Recommendations & Conclusions
20 items
1
Conclusion
First Report - Biodiversity in the UK: …
Acknowledged
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ call for transformative change provides a yardstick against which action to address biodiversity loss should be measured. The global response to biodiversity loss has so far been inadequate. Piecemeal conservation efforts, and increases in the efficiency of production, cannot tackle the …
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The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ call for transformative change provides a yardstick against which action to address biodiversity loss should be measured. The global response to biodiversity loss has so far been inadequate. Piecemeal conservation efforts, and increases in the efficiency of production, cannot tackle the wholesale deterioration of the natural environment the world is now experiencing. Fundamental changes in the production and consumption of natural resources must be made. Without urgent, substantial action, ecosystem tipping points will be exceeded and the global biosphere will be left beyond repair.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the need to address biodiversity loss and references its response to the Dasgupta Review, actions under the Environment Bill including a legally binding 2030 species target, and the forthcoming Nature Strategy for England.
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3
Conclusion
First Report - Biodiversity in the UK: …
Acknowledged
The UK has established a sophisticated public policy mechanism to tackle the effects of climate change by driving sustained long-term reductions in harmful emissions. This comprises legally binding interim and long-term targets authorised by Parliament, and an independent Climate Change Committee to advise Parliament and Ministers on the actions required …
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The UK has established a sophisticated public policy mechanism to tackle the effects of climate change by driving sustained long-term reductions in harmful emissions. This comprises legally binding interim and long-term targets authorised by Parliament, and an independent Climate Change Committee to advise Parliament and Ministers on the actions required to ensure such targets are met.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges its commitment to cross-departmental action on targets, stating that the duty to achieve targets rests with central government and that the Office for Environmental Protection will enforce environmental law duties, with further details on Greening Government Commitments to be set out shortly.
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6
Recommendation
First Report - Biodiversity in the UK: …
Acknowledged
We recommend that the Government introduce, preferably via the Environment Bill currently before Parliament, a mechanism for statutory interim targets to ensure that its proposed species abundance target is met to halt the decline of nature by 2030. We further recommend that the scope of the proposed 2030 target be …
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We recommend that the Government introduce, preferably via the Environment Bill currently before Parliament, a mechanism for statutory interim targets to ensure that its proposed species abundance target is met to halt the decline of nature by 2030. We further recommend that the scope of the proposed 2030 target be extended to encompass legally binding outcome measures on species distribution, extinction risk, habitat extent and condition: it must also reinstate the expired target for Sites of Special Scientific Interest. (Paragraph 61) Biodiversity in the UK: bloom or bust? 115
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Government response AI summary
The government describes the statutory cycle of monitoring, planning, and reporting under the Environment Bill, including the Outcome Indicator Framework, but does not commit to statutory interim targets or explicitly extending the legally binding scope of the 2030 target as recommended.
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15
Recommendation
First Report - Biodiversity in the UK: …
Acknowledged
The Government’s new species abundance target for 2030 provides a potential mechanism for the measurement of progress on addressing biodiversity loss, and a driver for consequent actions. We recommend that once the target is established, regular, formal reviews of progress against the target should be required to be made, to …
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The Government’s new species abundance target for 2030 provides a potential mechanism for the measurement of progress on addressing biodiversity loss, and a driver for consequent actions. We recommend that once the target is established, regular, formal reviews of progress against the target should be required to be made, to feed into decision-making at senior levels in all Government departments. Ministers 116 Biodiversity in the UK: bloom or bust? should also report regularly to Parliament on projected and current performance against the target and associated biodiversity outcome measurements on species distribution, extinction risk, habitat extent and condition.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the need for progress measurement through its Outcome Indicator Framework, which is under development with reviews planned at a minimum every five years, and has invested in the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment. However, it does not specifically commit to regular formal …
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18
Conclusion
First Report - Biodiversity in the UK: …
Acknowledged
If Marine Protected Areas continue to be poorly managed and monitored, with little enforcement of their protected status, there is a risk that the Government will have established a network of ‘paper parks’. According to monitoring data, the condition of MPAs is much the same as our predecessors observed in …
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If Marine Protected Areas continue to be poorly managed and monitored, with little enforcement of their protected status, there is a risk that the Government will have established a network of ‘paper parks’. According to monitoring data, the condition of MPAs is much the same as our predecessors observed in 2019: this must call into question the effectiveness of the Government’s approach to managing biodiversity in the UK’s territorial waters.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the need for effectively managed protected areas and notes existing initiatives like new designations and funding for landscapes. It has committed to piloting Highly Protected Marine Areas and will publish a Nature Recovery Green Paper later this year.
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29
Conclusion
First Report - Biodiversity in the UK: …
Acknowledged
We welcome the funding announcements and increased public expenditure on international biodiversity, however international conservation funding is still greatly outstripped by subsidies which cheapen the exploitation of the natural environment. The Government cannot spend more exploiting the natural environment than conserving it if climate change and biodiversity are to be …
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We welcome the funding announcements and increased public expenditure on international biodiversity, however international conservation funding is still greatly outstripped by subsidies which cheapen the exploitation of the natural environment. The Government cannot spend more exploiting the natural environment than conserving it if climate change and biodiversity are to be tackled in any meaningful way. Information on the extent of subsidies harmful to biodiversity is absent from the public domain, despite this information being necessary to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 3.
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Government response AI summary
The government states it is reviewing how to better support environmental objectives, including embedding net zero into policy decisions, improving natural capital estimates, and participating in green budgeting initiatives, but does not commit to addressing the imbalance between conservation funding and harmful subsidies or providing …
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36
Recommendation
First Report - Biodiversity in the UK: …
Acknowledged
The Government must address how it will set long-term objectives for all ten of the Plan’s goals. As agreed to in 2018, the Government must publish how these goals and objectives relate to pre-existing national and international environmental targets. We reiterate our recommendation that the Office for Environmental Protection’s powers, …
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The Government must address how it will set long-term objectives for all ten of the Plan’s goals. As agreed to in 2018, the Government must publish how these goals and objectives relate to pre-existing national and international environmental targets. We reiterate our recommendation that the Office for Environmental Protection’s powers, budget and staffing reflect its responsibility to monitor the Government’s delivery of the 25 Year Environment Plan and its enforcement of environmental law.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges its commitment to cross-departmental action on targets and states the OEP's remit will include long-term targets, promising to set out further detail shortly on other government departments' actions.
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40
Conclusion
First Report - Biodiversity in the UK: …
Acknowledged
We welcome the Government’s efforts to secure biodiversity gains in development: but the biodiversity net gain policy, in its current form, does not go far enough in contributing to the transformative change necessary to address biodiversity loss in the UK. A series of deficiencies with the policy have been identified …
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We welcome the Government’s efforts to secure biodiversity gains in development: but the biodiversity net gain policy, in its current form, does not go far enough in contributing to the transformative change necessary to address biodiversity loss in the UK. A series of deficiencies with the policy have been identified over the course of this inquiry.
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Government response AI summary
The government reiterates that the Environment Bill will ensure new developments deliver a minimum 10% Biodiversity Net Gain and commits to continuing to work with stakeholders to ensure the policy is fit for purpose, but does not detail how it will address the identified deficiencies.
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42
Conclusion
First Report - Biodiversity in the UK: …
Acknowledged
We welcome the extension of the biodiversity net gain policy to include Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. We received overwhelming evidence in support of this and note the potential the policy now has to contribute to nature’s recovery. We will be examining the implementation of the policy change as it progresses.
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We welcome the extension of the biodiversity net gain policy to include Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. We received overwhelming evidence in support of this and note the potential the policy now has to contribute to nature’s recovery. We will be examining the implementation of the policy change as it progresses.
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Government response AI summary
The government reiterates that the Environment Bill will ensure new developments enhance biodiversity and deliver measurable 'Biodiversity Net Gain' but does not specifically address the committee's welcome of the policy's extension to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
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51
Conclusion
First Report - Biodiversity in the UK: …
Acknowledged
Protecting existing ecosystems, be that ancient woodland, peatlands, or kelp forests provides the most cost-effective and significant contribution to NbS in the UK. Given the majority of the UK’s ecosystems lie outside of protected areas, more needs to be done to lock carbon and conserve biodiversity in these spaces.
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Protecting existing ecosystems, be that ancient woodland, peatlands, or kelp forests provides the most cost-effective and significant contribution to NbS in the UK. Given the majority of the UK’s ecosystems lie outside of protected areas, more needs to be done to lock carbon and conserve biodiversity in these spaces.
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Government response AI summary
The government highlights its investment in nature restoration and nature-based solutions, including the Nature for Climate and Green Recovery Challenge funds, and the Peatland Grant Scheme for restoring peatland, as its contribution to addressing the need for more action in protecting ecosystems.
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56
Recommendation
First Report - Biodiversity in the UK: …
Acknowledged
We recommend the Government start the process of setting an environmental footprint target by launching a consultation ahead of COP15 on how to model the overseas environmental impact of UK consumption. This could feed into Defra’s work on international indicators within the Outcome Indicator Framework.
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We recommend the Government start the process of setting an environmental footprint target by launching a consultation ahead of COP15 on how to model the overseas environmental impact of UK consumption. This could feed into Defra’s work on international indicators within the Outcome Indicator Framework.
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Government response AI summary
The government has commissioned the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to develop a global environmental footprint indicator as part of the Outcome Indicators Framework. While this work is ongoing and will inform future thinking, the government has not yet committed to setting an environmental footprint target …
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66
Recommendation
First Report - Biodiversity in the UK: …
Acknowledged
The Government has the opportunity to create a fiscal framework focused on delivering well-being, sustainability and economic stability. The current fiscal rules focus on managing the budget, public sector investment and debt. There is scope to extend this so balancing our demands on nature with nature’s capacity to meet these …
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The Government has the opportunity to create a fiscal framework focused on delivering well-being, sustainability and economic stability. The current fiscal rules focus on managing the budget, public sector investment and debt. There is scope to extend this so balancing our demands on nature with nature’s capacity to meet these demands, becomes central to government’s economic objectives. This can help to deliver a stable economy in the long-term which is resilient to nature- related financial risks. The Treasury has not stress tested the 2021 Budget and 2020 Spending Review against net zero or nature goals. Without sustainability tests on spending decisions, we risk moving further away from realising environmental targets. (Paragraph 317) Biodiversity in the UK: bloom or bust? 125
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of integrating environmental considerations into the fiscal framework, pointing to existing Green Book mandates, ongoing reviews within HM Treasury, and future details in the Net Zero Strategy, while also supporting ONS/OBR work on natural capital and participating in international green …
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68
Conclusion
First Report - Biodiversity in the UK: …
Acknowledged
Financial systems need to recognise the value of preserving biodiversity. The transformation the financial system has undergone to integrate climate-related financial risks should be used as a roadmap to do the same for biodiversity. The interconnected, complex, and non-linear nature of biodiversity risks makes it difficult to model. But the …
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Financial systems need to recognise the value of preserving biodiversity. The transformation the financial system has undergone to integrate climate-related financial risks should be used as a roadmap to do the same for biodiversity. The interconnected, complex, and non-linear nature of biodiversity risks makes it difficult to model. But the outsized and extreme financial impact of exceeding ecosystem tipping points, makes work to integrate nature risks all the more pressing. We welcome the Government championing the work of the taskforce on nature-related financial disclosures (TNFD). To accelerate this work, the Government needs to play its part in creating the narrative that robust and imminent policy responses to biodiversity are coming, this can help initiate the management of biodiversity risks within the finance sector.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of nature-related financial disclosures, reiterating its support for the TNFD framework and committing to carefully review its recommendations upon launch by the end of 2023. It also highlights its support for global sustainability disclosure standards.
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70
Recommendation
First Report - Biodiversity in the UK: …
Acknowledged
For biodiversity to be protected, it has to be appreciated and valued. But our increasing detachment from nature stops many of us knowing and directly experiencing it. This starts at a young age; children are spending less and less time outdoors. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds and ethnic minorities have particularly …
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For biodiversity to be protected, it has to be appreciated and valued. But our increasing detachment from nature stops many of us knowing and directly experiencing it. This starts at a young age; children are spending less and less time outdoors. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds and ethnic minorities have particularly low access to green spaces. Education is a crucial lever to address this and mend our relationship with nature. The Government’s Children and Nature Programme went some way in increasing access opportunities, but the impact of the coronavirus has meant even fewer children have had access to nature this year. To address this 126 Biodiversity in the UK: bloom or bust? a transformation in the education system is needed towards one where children from an early age to adulthood are encouraged to experience, celebrate, and learn about nature. Governments, businesses, and organisations also need to recognise the value of nature; this again starts with education.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the benefits of learning about nature, stating the DfE is exploring a new Natural History GCSE without commitment and highlights efforts to ensure access to outdoor education centers.
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13
Recommendation
Second Report - The UK's footprint on g…
Acknowledged
To increase sustainability within UK global supply chains, we recommend that: a) in its response to this report, the Government should set out a clear and accessible definition of sustainability within the context of the Government Buying Standards; b) the Government reinstate the Greening Government Commitments for mandatory reporting on …
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To increase sustainability within UK global supply chains, we recommend that: a) in its response to this report, the Government should set out a clear and accessible definition of sustainability within the context of the Government Buying Standards; b) the Government reinstate the Greening Government Commitments for mandatory reporting on sustainable procurement as part of the Government Buying Standards by the end of 2021; c) the Government Buying Standards should require all acquired forest-risk commodities (in addition to palm oil and paper) to be certified as sustainably produced; and d) the Government Buying Standards should be mandatory for all large public bodies, like the NHS and prisons. Annual reporting on compliance against public procurement policies should be mandatory for these large public bodies.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges its commitment to improving sustainable public procurement and notes that its Greening Government Commitments Framework includes a review of sustainable procurement commitments. However, it does not commit to the specific asks regarding a definition of sustainability, reinstating mandatory reporting by end of …
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14
Conclusion
Second Report - The UK's footprint on g…
Acknowledged
A natural capital approach to valuing agricultural products provides another way to increase the sustainability of supply chains.
Government response AI summary
The government recognises the role of a natural capital approach in valuing agricultural products and is funding research projects to better understand natural capital impacts in the agricultural sector.
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17
Recommendation
Second Report - The UK's footprint on g…
Acknowledged
To increase the sustainable use of forest-risk commodities we recommend that the Government make it illegal for UK businesses and the finance sector to use commodities linked to deforestation and, at the very least, include the finance sector within the scope of the provisions on forest-risk commodities in the Environment …
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To increase the sustainable use of forest-risk commodities we recommend that the Government make it illegal for UK businesses and the finance sector to use commodities linked to deforestation and, at the very least, include the finance sector within the scope of the provisions on forest-risk commodities in the Environment Bill. (Paragraph 58) Biodiversity in the UK overseas territories
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Government response AI summary
The government states it is introducing the Environment Act (2021) to tackle illegal deforestation in UK supply chains and highlights broader international initiatives like the FACT Dialogue and private sector commitments to eliminate investment in agricultural commodity-driven deforestation. However, it does not explicitly commit to …
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22
Conclusion
Second Report - The UK's footprint on g…
Acknowledged
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15 summit presents an opportunity to create a transformative Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that will ‘bend the curve’ of biodiversity loss. The UK has a crucial role to play in promoting a transformative, ambitious agenda that pairs with its ambitions for the UNFCCC …
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The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15 summit presents an opportunity to create a transformative Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that will ‘bend the curve’ of biodiversity loss. The UK has a crucial role to play in promoting a transformative, ambitious agenda that pairs with its ambitions for the UNFCCC COP26 summit and provides a clear way forward from both events. Parties to the CBD failed to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets set in 2010. The same mistake must not be repeated. (Paragraph 127) The UK’s footprint on global biodiversity 51
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the committee's conclusion, reiterating the significance of the CBD COP15 summit and the UK's role in promoting an ambitious Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
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25
Recommendation
Second Report - The UK's footprint on g…
Acknowledged
The Post-2020 Framework’s goals and targets will be meaningless if not properly implemented. The CBD ought to adopt a regular review mechanism, such as that adopted under the Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC, which encourages Parties to ‘ratchet’ the level of ambition of their National Targets so that, over time, …
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The Post-2020 Framework’s goals and targets will be meaningless if not properly implemented. The CBD ought to adopt a regular review mechanism, such as that adopted under the Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC, which encourages Parties to ‘ratchet’ the level of ambition of their National Targets so that, over time, their collective commitments are matched with global targets. We agree with environmental stakeholders that the implementation mechanism should start immediately after the adoption of the framework, instead of being agreed separately after COP15. We are encouraged that Ministers are seeking to establish a nature version of the Paris Agreement at COP15.
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Government response AI summary
The government highlights its work on integrating climate change and biodiversity at COP26 and engagement for CBD COP15, including the Leaders' Pledge for Nature, indicating alignment with the broader goal of ambitious nature targets without explicitly committing to establishing a specific 'ratchet' review mechanism for …
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26
Conclusion
Second Report - The UK's footprint on g…
Acknowledged
Mainstreaming biodiversity considerations across government departments will be crucial to meeting the Post-2020 Biodiversity Targets. The UK’s past performance on cross-departmental co-ordination on nature has been disappointing. We have nevertheless been encouraged to observe the willingness of Ministers to work across Government to address biodiversity loss and climate change. We …
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Mainstreaming biodiversity considerations across government departments will be crucial to meeting the Post-2020 Biodiversity Targets. The UK’s past performance on cross-departmental co-ordination on nature has been disappointing. We have nevertheless been encouraged to observe the willingness of Ministers to work across Government to address biodiversity loss and climate change. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of cross-departmental working on the environment in the run up to COP15 and COP26 and beyond.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the conclusion, affirming its commitment to international leadership on biodiversity and climate change, and states it will ensure recommendations are considered in its domestic and international work, especially for CBD COP15.
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