The UK government has appointed its first envoy for nature, a position described by a former campaigner as “the environmentalist’s environmentalist.” Ruth Davis will focus on attaining a global consensus to stop the alarming decline of species. Currently in Colombia, she will participate in two weeks of critical discussions addressing the biodiversity crisis. The UK has historically taken a leadership role in these initiatives, and Davis contributed to creating a global commitment on deforestation during the UN Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow in 2021.
Davis will report to foreign secretary David Lammy and environment secretary Steve Reed. Her appointment, initially disclosed by the Guardian, marks a significant step in the government’s efforts to position the UK at the forefront of global environmental protection.
With 25 years of experience in environmental policy, Davis has held senior positions at organizations like Greenpeace, the RSPB, and Plantlife. She is known for her dedication; during the Copenhagen climate conference in 2009, she famously spent the night in a cupboard at the venue as negotiations continued.
Reed, leading the UK’s negotiations on biodiversity in Cali, stated, “We cannot tackle the nature and climate crises without coordinated global action. That is why we have appointed Ruth as our special representative for nature—she will champion our ambition to integrate climate and nature into our foreign policy.” He emphasized the essential role of nature in sustaining economies, health, and society, acknowledging the slow progress in restoring wildlife and habitats.
Lammy has committed to prioritizing climate and nature protection in UK foreign policy, seeing environmental crises as national security threats. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also expressed his intention for the UK to take a leading role in these matters, highlighting climate issues in his recent UN speech.
Davis remarked, “The government has acknowledged that the nature crisis is as serious as the climate crisis, and we cannot effectively address one without considering the other. Healthy ecosystems and the species they support are vital for food security, health risk reduction, and managing the effects of rising global temperatures.”
Her appointment follows the earlier selection of Rachel Kyte as a climate envoy, a position abolished under the previous Conservative government. Kyte’s appointment faced scrutiny due to her ties with a charitable foundation funded by a financial investment firm that made a significant donation to Labour; however, many experts defended her, asserting there was no conflict of interest.
Davis, who beat a strong field of candidates—including Tanya Steele, Matthew Gould, and Tony Juniper—will not hold any additional external roles.
Conservation leaders praised Davis’s selection, with Edward Davey from the World Resources Institute describing her as profoundly knowledgeable, deeply committed, and entirely selfless. Zac Goldsmith, a former Conservative minister, expressed admiration for her expertise and dedication. Oscar Soria, director of the Common Initiative thinktank, commended her compassionate and diplomatic approach, highlighting her ability to navigate complex global and local contexts effectively.
The UN biodiversity conference Cop16 will begin on Monday in Cali, where governments will review progress toward the UN targets for halting biodiversity loss, including the protection of 30% of land and sea and reallocating $500 billion of environmentally damaging subsidies.
