Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 27
27
Acknowledged
Establish clear, robust baseline assessment methodology for measuring nature gains within 12 months.
Recommendation
The Government must continue to work with both public and private sector organisations, including the British Standards Institute and the International Sustainability Standards Board, so as to establish a clear and robust 59 baseline assessment methodology against which all gains will be measured. The Government should do this not later than 12 months of the date of publication of this report. (Recommendation, Paragraph 140)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need to establish a clear and robust baseline assessment methodology, stating it is continuing to sponsor the British Standards Institution’s Nature Investment Standards Programme and is exploring options for the methodology. They do not commit to establishing it within the recommended 12-month timeframe.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
We are continuing to sponsor the British Standards Institution’s Nature Investment Standards Programme, which involves a large number of public and private sector organisations. The programme will produce a suite of Nature Investment Standards. The first of these standards for market adoption – the Overarching Principles Standard – was published in March. This standard is designed to apply across all UK nature markets and will be supplemented by further market-specific standards for biodiversity, nature-based carbon and nutrients. We recognise the need for a clear and robust baseline assessment methodology and are exploring options for this, one of which is through the market-specific standards that supplement the Overarching Principles Standard. In June, the British Standards Institution launched a consultation on the proposed standard for nature-based nutrient removal and reduction projects. This will provide greater assurance to those buying, selling, and investing in nutrient credits that they are participating in a high-integrity market which supports better water quality outcomes for nature and people. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) is setting a global baseline for corporate sustainability reporting, but will not set a baseline assessment methodology for nature-based projects.