Today, the government announced new long-term environmental targets. The government has set the proposed targets as a cornerstone. Environment ActThis law was passed in November 2013.
They will motivate successive governments to take action for the protection and enhancement of our natural world.
The targets proposed cover water quality, air quality, and diversity of our wildlife.
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Improve the water quality of our rivers by reducing nutrient contamination and contamination from abandoned mines in watercourses and improving water efficiency;
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Cleansing up the air by reducing exposure to PM2.5, the most dangerous air pollutant to human life, by more than a third compared with 2018 levels.
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A legally binding target for species abundance by 2030 is set to stop the decline in wildlife populations. It also includes a requirement to increase species numbers by 10% by 2042.
Other targets include halving the amount of waste that ends up in landfills or incineration by 2030, increasing total tree coverage by 3% by 2050 and significant improvements to the condition of Marine Protected Areas before 2042.
New targets for water quality will address the most pressing pressures on the water environment. They will also help unlock the most serious problems to clean up England’s rivers. This will support our larger ambitions under the Water Framework Directive and the 25 Year Environment Plan for clean, plentiful water.
Air pollutant PM2.5 is to be reduced. This will reduce exposure to the most dangerous air quality in the country and in areas where it is highest. A 50% reduction in acceptable levels will go well beyond the EU targets, but still achievable.
The government will now hold an eight-week consultation period to discuss the proposed targets.
The Environment Act placed a strong emphasis on nature’s recovery. The government also released today new proposals in the Nature Recovery Green Paper, which will support our ambitions of restoring nature and stopping the decline in the number of species by 2030.
We propose to make the process more clear and consistent for all users. A rationalised legal framework, supported with local expertise and scientific judgment, will allow our regulators to make the most appropriate conservation decisions for each site, and ultimately ensure a better and more coherent protected site system.
This could include new, simplified types of protected area. It would reduce the number of types of designations for nature sites such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Special Areas of Conservation. The public and stakeholders can then see at a glance what is protected and why.
George Eustice, Environment Secretary, stated:
These targets are meant to establish a long-term plan for nature’s recovery. In the post EU era, we have the freedom to shift towards a system that is more focused on nature’s recovery and preservation and which places less emphasis on law and science. This will allow us to achieve the Environment Act targets.
Tony Juniper is the Chair of Natural England.
Since 1970, England’s conservation effort has relied on its network of protected sites as the backbone. It has been essential for preserving many special places and many species that are most at risk. But, we can and should do better. Nature is now facing increasing pressures, including climate change-related ones. It is no longer enough to protect the remnants of Nature that have survived. We must invest in large scale recovery.
Ambitious targets to stop the decline in species abundance, and to increase the area protected for Nature on land and sea, are supported by a range policy options that allow us to shift gears to help not only protect what’s left but also recover some of what’s been lost.
Natural England will partner with government and other partners to help reach these important new environmental targets. We want to ensure that any new system protects not only preserves, but also restores our depleted natural environment, which will be contributing to England’s Nature Recovery Network
The UK’s international commitments to 30% land and sea protection by 2030 will be met with the help of the proposed targets and green papers. Both will be subject to an 8-week consultation.
Natural England and government are providing financial and practical support to local authorities in areas affected by nutrient contamination to deliver the homes that they need. This applies to areas where protected areas are in poor health due to nutrient pollution. Local Planning Authorities can only approve homes if they feel it will not have any negative effects. Natural England has now extended this advice to other areas.
The government will also offer 100,000 to each affected catchment as part of the support package. This will support cross-Local Authority work to allow for continued development. We are pleased with the new proactive investment by Severn Trent Water (United Utilities), South West Water, Yorkshire Water, and South West Water. Together, they have invested 24.5 million to reduce nutrient pollution at these sites. We will continue to work with the industry in order to take further action.
The government’s response to the Green Paper consultation and targets consultation will be published in the early summer 2022. Today’s announcements are part the Government commitments to our environmentIn a better place for future generations.
Additional information:
The following proposals will be considered for the targets consultation:
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Stop the decline of species by 2030, and then bend the curve for an increase in species abundance by 10% by 2042. We will create or restore more than 500,000 hectares in wildlife-rich habitats outside of protected sites by 2042 as compared with 2022 levels.
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A maximum annual average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), 10 g/m3 in England by 2040, and a 35% decrease in the population’s exposure to PM2.5 by 2040 (compared with a base year of 2018.)
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A maximum annual mean concentration (PM2.5) of fine particulate material (PM2.5), 10g/m3 in England by 2040; and a 35% reduction of population exposure to PM2.5, by 2040 (compared to 2018 as a base year);
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Reduce nutrient contamination in water by reducing phosphorus load from treated wastewater by 80% and reducing nitrogen,phosphorous and sediment from agricultural to the water environment by 40% each by 2037.
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Enhance our marine environment by ensuring 70% of the MPA network’s designated features are in favourable condition by 2042. The remainder will be in recovering condition and additional reporting on any changes in each feature condition.
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Increase tree canopy and woodland cover by 14.5% to 17.5% of England’s total land area by 2050.
An 8-week consultation will begin with the publication of the Nature Recovery Green Paper. This consultation will outline proposals for:
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A new system of protections sites and species based on scientific judgement. This allows for a more targeted approach to protecting Britain’s most endangered sites and species.
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The private sector is invited to submit proposals on how it can play its role in building on the success stories of the UK Woodland Carbon Code or Peatland Code. Ideas are also sought about how to increase investment in nature.
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Scaling up private investment into nature Exploring measures to scale-up or de-risk a pipeline nature projects through the Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund, 10 million
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A roadmap to reach 30by30 governments’ intended path to achieving Prime Ministers commitment to preserve 30% of our land, sea, and water by 2030 as part of the Global Leaders Pledge For Nature;
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The Green Paper will assess the delivery landscape of Defras and explore the best institutional and delivery arrangements to support the government’s objectives for nature recovery.