Recommendation 11

HM Government · verbatim extract Accepted

The Government recognises the importance of investing in green skills and job opportunities as part of a green recovery from coronavirus, and we know that having the right skills on the ground is crucial to delivering our environmental goals. We are working with the sector to understand skills and capacity needs, and our previous assessment estimated a need for approximately 200 FTE ecologist resource in local planning authorities in England to implement new measures in Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Local Nature Recovery Strategies. The government has committed to funding new burdens on local authorities arising from the Environment Bill in the usual way. Earlier this year, Defra commissioned the Association of Local Government Ecologists (ALGE) and the Association of Directors of Environment, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) to undertake a survey of local planning authorities in England. This was aimed at securing a better understanding of the existing capacity, skills and preparedness of local authorities with respect to BNG and wider Environment Bill measures, including access to ecologist resource. The outcomes of the report are informing work, working with sector skills bodies, to develop a skills competency framework for BNG. The final survey report will be published in full in due course. The government will work with local authorities and professional organisations to make sure that planning authorities have access to the right training, ecological expertise and systems required to deliver biodiversity net gain (BNG). We have contracted the Planning Advisory Service to support local planners to embed BNG. We will also work with industry bodies to make sure that training, expertise and systems that are fully compatible with government policy are made available. The planning and ecology industries are also providing training and good practice guidance on biodiversity net gain and there are already several examples of implementation of biodiversity net gain approaches in local areas. We recognise the need to make sure those implementing a mandatory approach have the right skills and can share best practice. As part of the Government’s response to the Dasgupta Review earlier this year, the Government outlined its commitment to enhancing the training, knowledge and understanding on offer within the Civil Service. The Government Office for Science has committed to champion nature and biodiversity knowledge and understanding across Government through the Government Science and Engineering profession and networks. It also committed to strengthen future capability on these issues through encouraging departmental placements for the Science and Engineering Fast Stream, setting the example for other fast stream schemes. The Government Economic Service (GES) also committed to incorporate the economics of biodiversity and climate change within its revised GES Technical Framework, which defines the professional skills expected of GES members. Regular training will be offered to promote understanding and application of natural capital analysis, including through application of the Green Book. In addition, FCDO have launched a cross-Government International Nature Learning Journey. Designed initially to support the COP26 Nature Campaign, the initiative is building the capacities of our diplomatic and development network on nature, its relationship to climate change, our economies, livelihoods and wellbeing.