Environment comes above both education and employment, according to recent North West figures in a poll conducted by the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature).
In fact, 81% of people said they were “concerned” about the state of the environment and 70% have increased their environmental concern over the last decade.
The North West residents are particularly concerned about factors such as; climate change, plastic usage and loss of wildlife in the local area with 50% saying they had seen more wildlife when they were younger.
Fanny Calder, Director of Campaigns and Public Affairs at WWF, said: “Our forests are burning and our wildlife is being wiped out around the world.
“It underlines the need for commitment from our leaders for urgent action on the global warming and nature crisis.
“While British people may be divided on Brexit, we know they’re united by a love for nature and a concern about our warming planet.”
She finished with a message for the future successor after next week’s general election.
“They need to show bold leadership and drive the global ambition. We need real investment and policies which end the UK’s contribution to climate change!”
According to other WWF reports, Earth has lost nearly half of its wild life due to climate change in the last 40 years alone.
Creatures across land, rivers and the seas are being decimated as humans kill them for food in unsustainable numbers, while polluting or destroying their habitats, the research by scientists at WWF showed.
Fishing nets, ropes, bags, plastic cups and packing straps made a “litter ball” found inside the stomach of a sperm whale washed ashore on the Isle of Harris yesterday.
How much more of our precious marine life will we lose to the plastic crisis?https://t.co/CJiFbES1yb— WWF (@WWF) December 3, 2019
The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world and has over 1,000 species at risk of extinction with 130 already fallen due to effects of human existence. Shockingly, hedgehog numbers have plummeted by half since the year 2000.
Despite this, the question remains; are the politicians primed to invest the required funds into local communities up and down the country to make a difference? Shocking figures show that failure to act on the climate emergency could result in costs up to £12billion pounds in coastal damages alone.
