Nature Emergency

Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) has declared a nature emergency, highlighting the urgent need to address the alarming decline in biodiversity across the county borough.

This decision builds on the council’s Climate Emergency declaration made in June 2020, recognising the inextricable relationship between climate change and nature loss.  

Climate change is a major driver in biodiversity loss as rising temperatures and changing weather patterns continue to degrade natural habitats, while the loss of biodiversity weakens our ability to mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts. By recognising these urgent threats are linked, the council aims to take decisive action to protect and restore the county borough’s ecosystems for future generations.

This declaration aligns with the Welsh Government’s Nature Emergency declaration in June 2021 and reflects the council’s legal Duty under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016, which requires public bodies to seek to maintain and enhance biodiversity and promote the resilience of ecosystems. This decision also builds on BCBC’s commitment to nature which was demonstrated through the signing of the Edinburgh Declaration in July 2022.  

The Edinburgh Declaration is a global statement of intent developed by subnational governments, cities, and local authorities across the world. It calls for greater recognition of the critical role local and regional governments play in delivering the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. By signing the Edinburgh Declaration, BCBC pledged to embed biodiversity into decision-making, strengthen partnerships, and take ambitious, locally driven action for nature recovery.

BCBC’s efforts are guided by its Biodiversity Duty Plan, a strategy which is independently reviewed and revised every three years. The Plan outlines key actions for the council to conserve and enhance biodiversity and support nature recovery across the county borough.

In addition, the Bridgend Local Nature Recovery Action Plan (LNRAP) is currently in development and will further underpin these efforts. The plan will set out local priorities and coordinated actions to protect habitats, conserve species, and help to halt and reverse biodiversity loss across the county borough.

BCBC remains committed to working in partnership with communities, organisations, and stakeholders to tackle the nature emergency and safeguard the environment for current and future generations.