Overview: delivery plans for our Environment Act targets
Overview
The Environment Act 2021 (Environment Act) set a series of statutory targets to significantly improve the natural environment and leave it in a better state for future generations. To ensure progress, the Environment Act requires that each statutory target has at least one interim target set in the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) which covers the 5 years from publication of the latest revision of the EIP.
These interim targets are not legally binding but must: be achievable; make an appropriate contribution to the statutory target; and be objectively measurable.
Interim targets were originally set in the EIP published in 2023 (EIP23). As part of the review and revision of EIP23, we are updating the interim targets to cover the 5 years from publication of the revised EIP in 2025 (to 2030).
Delivery plans - how we will deliver the targets
Whilst the EIP sets out the steps we intend to take to improve the natural environment, this document builds on that and contains the delivery plans for meeting these targets. These plans address the steps for both the interim and statutory targets, although most plans contain greater detail on meeting the interim targets. This is to be expected given the proximity of these targets and their alignment with the next spending review period, which provides greater certainty for short-term planning. Interim targets are important staging posts for the statutory targets. Delivering the interim target should ensure we deliver the required improvement to meet the statutory target.
Effecting environmental change and understanding which delivery measures are most impactful is inherently complex and takes time. These delivery plans will be refined over time in response to emerging evidence and ongoing policy evaluations. As such, they are ‘live’ plans meaning the delivery measures may be reviewed and adjusted to ensure effective delivery.
Monitoring and tracking delivery
We will ensure detailed monitoring and tracking of delivery are in place for each of the targets. In the statutory EIP annual progress report we will publish an update and assessment of progress on interim and statutory target delivery once data is available. Metrics have been, or are being, established to provide bespoke monitoring of progress against each of the targets.
The nature and scope of each target is different and, therefore, the delivery plan for each target is different. For example, some targets contain greater inherent uncertainty, and it is easier to quantify the impact of delivery measures for some targets than for others. We are continuing to gather evidence, with the input of expert opinion and citizen science. We have assessed the contribution we estimate each delivery measure to make towards achieving the relevant interim target primarily through a qualitative rating between low and high. We aim to further develop the extent of the contribution that these delivery measures make towards delivering interim targets in future updates of delivery plans.
How the actions will be delivered and contribute to the EIP
These plans will be delivered with a range of partners including Defra and Defra arm’s length bodies, other governmental departments, local authorities, landowners, farmers, private companies, third-sector organisations and community groups. We will continue to work collaboratively to support, deliver and monitor the impacts of actions, to inform and refine our plans over time.
Everything in the environment is connected. Some policies and actions help achieve more than one goal and we take that into account in our approach. Target delivery is a central part of delivery of the EIP and will help contribute to the wider goal outcomes and ambitions set out in the EIP. The interim and statutory targets will also help deliver the goal outcomes set out in the EIP.