Review of environmental targets launched by Defra

The government has announced plans to carry out a review of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) to meet legally binding environmental targets.

New Defra secretary Steve Reed said the “rapid review” would be completed by the end of the year, marking his government’s ambition to reverse the decline in nature.

The Labour government will develop a new statutory plan to protect and restore the natural environment with delivery plans to meet each of its ambitious Environment Act targets.

See also: ‘Privilege of my life’: Steve Reed becomes Defra secretary

This will focus on cleaning up waterways, reducing waste across the economy, planting millions more trees, improving air quality and halting the decline in species by 2030. 

The government says there are “huge opportunities” for farmers in England to be rewarded for delivering biodiversity improvements under Environmental Land Management (ELM).

Commenting on the review, Mr Reed said: “Nature is dying. Britain is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Our animal species face extinction.

“Nature underpins everything – the economy, food, health and society – but we stand at a moment in history when nature needs us to defend it.”

Civil servants, academics and experts in nature, farming, resources, waste and water will engage in the review.

“We will develop an ambitious programme to turn the tide and save nature,” added Mr Reed.

The announcement comes as the government publishes the Environmental Improvement Plan Annual Progress Report, which covers the actions taken under the previous Conservative government to deliver the EIP between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.

The report reveals the dire state of the natural environment. In Great Britain, 16% of species are threatened with extinction. 

Meanwhile, the new government maintains it is committed to boosting food security alongside nature recovery.

Competing demand for land

But questions remain over how it will balance competing demands for land to satisfy the needs for housing, food and ecology.

Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner announced plans this week to overhaul the planning system and build 1.5 million homes over five years to tackle the housing crisis in England.

To deliver this ambition, councils will have to review their Green Belt land if needed to meet their own targets, identifying and prioritising “grey belt” sites which include wasteland, disused car parks and former petrol stations.