The challenge ahead of us to reverse the effects of climate change and to tackle the current decline of biodiversity is substantial. We know that nature is under greater pressure than ever before, and that climate change is only going to bring more challenges for the places that the National Trust looks after on behalf of the nation.
Continue reading...National Trust Policy & Advocacy blog
Laws and decisions made by parliament and government can impact our ability to care for special places. This blog explores the landscapes, coastline and places we love, against the backdrop of the big issues that could affect their future and how we’re playing our part to protect them.


Follow the National Trust Policy & Advocacy blog to hear the latest news and views from our policy experts on the big issues that affect our special places. We’d love to get your views on the topics we write about. Join the debate by sharing your comments and also get in touch via Twitter @NTExtAffairs.
Latest posts
30 Jun 2021
19 May 2021
Government's announcements on nature are welcome, but are they enough?
Published: 19 May 2021
On Tuesday Defra Secretary of State George Eustice made one of his most significant speeches for nature policy since the introduction of the Environment Bill. This speech comes at an important moment. Not only is the UK hosting the forthcoming G7 and COP26 meetings, which will be vital in setting the global ambition for climate change, but the value of nature to people has never been clearer.
Continue reading...4 May 2021
National Trust calls for green investment to be at the heart of Covid recovery
Published: 4 May 2021
Optimism has been in short supply for the last year. Covid-19 has disrupted and undermined so much of what we love and find familiar. But as the vaccines roll out there is a sense of the country unlocking and feeling safer to be itself again. And for those of us who care passionately about the need to address the accelerating crisis in our natural world, and at the same time confront the ...
Continue reading...16 Mar 2021
Calling for net zero 'plus'
Published: 16 March 2021
New research by the Environment Agency supports our approach to tackling climate change. The Agency's research again shows that a degree of change is inevitable. That's why, as well as reducing our emissions and capturing more carbon in our land, we're adapting the way we look after places to better protect and heal them from the impacts of climate change.
Continue reading...2 Feb 2021
Dasgupta report launches
Published: 2 February 2021
A 600-page report on ‘The Economics of Biodiversity’ was launched today (2 February) by Partha Dasgupta at the Royal Society. Partha has been working with an expert team in treasury to tackle the gnarly issue of how to include nature in the economic balance sheets that so often determine decisions.
Continue reading...27 Jan 2021
What's happening with the Environment Bill?
Published: 27 January 2021
The Environment Bill returned to Parliament yesterday. But that return was shortlived. The Government is postponing the rest of the process by several more months – citing concerns about the Bill not completing its passage in the Lords before the end of the Session.
Continue reading...3 Nov 2020
Welcoming the much-needed Environment Bill back to Parliament
Published: 3 November 2020
After over 200 days of absence, today the Environment Bill finally returns to Parliament. Getting the detail right over the coming months will be vital in ensuring this cornerstone of the Government’s environmental agenda really delivers the step change nature needs. Here we share some views on what needs to happen next.
Continue reading...6 Oct 2020
Government asked to unleash the potential of designated landscapes
Published: 6 October 2020
Today we’ve made a joint call to Defra Secretary of State George Eustice urging him to take action to unleash the potential of designated landscapes for people, climate and nature.
Continue reading...30 Sep 2020
Achieving the best outcomes from the Government spending review
Published: 30 September 2020
We’ve responded to the Government’s consultation on the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review. In this blog we share six key areas we believe the UK Government needs to invest in to get the best outcomes for people and places, nature and heritage and the economy alike.
Continue reading...29 Sep 2020
National Trust response to new land announcement
Published: 29 September 2020
Yesterdays's announcement from the Prime Minister that the UK will aim to protect 30 per cent of land for nature by 2030, including 4,000 km2 of new land for nature in England, is a welcome pick-me-up for those who care about nature, especially after recent reports on the UK missing most of its biodiversity targets and the state of its waterways.
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