GAME of Thrones star Maisie Williams has championed a new campaign to empower voices on climate change – as over eighty percent of Scots believe “urgent action” is needed to protect and restore Scottish wildlife.
It comes as two of the country’s top environmental charities joined forces to launch the new People’s Plan for Nature after a summer plagued by record-breaking temperatures and sewage-filled beaches.
WWF Scotland and the RSPB Scotland have teamed up to release the People’s Plan for Nature which aims to bring people from across the UK together and empower their voices in order to co-create a vision for the future of nature and wildlife in Scotland.
READ MORE: Climate crisis isn't far off – it's right here, right now
The plan includes the creation of People’s Assembly for Nature; an independent and representative group of 100 people from across the UK coming together this winter in the first ever-UK wide citizen’s assembly for nature.
This comes after a poll conducted by WWF Scotland and RSPB Scotland has shown that 83% of Scottish adults believe nature is under threat and more urgent action is needed to protect and restore it.
The majority of people polled had seen a significant decline in nature and wildlife in their local areas.
The poll further states that despite willingness to take action (47%), many do not feel empowered to do so (42%).
These fears are justified, as Scotland’s wildlife is in a precarious state. The 2019 State of Nature Scotland report reveals that 49% of Scottish species have decreased. Furthermore, of the 6413 species found in Scotland that have been assessed, 11% are threatened with extinction.
In late September, a survey found that the iconic capercaillie (below) could be at risk of extinction, with numbers having fallen dramatically over the past six years.
READ MORE: Capercaillie at risk of extinction as numbers plummet by around 50 per cent
The two charity chiefs, Lang Banks (WWF Scotland) and Anne McCall (RSPB Scotland) said in a joint statement: “This summer saw Scotland experience record-breaking temperatures and adverse weather conditions that caused drought conditions, wildfires, and other harm to its nature and wildlife. Extreme heat led to fears of crop loss, contributing to the cost of living crisis everyone is experiencing.
“The twin nature and climate crises affect everyone, so everyone should be involved in the conversation about how we address them.”
The charities have partnered with a network of independent cultural centres across the UK known as Future Art Centres to facilitate the UK-wide conversation. The public will be invited to add their ideas to specially-designed tree installations at 30 art centres across the country, including the Glasgow Science Centre, the Pearce Institute in Glasgow, and Eden Court in Inverness.
The campaign has enlisted the help of Emmy-nominated Game of Thrones actor and activist Maisie Williams, and actor, presenter and activist Cel Spellman to champion the campaign to a wide audience.
Williams said of the campaign: “The People’s Plan for Nature is the chance for all of us to come together and fight for nature before it is too late. I am so excited to join this vital conversation and play a part in protecting and restoring the wildlife that means so much to me and countless others.”
The People’s Plan for Nature will give a voice to everyone to share their ideas, asking the public: “what do you love about nature in the UK? What would you miss if it disappeared?” to get their feedback on how to thwart the nature crisis and to understand what people would like to see for the future of UK nature and wildlife.
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