The Conservative Party plan to scrap the Environment Agency and Natural England at the very moment we need them most; in the middle of the climate crisis, is madness.
In Harrow the Environment Agency has been and continues to be critical to minimise flooding problems and tackle pollution of local rivers and streams such as South Harrow’s Roxbourne Brook.
Nationally, it is:
Managing flood risks across the country including spending billions of pounds to install and maintain flood defences
Acting as a Category 1 emergency responder during severe weather and/or major incidents, taking pressure off 999 services.
Regulating and enforcing laws to prevent pollution, fining organisations and culprits that are responsible for environmental pollutionMeanwhile, Natural England do important work to conserve our country’s green spaces for all to enjoy by:
Providing green spaces, open and accessible to all
Leading the drive to rewild our lost natural spaces
Strengthening our resilience to the effects of climate changeScrapping these institutions would be disastrous for our country and have profound and long-term consequences for our national security.
As the effects of climate change grow stronger, we need to be better prepared to deal with extreme weather events, protect our farmland to maintain food security, and ensure our natural spaces remain open and accessible to all to improve our physical and mental wellbeing which will take pressure off our already stretched mental health services across the country.
I will continue to campaign on environmental issues, to safeguard the Environment Agency and Natural England and champion the efforts to clean our waterways, rewild our lost natural habitats and tackle climate change