Recognising that climate change and biodiversity loss are among the greatest challenges of our time, JNCC and the Climate Change Committee (CCC) are committing to working more closely together to help tackle these intertwined crises. This partnership will bring together a wealth of data and expertise in an integrated way, helping government shape the right solutions for both climate and nature.
This announcement comes as Energy and Environment Secretaries join forces to call for climate and nature action. Ed Miliband will be the first government minister to deliver a State of the Climate and Nature Address to Parliament. This Address will update the British public on the dangers the climate and nature crises pose to health, homes and livelihoods.
Working together in scientific partnership, through sharing data and analysis, the CCC and JNCC’s joint aim is to support the delivery of outcomes to tackle climate breakdown and accelerate nature recovery.
JNCC CEO Dr Gemma Harper said: "We want a future where we can all thrive and that future is dependent on abundant nature and a stable climate. Nature is one of our best tools to fight climate change. It helps by absorbing carbon dioxide, keeping temperatures steady, and protecting us from extreme weather like floods and heatwaves. If we take care of and restore nature, we can better tackle climate breakdown and, in doing so, protect plants and animals – including humanity – and make life safer for everyone. As part of the global and domestic scientific community, collaboration is key to everything that JNCC does, I am, therefore, delighted that we will be working with the Climate Change Committee to create a healthy future for all."
CCC CEO Emma Pinchbeck said: "The CCC is glad to commit in principle to an MOU with the JNCC. It is important to us to make sure that our work is informed by the best data and analysis, and to share our own in kind. Work on climate change and biodiversity should be hand in hand."
There is no route to tackling climate change that does not involve nature, and no pathway to nature recovery that does not consider climate change. We depend on nature, so aligning action for nature and climate change is the right choice for today and for future generations.
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