Alongside the climate crisis, Britain is facing an ecological emergency. With 50% of the UK’s economy linked to nature and Britain being one of the most biodiversity depleted countries in the world, restoring natural environments is critical to building the green economy.
The new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements set out in the Government’s Environment Act present huge opportunities for the built environment to restore nature and build more regenerative towns and cities. Yet many organisations need more specific and practical support to build their understanding of the complex concepts involved.
To make BNG as accessible as possible to British organisations, UKGBC – an industry-led network with a mission to improve the sustainability of the built environment – has published a series of user-friendly factsheets and definitions that explain the key concepts.
Hannah Giddings, senior advisor for resilience and nature at UKGBC, said: “BNG has the potential to transform how the UK’s built environment can play its part in restoring and regenerating nature and tackling the global ecological crisis.
“As well as enriching the natural world on which we all depend, we know that nature-positive solutions can build more resilient environments, tackle the climate crisis, and improve people’s lives, health, and wellbeing.”
The factsheets published by UKGBC also explain the broader concept of Environmental Net Gain which, though not enshrined in legislation, remains a powerful strategy for organisations in the built environment to maximise the wide social benefits of nature-positive strategies that can tackle the climate and ecological crises.
The factsheets are available here while the definitions can be viewed here.