Is the UK making enough progress on climate and nature goals? MPs hear from Office for Environmental Protection
On Wednesday, the Environmental Audit Committee will hear evidence on the government’s progress towards achieving its environmental targets.
MPs on the cross-party committee will hear evidence from the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), a public body that holds government to account by monitoring and enforcing environmental law in the UK.
In January the OEP published its latest progress report, finding that the government’s progress towards achieving its legally binding environmental commitments has slowed. The OEP found that the government remains significantly off track and that urgent action is needed to meet legal obligations, particularly the target to protect 30% of the UK’s land and seas by 2030.
However, the OEP’s report did not take account of the government’s revised Environmental Improvement Plan, published in December 2025 and explored by the Committee in a recent evidence session.
Meeting details
In Wednesday’s session, MPs are likely to ask the OEP’s Chair, Dame Glenys Stacey, and Chief Executive, Natalie Prosser, whether the government is still at risk of failing to make progress on the environment. The Committee is likely to discuss government progress in a range of other areas include land use, marine planning, circular economics and air quality.
MPs are also likely to ask the OEP whether they have enough resources to fulfil their duties and how easily they are able to encourage with government departments.