Member of Parliament for the Ribble Valley, Nigel Evans has pledged to encourage the harnessing of nature to tackle climate change ahead of WWF’s Earth Hour, one of the largest events designed to raise awareness about the health of the earth.
On Saturday 25 March at 8.30pm the world will unite in support of people and the planet. Iconic UK landmarks, including the London Eye, Edinburgh Castle, and the Senedd building, will be turning off their lights in a show of solidarity. But its impact has gone far beyond just turning off lights for one hour. Earth Hour is a time to switch off from distractions and focus on nature.
At the CBD COP15 conference in Montreal, governments agreed to a global mission to halt and reverse the loss of nature by 2030, while the IPCC has shown that nature is our ally in the fight against climate change. Nature is our life support system. When we work with nature and not against it, we have cleaner air to breathe, better water to drink, and healthier food to eat. And science shows that time spent in nature makes us happier and healthier.
But nature in the UK is under threat: a quarter of all our mammals are at risk of extinction; over the last 50 years we’ve lost 38 million birds from our skies; 97% of our wildflower meadows have disappeared since the 1930s; and 92% of the UK’s seagrass meadows, which can absorb carbon more efficiently than tropical rainforests, have been lost in the last century.
Becky, Director of Advocacy, said:
“The UK is in the top 10% of the most nature depleted countries in the world, but together we can make the changes necessary to bring our wild isles back to life. We’re delighted to see MPs from across the UK give their support to Earth Hour and pledge to protect our planet. We hope they will be a champion for nature in Parliament and their communities throughout the year, and inspire their constituents and colleagues to act to restore nature.”
Nigel Evans MP said:
“Here in the Ribble Valley, we are blessed to live with the wonders of nature on our doorsteps, from the stunning Forest of Bowland to the towering Pendle Hill. However, this should make us more aware than most that this is a resource which we must protect. If we are to continue to enjoy our wonderful countryside alongside the wildlife we share it with then we must continue to act more sustainably. Let us use this Earth Hour not only as a reminder of the progress which still needs to be made, but also that we can all individually make a huge difference.”