Water ecosystems and clean water at high risk, Natural England report finds

All of our ecosystem assets, and almost all the benefits they provide, are at high or medium-high risk, according to Natural England’s The state of natural capital report. Marine and freshwaters are among the assets at high risk, and clean and plentiful water among the benefits at high risk.

The report assessed the state of ecosystem assets such as wetlands and forests, and the important role they play in sustaining society and the economy. Alongside, Natural England published a new risk register, which set out the threats nature faces; how they could impact on a range of policy areas, such as the push for net zero, climate adaptation, food security, water security and health; and the actions needed to address the risks. The image shows the priority actions recommended.

Natural England chair Tony Juniper called for a fundamental rethink. “Nature is our national wealth service: our natural assets provide a steady stream of essential goods and benefits on which our economy and our population rely,” he said. “For years now we have taken more from nature than it can supply sustainably. We are in effect running down our assets as we strip away nature’s ability to provide clean water and carbon storage by degrading soils, which increases water pollution and sends harmful emissions into the atmosphere, affecting human health and adding to consumer bills – be it your weekly shop or household bills.”

He urged: “It’s time we treasured this national wealth service as much as we do the National Health Service. We must move beyond just seeing the health of our economy and our country in terms of pure GDP, we have to incorporate the health of our natural capital and its ability to sustain our economy into our understanding of the condition of our nation.”