Progress towards improving the environment has slowed with government still largely off track in achieving its legal environmental commitments, the latest annual assessment by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has found.
The OEP report provides an assessment of progress towards legally-binding environment targets, commitments and goals. The report covers the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
Most progress has been made on reducing some environmental pressures – such as emissions of some air pollutants, greenhouse gases and chemical pollutants. Although there are signs that the downward trend in species abundance is slowing, wider biodiversity trends continue to get worse as does the marine environment.
The OEP concludes that while there have been some areas of improvement, very substantial challenges remain with less progress being made overall compared to the previous 12 months. Government is still largely off track to achieve obligations endorsed by Parliament to significantly improve the natural environment.
The report also warns that unless things change materially, key targets, such as the 30 by 30 target for land and sea will not be met.
Dame Glenys Stacey, the OEP’s Chair, said: “Once again, our annual EIP progress report is a worrying read. Due to the reporting cycle, it assesses the progress made under the previous government, but our recommendations and advice still very much apply to the current government as it must deal with mounting environmental challenges.
“However, prospects are not fixed. There are opportunities for this government to get on track.
“But with each passing month, the window of opportunity to redress environmental harms is closing, while the effort needed and cost to do so increases.
“This government must act urgently and decisively to catch up, if it is to meet its legal obligations. Catch up not just by developing plans, but then by fully and effectively implementing them. It has several legally-binding commitments only a few years away. The window of opportunity is closing fast.”
The OEP progress report makes eight key recommendations for action that will deliver benefits across EIP goals and the Government’s five environmental priorities:
- Speed up action in the marine environment by delivering on overdue Marine Protected Area bylaws and by implementing a new UK Marine Strategy
- Maximise the contribution of protected sites for nature by enhancing and enforcing their legal protection and urgently correct underinvestment in site designation
The OEP’s assessment of the prospects of meeting 43 environmental targets and commitments found that government is largely on track to achieve 9, partially on track to achieve 12 and largely off track to achieve 20.
Targets where government is largely on track include specific air pollutants such as PM2.5, and particular sources of water pollution such as phosphorus loadings from wastewater. Targets where government is largely off track span most EIP goal areas including those for nature, freshwater and marine environments and waste.
The full report from the OEP can be found online.