A wildlife charity which is fighting the effects of climate change locally has urged the Government to raise its ambitions at COP28 this month.

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has joined the other Wildlife Trusts to issue three priorities to politicians at the conference:

• Put nature recovery centre stage
• Faster action to reduce emissions
• Champion goals on adaptation and the loss and damage fund

BBOWT is already witnessing the effects of climate change on wildlife at its nature reserves, with dormice, butterflies, birds, adders and beech trees at risk. Now, this year is set to be the hottest in human history, following the warmest June, July, August, September and October on record globally.

The Trust’s work to implement nature-based solutions to tackle climate change at a landscape scale across the three counties is under way. It recently created a £2 million new wetland at one of its sites that will help the land store more carbon and cut the flood risk for miles around. But much more needs to be done – and quickly.

Estelle Bailey, Chief Executive of BBOWT, said:
"This year we found just two dormice at our nature reserves, down from more than 100 in 2004, and we believe the decline is largely down to warming winters disrupting their hibernation patterns. This is just one example of the catastrophic effect that we humans are having on our climate, and just a glimpse of the chaos that could ensue for wildlife, climate and people if we don't take urgent action.

"Our Government has a fantastic opportunity to make the UK a world leader in tackling climate change by taking bold, innovative action including nature-based solutions, and challenging other nations to be as brave. We urge local MPs to pressure this Government to make the UK's policies the gold standard at COP28."

Last month the Trust launched its biggest ever fundraising appeal, the Nature Recovery Fund, aiming to raise £3 million in three years to turbo-charge its work tackling the climate and nature crisis locally.

Alongside the devastating effects of climate change, nature locally is faced with a host of other threats such as inappropriate development, intensive agriculture and pollution. Restoring nature is a huge factor in tackling climate change – the two go hand in hand.

Kathryn Brown, director of climate change and evidence for The Wildlife Trusts, said:
“The UK has lost its place as a global leader on climate change – both on net zero and adapting to the impacts we can see accelerating around us. Alarmingly, climate action has been consistently absent from Rishi Sunak’s list of priorities. The UK Government needs to step-up as a matter of urgency. It's vital that it recognises the role of nature in addressing climate change, because restoring habitats will go a long way to store carbon and address biodiversity loss in our nature-depleted country – The Wildlife Trusts are ready and waiting to work with them on this.”

BBOWT’s Nature Recovery Fund has raised more than £230,000 for nature, climate and people. Nature is sending an SOS – you can answer the call and help fight climate change on your doorstep by donating now at: www.bbowt.org.uk/SOS

The Wildlife Trusts’ three priorities for politicians at COP28 are:

Put nature recovery centre stage: The UK was visible and vocal at the Montreal UN biodiversity negotiations in December 2022.  We want to see the same level of ambition for nature recovery brought to the table in Dubai. Nature recovery and food production must be viewed through the same lens and all parties should pledge to increase high-quality nature-based solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation, including in the UK.

Faster action to reduce emissions: Climate change poses monumental threats to communities and the natural world. Lack of progress to reduce emissions means the goal from the 2015 Paris Agreement to stop global temperature increasing by more than 2 degrees hangs in the balance. COP28 must catalyse greater action to phase out fossil fuel use globally, including in the UK, this is a code red+ for humanity and our natural world.

Champion global goals on adaptation and the loss and damage fund: COP27 promised support for developing countries through a ‘loss and damage’ fund. We expect details on the size and structure of the fund at COP28. There must also be significant progress on climate adaptation, an area where the UK has been consistently weak.  The UK Government’s latest National Adaptation Programme, published in June, does not go far enough to help the country prepare for climate change and is now subject to a legal challenge.