How can we make politicians care about the environment?
While few things are ever certain in politics, one thing we know for sure is that we will have an election in the next 18 months. It’s an election that much of the country are counting down the days until, and it’s an election which looks likely to deliver the biggest turnover of MPs in a generation.
Undeniably a week is a long time in politics, and 18 months is more like an age so it may be too early to begin predicting the results of the election. But, with 58 MPs already confirmed to stand down, and four by-elections already on the horizon, we can surely expect to see a huge number of new faces whatever the result.
Such a large number of new MPs will invariably bring new issues and interests to the parliamentary agenda, and with the environment one of voters’ biggest concerns one would hope the climate and biodiversity crisis would be chief among them.
At times, our current cohort of MPs has seemed determined to defy the sensible and rational course of action, often to the detriment of our environment. But, with such a large number of fresh faces expected in parliament following the election this presents campaigners with a great opportunity to take stock and assess the ways we are working with politicians on environmental issues.
Upon reflection, expecting MPs to devote their time to environmental causes because it is the right thing to do may be misguided. Many MPs have schedules full of a range of matters including Ministerial roles, committee memberships, inquiries and constituency issues. Although most MPs may care about protecting our native wildlife, ensuring a safer environment for their children and avoiding a climate catastrophe, there are simply not enough incentives for them to champion these causes in Parliament.
In light of this, the question for campaigners becomes: how can we incentivise politicians to make them work harder to champion environmental causes in parliament? Many of the organisations I work with are operating on tight budgets, and when we’re up against big business, fossil fuel and corporate farming interests with their trade bodies and PR companies, we cannot compete when it comes to lobbying and hospitality for political support.
Characterising all MPs as working for their own benefit in this way is unfair and ignores the fantastic work that is done by so many parliamentarians who go above and beyond their ordinary responsibilities to fight for environmental causes. Their work puts these issues on the agenda, achieving lasting change that protects the environment. These MPs are a shining example for their colleagues of the ideals of public service, going out of their way to support important campaigns and working hard to secure a sustainable future.
This autumn we will be hosting the inaugural Nature 2030 Political Purpose Awards. The purpose of the awards will be to highlight these political advocates for the environment, giving them the credit, they deserve and hopefully spurring the rest of their colleagues into action.
With significant environmental political victories few and far between, it is important also to recognise those who have fought hard just to get issues onto the agenda and those who have championed campaigns that did not directly translate into clear policy wins.
It is also important to recognise that not all politics happens in London. Members of the devolved assemblies and metro mayors have often been streets ahead of their Westminster equivalents on environmental matters. By recognising them with an award, it will highlight to those in Westminster what is possible in terms of climate advocacy.
In the next couple of years we could see the greatest Parliamentary upheaval for two decades. It is crucial that the new representatives go further and faster than their predecessors on climate and conservation issues. Our hope is that by hosting the first environmental political awards, the next generation of politicians will be inspired to play their part in protecting our nature from environmental catastrophe.
Dominic Dyer is Chair of Nature 2030 and is a leading wildlife protection and conservation campaigner, writer and broadcaster.
