Richard Benwell

Attenborough’s Ocean is the film I’ve been waiting my whole career for – now the world must act on its message | George Monbiot The documentary shows the damage that fishing does to our planet. So why does the industry still hold governments to ransom? asks Guardian columnist George Monbiot

The plunder of our seas by industrial fishing is a monstrosity in which almost everyone unwittingly collaborates. For decades this truth has been deliberately hidden from us. Now at last the consensus is cracking.
This week's column.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The #PlanningBill needs far more than cosmetic change to ensure that, instead of harming nature, it delivers nature-positive development.

So it's good to see the Minister recognise some top issues: legal certainty & scientific basis for offsite action. Now for amendments please.

Great plan. Please support whole-site bottom trawling bans in Marine Protected Areas in the consultation.

There's a long way to go to protect 30% of land & sea for nature by 2030, but it can be done. We'll be reporting on progress in summer. This helps.
observer.co.uk/news/oceans/...

Good to see LGA consult on new statutory environmental duties. Please respond in support of adding duties in the #PlanningBill to drive councils' contribution to Climate Change Act and Environment Act targets. Plus the resources to help them do it.

www.local.gov.uk/about/campai...

A #PlanningBill that simplifies sustainable development *and* helps restore nature is a prize worth fighting for. And it's still within reach.

We hope Government & Parliamentarians fix the weaknesses and make the Environmental Delivery Plan idea something we can all support.

Yes, that would be unrealistic, but we haven't said that.

Our proposals would retain the principle that, for protected wildlife, harm should be avoided wherever possible. Where not possible, it should be reduced, and if development still needs to go ahead there should be effective compensation.

That's simply not the case, Zach. Many nature charities work with developers to deliver housing without harm for nature. We're totally behind zero carbon energy infrastructure too. It was HS2's bad management that led to the tunnel. We think Government's aim of a win-win is possible but needs work!

Hi Tom, the mitigation hierarchy (requirements to avoid & reduce harm first) could be applied at project/plan level and still make things much simpler. This could work with eg zoning or with average pollution loads depending on the feature. The key is ensuring developers don't skip straight to harm.

Here's our letter expressing the scale of risk in the current version: wcl.org.uk/docs/2025/20...

Here are our suggested changes: wcl.org.uk/proposed-ame...

We're grateful to MPs across Parliament for tabling amendments: @elliechowns.bsky.social @gideonamos.bsky.social @chrishinchliff.bsky.social

Planning bill ‘throws environmental protection to the wind’, say UK nature chiefs Heads of 32 charities warn proposals could push species towards extinction and lead to irreversible habitat loss

🧵Planning reform that speeds up sustainable development *and* restores nature is worth fighting for. The #PlanningBill is currently one sided, weakening nature laws with scant benefit for biodiversity. But Ministers could get back on track for a win-win.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

New proposals to ban heather burning on peatland to protect air, water and wildlife Extension to ban of burning on deep peat proposed by Government, so that an extra 146,000 hectares are protected

Very good consultation from @DefraGovUK, proposing to extend the burning ban on peatland. The proposal is to increase the designated area to cover Less Favoured Areas (currently just SSSIs that are also SACs/SPAs) & protect shallower peat. Please support!

www.gov.uk/government/n...

Looking at the @mcsuk.bsky.social State of our Beaches report, this graph shows the great results of the plastic bag levy.

Wouldn't it be great if the Spending Review were to introduce more #polluterpays approaches, especially for corporate polluters, with funds directed to restore nature?

Rachel Reeves risks 'hammer blow' to food security and nature Nature could be in the firing line as Chancellor Rachel Reeves gives her spring statement in the Commons on Wednesday.

Over 50 nature & farming groups have written to Rachel Reeves: without investment in nature-friendly farming, any hopes of sustainable food production, climate change mitigation, nature recovery & a resilient economy will be lost.

www.express.co.uk/news/politic...

Thanks, I'll take another look!

Here's our #PlanningBill Second Reading briefing to go with the blog: wcl.org.uk/docs/Plannin...

We hope Parliamentarians and Government will work across parties to take this chance to make planning work for nature.

But please don't stop there! We need:

💚duties on public bodies to grow & manage a Public Nature Estate across holdings
💚requirements for big private landowners to disclose major nature impacts
💚much bigger incentives to manage land for nature (and polluter pays for harm)

Defra asks England’s biggest landowners to come up with plans to restore nature Exclusive: Representatives of king, National Trust and others called on to work together to protect environment

Last Parliament set targets. This Parliament is for delivery. Restoring nature needs major landowners to play a part.

We proposed a Public Nature Estate, inspired by @guyshrubsole, @MarkAvery & more. @SteveReedMP has taken the 1st steps to make it real.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

BREAKING: DEFRA asks England’s biggest landowners to come up with plans to restore nature.

The new National Estate for Nature is a bold move by Labour, summoning landowners who own a tenth of the country to report on their stewardship.

With comment from me:

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill: what are the risks and opportunities? As we approach second reading of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, nature groups are concerned about the

New #PlanningBill blog: wcl.org.uk/planning-ref...

The bill currently poses unacceptable risks to environmental law. But Environment & Housing Ministers say they want win-wins for nature & development. Their ideas could be made to work for nature. That's a prize worth fighting for.

Too often, environmental targets are announced with a shout, but die with a whimper. We welcome OEP's investigation, which will help uncover why action to clean up rivers was left until too late.

Government's answer must be rapid public & private investment, enforcement & water system reform.

Talks on divisive deep-sea mining resume in Jamaica Several countries united with campaign groups Monday to call for caution in regulating the divisive practice of deep-sea mining at a meeting on the issue in Jamaica.

As talks on divisive deep sea mining resume, governments need to stand firm against the unacceptable pressure by an industry that risks wreaking irreparable damage on our ocean and exacerbating the planetary crisis

www.france24.com/en/live-news...

Here's the CEFAS analysis, published today: www.gov.uk/government/p...

Once again, over half of UK fisheries catch limits agreed for 2025 are above scientific advice.

Just 36% were in line with a precautionary approach.

Overfishing is bad for wildlife & self-defeating for the economy. Time to reduce & police catch limits and let the ocean recover.

The #ClimateChange Act and the #NetZero targets that followed must surely be among the UK's greatest contributions to international relations, future generations, and technological & environmental progress.

Giving up now would be a tragedy. It would diminish us.

Invest in beaver dams, ponds and wild driveways to curb flooding, report urges Natural flood measures can deliver £10 in benefits over 30 years for every £1 invested, a study says.

Leaky dams, ponds & tree planting are just some of the natural measures to curb flooding🌳

A new report from @the-wildlifetrusts.bsky.social has shown that for every £1 spent on these, there would be economic benefits of £10🪙

More investment is a no-brainer👇

www.independent.co.uk/climate-chan...

Sir Keir has misrepresented the impact of conservation on housing in Ebbsfleet. The majority of the homes are going ahead. The distinguished jumping spider isn’t even in the development area, but it is a precious habitat. Let's move beyond nature vs. growth - sustainable development benefits us all.

But all hope of a win-win for nature & development will be dashed if the Prime Minister keeps repeating nature vs economy misrepresentation. It's undermining his own Government's more considered work.

First newts, then bats, now jumping spiders are *wrongly* blamed for delays in development.

Overall, the bill strikes a better tone toward nature than previous attempts to speed up planning. But big changes are needed to make the planning system work & halt nature's decline. This is a prize worth fighting for. We hope Parliamentarians work with us to achieve it. 🧵12/12

There's more to consider in the Bill. Clause 8 limits attempts at judicial review as part of wider reforms (such as removing the "paper permission" stage) that could limit access to justice. The Clause 60 limitations on challenging an EDP raise similar concerns. 🧵11/12

4th, under Clause 58 the Secretary of State has powers to amend an Environmental Development Plan. The law should specify that Ministers can only amend a plan in a way that would *increase* environmental benefits, with more provision for scientific advice and monitoring. 🧵10/12