Michael has welcomed the Government’s pioneering 25 Year Environment Plan launched by the Prime Minister, and particularly the promises on plastics and on air pollution.
The plan pledges to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by the end of 2042 by introducing a charge on all plastic bags, encouraging supermarkets to introduce plastic-free aisles, exploring charges on single-use items, and injecting funding into plastics innovation.
Michael said
‘I have always been keen to reduce the amount of single use plastics that I use, and it is fantastic that the Government is demonstrating global leadership on this matter.'
‘TV programmes like Blue Planet II are really opening our eyes to the world-wide plastic problem, and it is shocking that an estimated 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced since the 1950s.’
'I am encouraging local businesses to get involved, and I was really pleased to hear that local Dorset brewery Hall & Woodhouse have stopped using plastic straws in their pubs'
The Prime Minister has also announced plans to help more children engage with the environment. This will be delivered through £10m for school visits and a Nature Friendly Schools programme to create school grounds which allow young people to learn more about the natural world, targeting schools in disadvantaged areas first.