The Government’s record on protecting the environment is "far short" of what is required according to Office for Environmental Protection (OEP).

The OEP’s independent assessment of Government’s progress in improving the natural environment in accordance with its Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) for England in 2021/says that the 25 year plan has ‘fallen far short’ and opportunities to change course must be taken.

Of 32 trends assessed across the breadth of the natural environment; nine trends were improving, eleven were static, and eight were deteriorating. Of 23 environmental targets assessed, none were found where Government’s progress was demonstrably on track.

OEP chair Dame Glenys Stacey said: “There have been recent improvements in air quality and people’s engagement with nature, as Covid lockdowns changed the way we live our lives. But many extremely worrying environmental trends remain unchecked, including a chronic decline in species abundance.”

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