Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Not Addressed
Embed nature-based solutions as core to flood risk management, reforming funding and setting targets.
Recommendation
The Government should embed nature-based solutions as a core component of national flood and coastal erosion risk management by 2027. Defra, working with the Environment Agency, HM Treasury, and other key partners, should: • Reform flood funding appraisal and partnership funding rules, following the Government’s current consultation on reforming the approach to floods funding, to better reflect the multi-benefit value of nature-based solutions. • Set national targets for the uptake of nature-based approaches in flood risk management by 2026. • Fully integrate nature-based solutions into flood, planning, and infrastructure policy by 2027, including economic support for landowners to incorporate flood resilience measures. (Recommendation, Paragraph 43)
Government response summary AI-generated
The government highlights its record investment in flood resilience and new general funding rules taking effect from April 2026 to optimise investment. However, the response does not specifically commit to embedding nature-based solutions as a core component, reforming funding appraisal to reflect their multi-benefit value, or setting national targets for their uptake by 2026/2027.
Government Response
The government responded to this report on 23 December 2025. No passage in that response could be matched to this recommendation. Read the response document ↗