Plan to axe green laws sparks UK backlash

A plan by the United Kingdom government to scrap a host of environmental laws has come up against opposition from a large and growing coalition of conservation groups, campaigners and celebrities.

Some of the largest British heritage and wildlife charities, including the National Trust, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, or RSPB, and World Wildlife Fund UK, have thrown their weight behind a campaign dubbed "Stop the Attack on Nature".

More than 100,000 citizens have written to their local representatives with concerns that new UK policies will place species and habitats under threat. Meanwhile, high-profile figures including British naturalist Chris Packham and Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams have become champions for the campaign.

The tension stems from the UK plans to roll back several environmental protection laws dating back to its time in the European Union, including regulations that protect the air, rivers, beaches and wildlife. Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg told parliament that the government will "sunset the majority of retained EU law" so that it expires on Dec 31, 2023.

Time constraints

Wildlife groups are worried that the government is not left with sufficient time to replace EU-era legislation with new laws. There are additional concerns that the mooted establishment of low-tax investment zones in 38 local authorities across the country will see environmental regulations relaxed to spur development, and the scrapping of a rewilding scheme for farmers has also drawn criticism.

"Millions of wildlife lovers up and down the country are outraged, scared and worried about this apparent attack on nature," Packham said at a campaign event on Monday.

Last week, climate campaigners disrupted the Conservative Party conference in a protest over government plans to end a ban on fracking and ramp up domestic fossil fuel exploration. During her speech at the conference, Prime Minister Liz Truss said environmental protesters formed part of a so-called anti-growth coalition that was bent on "more taxes, more regulation and more meddling".

Hilary McGrady, director-general of the National Trust, subsequently responded to these comments in an interview in The Sunday Times newspaper.

"We want to work with governments, but it is notable that we have largely been sidelined," McGrady said.