Salford’s Biodiversity Emergency Declaration and the Biodiversity Duty

The following motion was adopted by the city council at its full meeting on 19 October 2022 having being proposed by Councillor Mike McCusker and seconded by Councillor Nathaniel Tetteh.

Salford City Council resolves:

1. That the findings of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, produced by the Convention on Biological Diversity, be noted, in particular:

• That biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented rate, and the pressures driving this decline are intensifying.
• None of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets will be fully met, in turn threatening the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and undermining efforts to address climate change.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the importance of the relationship between people and nature, and it reminds us all of the profound consequences to our own well-being and survival that can result from continued biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystems.
• Reports provided by the world’s governments, as well as other sources of evidence, reveal examples of progress which, if scaled up, could support the transformative changes necessary to achieve the 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature.

2. That the Salford City Council believes that:

• The impacts of the continued decline in biodiversity were so severe that Governments at all levels must work together and make this a top priority.
• As well as improvements in the innate value people place on biodiversity, tackling the decline in biodiversity can deliver wider benefits for the environment, economy and society and that embedding a Natural Capital Approach was essential to realising these.

3. That Salford City Council declare a ‘biodiversity emergency’ alongside the climate emergency to support the delivery of the GM 5 Year Environment Plan.

4. That the existing Climate Action Board:

• Monitor progress of indicators of key species diversity and abundance in Salford.
• Take a mission-based approach to reversing these declines as part of the 5 Year Environment and in line with the findings of the GM Local Nature Recovery Strategy pilot.
• Consider systematically the biodiversity impact of each area of the council’s activities.
• Make recommendations and set an ambitious timescale for reducing these impacts in line with the tasks set out in the GM 5 Year Environment Plan.
• Assess the feasibility of requiring all report risk and procurement assessments to include biodiversity or natural capital appraisals, including presenting alternative approaches which reduce the impact wherever possible.
• Report to the council every six months on progress and actions required to take to address this emergency and how it will continue to work with GM Districts to implement a Mission Based Approach.

5. That it be agreed to task a director level officer with responsibility for tackling the biodiversity impact of the council’s activities.

6. That it be agreed to equip staff, particularly those involved with buildings, energy and transport management and procurement of goods and service, with an awareness of the biodiversity and natural capital costs and impacts of everyday activities, and the ability and motivation to reduce these.

7. That all organisations, businesses, and citizens can play their part in tackling the biodiversity emergency.

8. That it be agreed that the City Mayor be requested to write to the Prime Minister to inform them that Salford City Council has declared a biodiversity emergency, with a request from Government to provide the resources and powers necessary to deal with it.

Salford City Council and the Biodiversity Duty

Public authorities including local authorities who operate in England must consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity in England. This is the strengthened ‘biodiversity duty’ that the Environment Act 2021 introduces.

This means that, as a public authority, you must:

• Consider what you can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity
• Agree policies and specific objectives based on your consideration
• Act to deliver your policies and achieve your objectives

The city council has now published its first full report under that duty, which covers the time period from November 2021 to December 2025. This can be downloaded below and incorporates the city council’s first consideration of what action to take for biodiversity.

This page was last updated on 24 March 2026