Humanist Climate Action (HCA) has called on the UK Government to rethink its approach to environmental policy in response to a consultation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
DEFRA plans to put five environmental principles into law. But, HCA believes these principles are too limited. They would not be legally binding. They would not apply to important policy areas including the armed forces, taxation, and resource allocation. They would apply only to government policy-makers and not to other public bodies. They would not apply to specific regulatory or planning decisions but only to general policies. In practice, they limit the Government’s focus to preventing environmental harm. Instead, they should also focus on positive action to enhance and protect the natural environment.
Launched last month, HCA is a volunteer-led network of Humanists UK members and supporters committed to redefining lifestyles and campaigning for policies that promote low-carbon, ethical, and sustainable living in the light of the degeneration of the Earth’s climate and biodiversity. It brings humanists together to facilitate individual and collective action on these issues.
Humanist Climate Action Secretary Richard Norman commented, ‘We are in a time of climate emergency. As such, it is vital that the UK Government embeds strong environmental principles across all areas of its work and at all levels of government. We need these principles to be robust, ambitious, and legally binding. Otherwise they will not be an effective tool to combat climate change and improve our natural world.’
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For further comment or information, please contact Humanists UK Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson at press@humanists.uk or phone 020 7324 3072 or 020 3675 0959.
Read HCA’s response to this consultation.
Read DEFRA’s consultation.
Find out more about Humanist Climate Action.
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