Low pay at Natural England ‘a threat to UK’s net-zero target’

Report warns government's conservation watchdog unable to fulfil duty of protecting environment as pay has plunged in real terms

People working for the government's conservation watchdog are so underpaid that it is threatening the UK's ability to reach net-zero pledges, a trade union report warns.

Salaries of those working for the government agency Natural England have fallen by 20% in real terms over the last decade, with starting pay thousands of pounds lower than private and charity-sector equivalents, according to the Prospect union's Natural England 2022 report.