As the UK Parliament returns from summer recess, Steve Reed, DEFRA Secretary of State, has said his team have “an incredible opportunity” to “make this the most nature-positive government this nation has ever had[1]”.
In summary, it's crucial for the UK to implement a robust environmental action plan to meet global commitments such as the Paris Agreement and the Climate Change Act 2008. Although the Paris Agreement does not impose legal penalties on the UK if they fail to meet the targets, the Climate Change Act could lead to potential legal challenges. A recent Climate Change Commission report noted that despite some progress by the government on climate issues, the UK is still on track to miss its emissions targets[2]. In the Labour Party manifesto, Labour committed to several ambitious environmental goals, including achieving 100% clean energy by 2030 and setting up the ‘Great British Energy’ to drive investment in renewable technologies and help lower energy bills. By reviewing EIP23, the government has an opportunity to reassess its approach to fulfilling environmental commitments while also balancing food production and land conservation.
EIP23 aims to halt the decline of nature by 2030 by addressing environmental issues and supporting the achievement of both national and international environmental commitments. Each goal has specific targets and commitments described in the EIP23 that contribute to the goal outcome, including the legally binding targets set under the Environment Act 2021.
The plan focuses on 10 key areas with specific goals and commitments such as:
- Enhancing plants and wildlife- promote BNG, support landowners and farmers, support Marine Protected areas and create, restore and extend up to 70 areas for wildlife
- Clean air- tackle domestic emissions, extend environmental permit conditions, encourage councils to improve air quality and drivers to make the transition to zero emission vehicles
- Clean water- update wastewater treatment, construct new mine water treatment schemes, facilitate infrastructure projects and incentivise sustainable land use
- Managing exposure to chemicals and pesticides- reduce chemical pollution and promote the safe and sustainable use of pesticides
- Maximise our resources and minimise waste- encourage councils to reduce littering, ban the supply of single use plastics and introduce a Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers
- Responsible resource management- maintain a sustainable supply of wood products, promote sustainability in international supply chains, improve soil health and sustainably manage fish stocks
- Climate change mitigation- keep global warming below 2°C, restore over 35,000 hectares of peatlands and tackle climate change and biodiversity loss
- Reduce risk of harm from environmental hazards- build flood defences, plant woodland, promote wetland and peatland restoration and manage coastal habitats
- Biosecurity- stop high-risk plans entering GB, secure official Bovine TB free status by 2038, protect against potential zoonotic disease outbreaks and reduce plant and animal health risks
- Enhancing the natural environment and wildlife- upgrade the Coast-to-Coast path to a National Trail, deliver the Access to All programme and support farmers to improve protected landscapes
The review will involve engaging with stakeholders from environmental and natural sectors, farming, resources, waste, and water, partnering closely with businesses, local authorities, and civil society nationwide to create new, ambitious plans for nature conservation.
The EIP23 has received mixed reactions from industry with concerns raised about its practicality and funding. Responses suggest that more clarity is required as to how the targets will be met and how they will be funded. The review has addressed some of these concerns, with a focus on refining the targets and providing a clearer action plan for industries. The revised strategy will outline action plans to achieve the targets established by the Environment Act. These targets include halting the decline in species populations by 2030, reducing per person waste sent to residual treatment by half by 2042, and restoring water bodies to their natural state by addressing pollution from sewage and abandoned mines. Reed said better planning and rapid delivery is needed to deliver “an incredibly ambitious agenda”, because “without nature, there is no economy”.
This article was written by Legal Assistant Georgia Smith and Trainee Solicitor Zafreen Zaheer, supervised by Managing Associate Emma Conwell. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with them if you wish to discuss the contents of this article.
The content of this page is a summary of the law in force at the date of publication and is not exhaustive, nor does it contain definitive advice. Specialist legal advice should be sought in relation to any queries that may arise.
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