Eco & Environment, New Forest | Posted on November 12th, 2025 | return to news

New Forest recognised for work on climate change

The New Forest National Park Authority achieved a ‘B’ rating in its first year of reporting under the United Nations Race to Zero initiative.

In the week that the COP30 climate meeting in Brazil gets underway — running from 10 to 21 November — the New Forest National Park Authority (NPA) has announced that it has been recognised for its work in responding to climate change and reducing emissions.

The NPA achieved a ‘B’ rating in its first year of reporting under the United Nations Race to Zero initiative. This global campaign unites organisations, cities, and regions to halve emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.

The rating recognises the NPA as a ‘Climate Manager’ — an organisation effectively managing its environmental impact and encouraging measures that enable the landscape to respond to climate change, such as public engagement, sustainable farming support, and planning policies.

Last summer, the New Forest NPA joined all 15 UK National Parks in signing up to the initiative, committing to take rigorous and immediate action on climate change. Each year, participating organisations submit data and evidence of their progress to an independent verifying body. Performance is assessed on a scale from F (Fail) to A (Climate Leader).

Chairperson of the NPA’s Resources, Audit and Performance Committee, Mary Davies, said: “The New Forest is one of the most important places for nature conservation in Europe because of the size, quality, and diversity of its wildlife habitats. This result is a tremendous achievement and a real testament to the dedication of everyone involved in the New Forest National Park Authority’s role in combating climate change.”

The NPA’s Net Zero with Nature Programme Manager John Stride said: “For the Authority to be recognised as a ‘Climate Manager’ in our very first year of reporting shows that our collective actions are already making a real difference. It’s a strong foundation for us to build on as we continue to work with our partners, local communities, and the wider family of UK National Parks to reach net zero.”

The UN Race to Zero campaign brings together over 13,000 organisations worldwide, all committed to achieving net zero as soon as possible. The initiative provides a rigorous, science-based framework for measuring and accelerating climate action.

Through their collective efforts, the UK’s National Parks are helping to demonstrate how protected landscapes can lead the way in tackling climate change while supporting nature recovery, sustainable livelihoods, and community resilience.