Achieving government’s long-term environmental goals

We recommend that government: • clarifies its environmental ambitions so that by the time it puts forward new legislative targets (in October 2022), these are part of a coherent suite of objectives that set specific and measurable ambitions for medium-term (2030) and long-term (2040 onwards) outcomes for each of its environmental goals;

Ref Page 10, paragraph 12, first bullet point · Implemented Q4 2022-23

We recommend that Defra, working with Cabinet Office and HM Treasury: • monitors annual costs and spend on key environmental initiatives across government, alongside the benefits they achieve, as part of developing performance reporting against the Plan.

Ref Page 14, paragraph 19, first bullet point · Implemented Q1 2026-27

We reiterate our recommendation that government: • continues to strengthen safeguards for OEP’s independence, by developing a clear framework document for the terms of its relationship with Defra, and by setting out Parliament’s ongoing role in reviewing OEP’s funding and leadership.

Ref Page 15, paragraph 21, first bullet point · Implemented Q2 2026-27

We also recommend that Defra: • continues to develop its public reporting of progress, including by incorporating reporting against a comprehensive set of interim milestones as soon as these are available; and

Ref Page 15, paragraph 21, second bullet point · Implemented Q3 2025-26

• includes in its progress reports an appendix showing how it has responded to any recommendations made by the OEP.

Ref Page 15, paragraph 21, third bullet point · Implemented Q4 2023-24

• develops a delivery plan for how the planned outcomes are to be achieved. This should set out the firm and funded actions that government has planned, and explicitly state whether government expects these are likely to be sufficient to put progress on track to meet the outcomes. Where there are gaps, government should set out how and when it expects to make decisions to fill these. This plan should also set interim milestones by which progress can be monitored, covering medium-term outputs (up to 2030); and

Ref Page 10, paragraph 12, second bullet point · Implemented Q3 2025-26

• assesses the short-, medium- and long-term costs of this delivery plan to ensure that Defra and HM Treasury have a shared view of the associated costs and how these might be financed.

Ref Page 10, paragraph 12, third bullet point · Implemented Q3 2025-26

We recommend that Defra: • maps out the most significant interdependencies between the goals in the 25 Year Environment Plan and sets out how decisions about any significant trade-offs will be made, and by who; and

Ref Page 11, paragraph 14, first bullet point · Implemented Q3 2025-26

• defines the values and behaviours that will support delivery of its environmental goals, reviews how closely these align with its current working culture and sets out plans for improving and monitoring progress.

Ref Page 11, paragraph 14, second bullet point · Implemented Q3 2025-26

We recommend that Cabinet Office and Defra: • review and improve arrangements for engaging departments outside Defra on the Plan. This should involve: a) mapping out the areas where other departments have a critical role to play; b) establishing clear expectations for these departments’ contributions to improving performance, and how this will be measured and monitored; and c) strengthening coordination and oversight arrangements where appropriate, particularly for climate change adaptation and domestic biodiversity.

Ref Page 12, paragraph 15, first bullet point, parts a,b, and c · Implemented Q3 2025-26

We recommend that Defra: • prioritises its behaviour change strategy work to capitalise on positive behaviour changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to build links with related behaviour change work being carried out with other parts of government.

Ref Page 12, paragraph 16, first bullet point · Implemented Q4 2024-25

We recommend that Defra, working with Cabinet Office and HM Treasury: • develops a strategy for ensuring that the right skills and resources are available to meet government’s environmental ambitions. This should include: a) a published analysis of how government will ensure that key delivery partners, including local authorities and Defra’s arm’s-length bodies, have appropriate funds to fulfil their environmental responsibilities; and b) a review of the factors that led to high turnover among the senior responsible owners for the Plan, and how these factors may be mitigated in future.

Ref Page 13, paragraph 17, first bullet point, parts a and b · Implemented Not completed

We recommend that government: • sets a deadline for securing a full set of outcome-focused environmental indicators, with data, and that Defra’s Environment Committee monitors progress against this deadline, taking swift action if things fall behind.

Ref Page 14, paragraph 18, first bullet point · Implemented Q3 2024-25