work on tree-planting, nature
restoration and helping the public enjoy the outdoors, and I
encourage organisations to step forward and apply so we can make
a real difference to nature whilst also creating jobs.”
The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is funded by
the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by
bringing forward £10 million of money from the Nature Recovery
Fund and £30 million of Nature for Climate Funding.
Natural England Chair Tony
Juniper, said:
“Access to a thriving natural environment is
essential for the nation’s health and
wellbeing, and this fund will deliver real on-the-ground benefits
for people and wildlife alike as we emerge from the coronavirus
crisis.
“This fund will also provide a
long-term boost for those wanting to build a career in the
environmental sector, and help secure a flourishing environment
that we need for a healthy future.”
Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the
Environment Agency, said:
“Reaching net zero by 2050 and achieving the
government’s 25 Year Environment Plan goals for nature can only
be done by employing the right skills. A lack of STEM skills is
estimated to cost industry £1.5 billion a year in recruitment,
inflated salaries, and additional training costs.
“The £40 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund
is a step in the right direction and will help the UK economy be
more competitive in the future.”
Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive,
National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“I am delighted that we are distributing the
Green Recovery Challenge Fund on behalf of Defra and working
alongside our partners at Natural England and the Environment
Agency.
“We are committed to supporting the nature and
environment sector quickly and effectively through this
Fund.”
The government’s flagship Environment Bill puts the environment
at the centre of policy making to ensure that we have a cleaner,
greener and more resilient country for the next
generation.
