Dear Friend,
We are delighted to share our Summer Progress Report with you. What a past six months it has been. But, even with the rise of COVID-19 and financial uncertainty, our work has continued. Please read on for an update on recent achievements from our campaigns and a look forward to what is coming over the next few months. Your support makes all this vital work possible and is more important now than ever.
Thank you,
The Friends of the Earth team
Beat climate breakdown
Our planet has higher carbon dioxide levels than at any point in the past 800,000 years, and is heating up fast. We are in a climate emergency as well as a global pandemic, with limited time to make vital changes to the way we use the planet’s resources. Friends of the Earth is at the forefront of campaigning for a green and socially just future.
Friends of the Earth calls for a ‘green and fair recovery’ from COVID-19
We won the battle against Heathrow
200+ Climate Action Groups (CAGs)
What's next?
The next few months are critical for our Climate Action campaign as we keep the pressure on the government to deliver a genuine green and fair recovery, ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget.
We will mobilise our supporters and 200 Climate Action groups for a moment of action, to push their MPs to advocate for a green and fair recovery in parliament. At the same time, we will be seeking the support of Councils and Mayors, asking them to leverage their local power in support of the national recovery.
We will work to amplify the voices of allies across different sectors to show how, by building back better, we can rebuild the foundations of our society and economy so that they work for all of us.
And finally, over the coming months we will continue our work to end the UK government’s funding of fossil fuels abroad. This will consist of exploring the potential legal opportunities to hold the UK government to account in the name of people and planet.
This vital work takes much time and resources and with your support we will realise these aspirations for people and planet. Thank you so much.
Double UK tree cover
As you may be aware, trees play an incredible role in combating climate breakdown by removing carbon emissions from the air. Despite their importance, just 13% of the UK’s total land area has woodland cover (compared to an EU average of 38%).
We believe that doubling tree cover is a vital part of getting to net zero emissions (alongside radical cuts in carbon pollution). Sadly, we’ve seen government aspirations currently falling well short of this target, as shown in the recently proposed England Tree Strategy. That’s why we have been working hard to push the government and local councils to adopt this target and for detailed ambitious targets to be set in the England Trees Strategy.
What's next?
This Autumn, we're planning to hold a Tree Summit where we hope to showcase the ambitious tree pledges made over the course of the campaign by councils, water companies and landowners, and put pressure on ministers to follow suit. The Tree Summit is likely to coincide with National Tree Week, when people around the country will be doing their bit to plant trees. With public concern about the climate and ecological emergencies still riding high, we simply can't let ministers wriggle out of taking ambitious action to grow more trees and restore nature.
We will continue to build on the momentum of our trees campaign, which as you have seen has mass public support, to call on the government to double UK tree cover. We're briefing our army of local groups to make more detailed submissions and encouraging allies, from councils to farmers and other environmental charities, to make their voices heard.
Plastic and the environment
Plastic hangs around in the environment for hundreds of years. It doesn’t disappear − it just breaks down into tiny pieces that continue to pollute our lives. As well as the health concerns, wildlife can become entangled in it or ingest it. This cannot be allowed to continue. Friends of the Earth is fighting for solutions, from pushing for new laws to phase out plastic pollution to educating people on how to minimise their impact on the planet.
Plastics pollution bill
Get pointless plastic out of football
What's next?
In the coming months, we will be working with other NGOs to gain support from a diverse range of organisations for the plastic pollution legislation and/or specific amendments to the Environment Bill on plastics and waste targets. Our ultimate goal is to secure effective plastic pollution and waste targets in the Environment Bill and any subsequent legislation.
Trade and climate
The decisions made by governments, businesses and individuals about which goods and services enter the country, our shops and our homes can mean the difference between sustainable, low-carbon production or increased damage to our planet and communities. That’s why it’s so important that the UK sets out a transparent and democratic system for entering into future trade deals and puts our climate at the heart of trade policy.
What's next?
We will be working with supporters like you and with MPs to resist any attempts to cut environmental, food or animal welfare standards as part of any coronavirus recovery plans or new trade deals. We’ll continue to demand a better system for scrutiny of trade deals. And Friends of the Earth will launch a new call for the UK to put the climate at the heart of our future trade policy, to pass a law to clean up business supply chains and take a lead in reforming the ways we trade internationally.
The last word
We hope this report has given you a useful update on the impact of Friends of the Earth’s work over the last few months, which has only been possible thanks to all your incredible support.
Hearing your views on Friends of the Earth is vital to us as it allows us to fight to protect the environment on matters that concern you. If you have any questions or comments, please do get in touch.
Only by collectively pushing together for change can we meet the unprecedented challenges faced by people and planet alike. We cannot be successful alone, and we are incredibly grateful for your continued support.
Your support makes our work possible. Thank you.