The new UK Labour government has announced a review of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP), to be completed by year-end to deliver legally binding targets to save nature. As part of the review, the government will develop a new statutory plan to protect and restore the natural environment, focusing on cleaning up waterways, reducing waste across the economy, planting more trees, improving air quality and halting the decline in species by 2030. The review will engage with stakeholders across the environment and nature, farming, resources, waste and water sectors, working hand-in-hand with businesses, local authorities and civil society across the country to develop ambitious targets. “Nature is dying. Britain is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Our animal species face extinction. Our precious landscapes are in decline. Our rivers, lakes and seas are awash with sewage … and air pollution continues to plague our towns and cities,” said UK Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Steve Reed. “Nature underpins everything – the economy, food, health and society – but we stand at a moment in history when nature needs us to defend it. That is why today we begin to chart a new course.” The announcement came as the government published its Environmental Improvement Plan Annual Progress Report – the first revision to a 25-year environment plan – showing the “dire state” of the UK natural environment and demonstrated the need for accelerated action. The all-species indicator showed an overall decline to around 69% of its starting value in 1970, with 16% of species threatened with extinction. Beach litter remains abundant on UK coastlines, with plastic items constituting over 88% of the total litter collected. The government said it was committed to improving the environment, with five new priorities set out for this parliament: cleaning up rivers, lakes and seas; creating a roadmap to move the UK to a zero-waste economy; boosting food security; ensuring nature’s recovery; and protecting communities from the dangers of flooding.
