Our statements

15 July 2026: UK’s 20th century climate ‘now gone’ amid warning extreme temperatures are new normal

Keith Jones, Senior National Specialist in Climate Adaptation at the National Trust said:

“The UK's old climate has already slipped away, with fossil fuel emissions and land‑use change driving periods of extreme heat, drought, wildfire and intense rainfall that are fast becoming the new normal.

"In 2025 we witnessed river levels falling, streams drying, young trees failing and whole habitats lost to fire - but we also saw restored rivers, wetlands and beaver ponds providing real resilience. The message is clear: climate change is here, it's accelerating - and only faster, joined‑up action will give nature, and people, the lifeline we all need."

13 July 2026: 30by30

A National Trust spokesperson says:

"The plan provides some welcome clarity on how it intends to deliver its nature recovery commitments and recognises the importance of aligning with wider environmental programmes, such as Local Nature Recovery Strategies, Protected Landscapes delivery and the Land Use Framework.

"However, this plan has been years in the making. Having waited since 2022 for a delivery framework, and with 2030 fast approaching while nature remains in crisis, there is no time to lose.

"Ministers must now engage landowners at pace, provide meaningful incentives and ensure ambition is matched by the resources needed to deliver it.

"Achieving 30by30 is an important milestone, but the Government must also set out how nature recovery will be sustained beyond 2030 through long-term, landscape-scale action."