Environmental controls key to coronavirus recovery, chancellor told

Cross-party group of MPs ask for funds to encourage better agriculture, halt deforestation and avoid another pandemic

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Strengthening environmental regulations must be a key plank of the UK's recovery from the coronavirus crisis to help prevent the spread of future pandemics, say a cross-party group of MPs - and bailouts for industries must contain strict conditions on their future environmental performance.

The expansion of intensive farming, mining and infrastructure around the world has contributed to diseases spreading from wildlife to people, scientists say. The 26 MPs want the government to learn this lesson and encourage better agriculture, help developing countries to halt deforestation, and provide funding for poor countries to improve their health systems.