House of Lords will today be debating a bill that risks marine habitats being subjected to oil & gas drilling🛢️

The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill could cause huge damage to nature & climate🚨

We call on peers to back tabled amendments to the bill👇

wcl.org.uk/docs/assets/up…

Tomorrow, MPs are due to debate regulations which will make it harder to sanction polluting water companies🌊

MPs must stand up for our rivers, lakes & streams by calling for these regulations to be withdrawn - with related advice amended📢

Read more👇
wcl.org.uk/docs/assets/up…

Good UK progress closing sandeel fisheries & restricting bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas.

But Government plans could speed up #FossilFuel licensing in MPAs.

Parliamentarians, please back this amendment to end oil & gas activity in MPAs:
wcl.org.uk/docs/assets/up…

Just 3% of England is well protected for nature.

We can't afford to swap balanced scientific process to designate SSSIs with political choice.

Here's a briefing explaining how the process really works & why we need more wildlife sites, not more politics:
wcl.org.uk/docs/Sites%20o…

Good to chat to ENDS about this - at a time when concern about freshwater pollution is rising, the regulator's ability to sanction polluters could be be constrained. The Government should reconsider.

As part of our #Nature2030 campaign, we're calling for a new Environmental Rights Bill👩‍⚖️

In our new blog, consultant solicitor Carol Day sets out recent developments impacting environmental defenders & why the need for the bill has never been clearer👇

wcl.org.uk/protest-free-s…

NEW: paper from Cambridge University and WWT confirms the widespread use of toxic lead shot - despite an industry pledge to phase it out 🚫

93% of pheasants destined for dinner tables were killed using lead shot in the 2023/24 season. wwt.org.uk/news-and-stori…

#BanLead #LeadisPoison

2020 – shooting orgs announce phase out of lead🗓️

2021 – Government announces phase out of lead🧑‍⚖️

2024 – Shot Switch study finds 93% of shot pheasants still killed using toxic lead ammo🪶

WWT👇

wwt.org.uk/news-and-stori…

It's time to make good on promise to #BanLead

We've looked again at the proposed growth duty for Ofwat. It could

❌weaken enforcement against water companies
❌promote deregulation of environmental laws
❌run contrary to public & select committee opinion.

🧵on why Parliamentarians should oppose it.
wcl.org.uk/docs/Growth_Du…

Govt promised a ban on peat compost in August 2022, but retailers, producers and customers are still waiting for the legislation to enter Parliament

Over 95% of the public support a ban, why such a wait to make this positive and popular policy a reality?

Really welcome today’s Protected Landscapes targets.

V pleased to see SSSI target - needed as just 25% SSSIs are in a good state.

But as the OEP said, Defra need to scale up and speed up. E.g habitat creation target is good to see - but amounts to just 10% one National Park.

Good meeting with Keir Starmer last week

Turning the tide against environmental decline needs urgent action

We will continue working to encourage all parties to propose high ambition for climate & nature in this election year🌱

Exclusive research by Tess Colley suggests that currently just 50,000 homes are held up as a result of nutrient neutrality rules, with some of the areas first impacted by the rules appearing to have unblocked the logjam.

endsreport.com/article/185719…

The Offshore Petroleum Licensing Bill is bad news for climate & nature🛢️

It could allow drilling in Marine Protected Areas, exposing key ocean sites to further damage & habitat loss🌊

It also undermines work to stop runaway climate change🔥

Read more: wcl.org.uk/docs/assets/up…

Voices across the nature movement are calling for an end to the pollution of our countryside & wildlife by toxic lead ammunition🛑

It's time to #BanLead 🦢

You can add your voice to these calls, with the consultation open for another 48 hours📢

wwt.org.uk/news-and-stori…

🦡 We were delighted to be in Parliament this morning for the Wildlife and Countryside Link Wildlife Crime Report launch 👏

It was great to see many NGOs, politicians and police come together to discuss how we can tackle wildlife crime 🦅

Check out the report here 👉 wcl.org.uk/wildlife-crime…

Despite high numbers of #wildlifecrimes Wildlife and Countryside Link' report launched today in Parliament, which we fed into, shows convictions are down 42% in 2022. We need more convictions to prevent further offences & for Home Office to properly record these crimes

wcl.org.uk/wildlife-crime…

Lead is a highly toxic substance.

☠️ It kills wildlife
🌿 It pollutes habitats
🤮 It damages human health
🐶 It contaminates pet food

But (amazingly!) it's still legal to use lead ammunition in many places.

A short thread on a BIG issue for nature 🧵👇

Looking forward to speaking about the amazing potential of Local Nature Recovery Strategies on the 6th. Details below 👇

A bit of good news – a rundown of ways the Levelling Up & Regeneration Act has been improved for nature (plus some thoughts on planning reforms to come):