Comment: Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) ‘Progress in improving the natural environment in England 2023-24’

“The fact that, once again, the Government is falling behind to meet environmental targets, or provide evidence of progress, shows the risk of making lofty environmental commitments without effective delivery mechanisms. Time is running out: we have a mere five years to protect 30% of our land and seas.

“The OEP’s latest progress report paints a sombre picture, but its forensic analysis and its clear and comprehensive recommendations offer a roadmap to improvement to the current Government.

“The report emphasises the importance of the reviewed Environmental Improvement plan to grasp the size of the challenge facing the nation, and for trailed measures like the land use framework to be brought forward comprehensively and urgently. Whilst this report details the failure achieved under the last Government, it also poses a considerable challenge to this Government and history will not be kind if it is not met.

“It is also disappointing that the Government only replied to the OEP’s 2022/23 report this week at the last possible moment. We will hope to see a faster response to this year’s findings.

“The Committee expects the Environment Secretary to show its respect for the severity of the OEP’s findings by making a statement in the House of Commons on the measures it will implement at the earliest possible opportunity.”

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