Biodiversity and Ecosystems

Environmental Audit Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 13 Jul 2020 Closed: 26 Jan 2023 Parliament page
This inquiry examines how the UK can best protect and enhance biodiversity. We are: reviewing the UK Government’s performance on achieving international and domestic biodiversity targets in preparation for the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) examining the state of … Read more
61 Recommendations
41 Conclusions
2 Reports
6 Oral sessions
7 Letters
6 Events
Activity timeline 17 events
24 Mar
2022
Correspondence
3 Mar
2022
Correspondence
1 Feb
2022
Report published
27 Jan
2022
Correspondence
30 Sep
2021
Report published
30 Sep
2021
Report published
7 Jul
2021
Correspondence
30 Jun
2021
Report published
17 Mar
2021
Correspondence
4 Mar
2021
Oral evidence
24 Feb
2021
Oral evidence
13 Jan
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
4 Mar 2021
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Kemi Badenoch · HM Treasury Steve Field · HM Treasury
24 Feb 2021
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Panel 1
Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta · HMT Economics of Biodiversity Review
13 Jan 2021
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Cheryl Case · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Richard Pullen · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Rt Hon George Eustice · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Simon Gallagher · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government The Rt Hon. the Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
9 Dec 2020
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Panel 1; Panel 2; Panel 3
David Webster · Associated British Foods UK Grocery Martin Harper · Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Mihai Coroi · Mott MacDonald Nathalie Seddon · University of Oxford Professor David Hill · Environment Bank Professor Sir Partha Dasgupta · HMT Economics of Biodiversity Review
12 Nov 2020
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Ben McCarthy · National Trust Caroline Knox · National Farmers' Union Environment Forum Craig Bennett · Wildlife Trusts Dr Ruth Little · University of Sheffield Julian Glover · London Evening Standard Kari Sprostranova · Balfour Beatty Mayor Philip Glanville · Local Government Association’s Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board Professor Kathy Willis · Natural Capital Committee
22 Oct 2020
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Panel 1; Panel 2
Andy Purvis · IPBES Anne Larigauderie · IPBES Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias · UN Convention on Biological Diversity Doug Allan · Planet Earth and Blue Planet series Elisa Morgera · Strathclyde University Law School Kate Norgrove · WWF Tony Juniper · Natural England
Recommendations & Conclusions
20 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ call for transformative change provides a...
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ call for transformative change provides a yardstick against which action to address biodiversity loss should be measured. The global response to biodiversity loss has so far been inadequate. Piecemeal conservation efforts, … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need to address biodiversity loss and references its response to the Dasgupta Review, actions under the Environment Bill including a legally binding 2030 species target, and the forthcoming Nature Strategy for England.
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3 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
The UK has established a sophisticated public policy mechanism to tackle the effects of climate...
The UK has established a sophisticated public policy mechanism to tackle the effects of climate change by driving sustained long-term reductions in harmful emissions. This comprises legally binding interim and long-term targets authorised by Parliament, and an independent Climate Change … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges its commitment to cross-departmental action on targets, stating that the duty to achieve targets rests with central government and that the Office for Environmental Protection will enforce environmental law duties, with further details on Greening Government Commitments to be set out shortly.
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6 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
We recommend that the Government introduce, preferably via the Environment Bill currently before Parliament, a...
We recommend that the Government introduce, preferably via the Environment Bill currently before Parliament, a mechanism for statutory interim targets to ensure that its proposed species abundance target is met to halt the decline of nature by 2030. We further … Read more
Government Response
The government describes the statutory cycle of monitoring, planning, and reporting under the Environment Bill, including the Outcome Indicator Framework, but does not commit to statutory interim targets or explicitly extending the legally binding scope of the 2030 target as recommended.
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15 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
The Government’s new species abundance target for 2030 provides a potential mechanism for the measurement...
The Government’s new species abundance target for 2030 provides a potential mechanism for the measurement of progress on addressing biodiversity loss, and a driver for consequent actions. We recommend that once the target is established, regular, formal reviews of progress … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need for progress measurement through its Outcome Indicator Framework, which is under development with reviews planned at a minimum every five years, and has invested in the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment. However, it does not specifically commit to regular formal reviews feeding into all departmental decision-making or ministerial reporting to Parliament.
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18 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
If Marine Protected Areas continue to be poorly managed and monitored, with little enforcement of...
If Marine Protected Areas continue to be poorly managed and monitored, with little enforcement of their protected status, there is a risk that the Government will have established a network of ‘paper parks’. According to monitoring data, the condition of … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need for effectively managed protected areas and notes existing initiatives like new designations and funding for landscapes. It has committed to piloting Highly Protected Marine Areas and will publish a Nature Recovery Green Paper later this year.
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29 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
We welcome the funding announcements and increased public expenditure on international biodiversity, however international conservation...
We welcome the funding announcements and increased public expenditure on international biodiversity, however international conservation funding is still greatly outstripped by subsidies which cheapen the exploitation of the natural environment. The Government cannot spend more exploiting the natural environment than … Read more
Government Response
The government states it is reviewing how to better support environmental objectives, including embedding net zero into policy decisions, improving natural capital estimates, and participating in green budgeting initiatives, but does not commit to addressing the imbalance between conservation funding and harmful subsidies or providing information on the extent of such subsidies.
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36 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
The Government must address how it will set long-term objectives for all ten of the...
The Government must address how it will set long-term objectives for all ten of the Plan’s goals. As agreed to in 2018, the Government must publish how these goals and objectives relate to pre-existing national and international environmental targets. We … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges its commitment to cross-departmental action on targets and states the OEP's remit will include long-term targets, promising to set out further detail shortly on other government departments' actions.
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40 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
We welcome the Government’s efforts to secure biodiversity gains in development: but the biodiversity net...
We welcome the Government’s efforts to secure biodiversity gains in development: but the biodiversity net gain policy, in its current form, does not go far enough in contributing to the transformative change necessary to address biodiversity loss in the UK. … Read more
Government Response
The government reiterates that the Environment Bill will ensure new developments deliver a minimum 10% Biodiversity Net Gain and commits to continuing to work with stakeholders to ensure the policy is fit for purpose, but does not detail how it will address the identified deficiencies.
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42 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
We welcome the extension of the biodiversity net gain policy to include Nationally Significant Infrastructure...
We welcome the extension of the biodiversity net gain policy to include Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. We received overwhelming evidence in support of this and note the potential the policy now has to contribute to nature’s recovery. We will be … Read more
Government Response
The government reiterates that the Environment Bill will ensure new developments enhance biodiversity and deliver measurable 'Biodiversity Net Gain' but does not specifically address the committee's welcome of the policy's extension to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
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51 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
Protecting existing ecosystems, be that ancient woodland, peatlands, or kelp forests provides the most cost-effective...
Protecting existing ecosystems, be that ancient woodland, peatlands, or kelp forests provides the most cost-effective and significant contribution to NbS in the UK. Given the majority of the UK’s ecosystems lie outside of protected areas, more needs to be done … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights its investment in nature restoration and nature-based solutions, including the Nature for Climate and Green Recovery Challenge funds, and the Peatland Grant Scheme for restoring peatland, as its contribution to addressing the need for more action in protecting ecosystems.
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56 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
We recommend the Government start the process of setting an environmental footprint target by launching...
We recommend the Government start the process of setting an environmental footprint target by launching a consultation ahead of COP15 on how to model the overseas environmental impact of UK consumption. This could feed into Defra’s work on international indicators … Read more
Government Response
The government has commissioned the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to develop a global environmental footprint indicator as part of the Outcome Indicators Framework. While this work is ongoing and will inform future thinking, the government has not yet committed to setting an environmental footprint target or launching a consultation on how to model the overseas environmental impact of UK consumption, as recommended.
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66 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
The Government has the opportunity to create a fiscal framework focused on delivering well-being, sustainability...
The Government has the opportunity to create a fiscal framework focused on delivering well-being, sustainability and economic stability. The current fiscal rules focus on managing the budget, public sector investment and debt. There is scope to extend this so balancing … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of integrating environmental considerations into the fiscal framework, pointing to existing Green Book mandates, ongoing reviews within HM Treasury, and future details in the Net Zero Strategy, while also supporting ONS/OBR work on natural capital and participating in international green budgeting initiatives.
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68 Conclusion Acknowledged
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
Financial systems need to recognise the value of preserving biodiversity.
Financial systems need to recognise the value of preserving biodiversity. The transformation the financial system has undergone to integrate climate-related financial risks should be used as a roadmap to do the same for biodiversity. The interconnected, complex, and non-linear nature … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of nature-related financial disclosures, reiterating its support for the TNFD framework and committing to carefully review its recommendations upon launch by the end of 2023. It also highlights its support for global sustainability disclosure standards.
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70 Recommendation Acknowledged
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
For biodiversity to be protected, it has to be appreciated and valued.
For biodiversity to be protected, it has to be appreciated and valued. But our increasing detachment from nature stops many of us knowing and directly experiencing it. This starts at a young age; children are spending less and less time … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the benefits of learning about nature, stating the DfE is exploring a new Natural History GCSE without commitment and highlights efforts to ensure access to outdoor education centers.
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13 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - The UK's footprint…
To increase sustainability within UK global supply chains, we recommend that: a) in its response...
To increase sustainability within UK global supply chains, we recommend that: a) in its response to this report, the Government should set out a clear and accessible definition of sustainability within the context of the Government Buying Standards; b) the … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges its commitment to improving sustainable public procurement and notes that its Greening Government Commitments Framework includes a review of sustainable procurement commitments. However, it does not commit to the specific asks regarding a definition of sustainability, reinstating mandatory reporting by end of 2021, or making GBS mandatory for large public bodies with certified forest-risk commodities.
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14 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - The UK's footprint…
A natural capital approach to valuing agricultural products provides another way to increase the sustainability...
A natural capital approach to valuing agricultural products provides another way to increase the sustainability of supply chains.
Government Response
The government recognises the role of a natural capital approach in valuing agricultural products and is funding research projects to better understand natural capital impacts in the agricultural sector.
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17 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - The UK's footprint…
To increase the sustainable use of forest-risk commodities we recommend that the Government make it...
To increase the sustainable use of forest-risk commodities we recommend that the Government make it illegal for UK businesses and the finance sector to use commodities linked to deforestation and, at the very least, include the finance sector within the … Read more
Government Response
The government states it is introducing the Environment Act (2021) to tackle illegal deforestation in UK supply chains and highlights broader international initiatives like the FACT Dialogue and private sector commitments to eliminate investment in agricultural commodity-driven deforestation. However, it does not explicitly commit to making it illegal for the finance sector to use commodities linked to all deforestation or specifically include them in Environment Bill provisions.
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22 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - The UK's footprint…
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15 summit presents an opportunity to create a...
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15 summit presents an opportunity to create a transformative Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that will ‘bend the curve’ of biodiversity loss. The UK has a crucial role to play in promoting a transformative, … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the committee's conclusion, reiterating the significance of the CBD COP15 summit and the UK's role in promoting an ambitious Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
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25 Recommendation Acknowledged
Second Report - The UK's footprint…
The Post-2020 Framework’s goals and targets will be meaningless if not properly implemented.
The Post-2020 Framework’s goals and targets will be meaningless if not properly implemented. The CBD ought to adopt a regular review mechanism, such as that adopted under the Paris Agreement of the UNFCCC, which encourages Parties to ‘ratchet’ the level … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights its work on integrating climate change and biodiversity at COP26 and engagement for CBD COP15, including the Leaders' Pledge for Nature, indicating alignment with the broader goal of ambitious nature targets without explicitly committing to establishing a specific 'ratchet' review mechanism for the CBD.
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26 Conclusion Acknowledged
Second Report - The UK's footprint…
Mainstreaming biodiversity considerations across government departments will be crucial to meeting the Post-2020 Biodiversity Targets.
Mainstreaming biodiversity considerations across government departments will be crucial to meeting the Post-2020 Biodiversity Targets. The UK’s past performance on cross-departmental co-ordination on nature has been disappointing. We have nevertheless been encouraged to observe the willingness of Ministers to work … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the conclusion, affirming its commitment to international leadership on biodiversity and climate change, and states it will ensure recommendations are considered in its domestic and international work, especially for CBD COP15.
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Government Response AI assessment · 102 of 61 classified
Accepted 26
Accepted in Part 3
Acknowledged 20
Deferred 8
Not Addressed 42
Rejected 3
Total 61 recs + 41 conclusions
Correspondence 7 letters
24 Mar 2022 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, relating to the Biodiversity and Ecosystems inquiry, dated 18 March 2022
Parliament page
3 Mar 2022 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, relating to the Biodiversity and Ecosystems inquiry, dated 2 March 2022
Parliament page
27 Jan 2022 Correspondence with the Minister of State (Minister for School Standards), Department for Education, relating to recommendations made in the EAC's Biodiversity in the UK: Bloom or Bust? and Green Jobs reports, dated 27 January 2022
Parliament page
7 Jul 2021 To committee Letter from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, regarding the publication of the EAC Biodiversity and Ecosystems report, dated 2 July 2021
Parliament page
17 Mar 2021 To committee Letter from the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury to the Chair on water quality, dated 12 March 2021
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13 Nov 2020 To committee Letter from Natural England re: funding and biodiversity
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15 Oct 2020 To committee Letter from EasyJet CEO to Chairman on additional points raised at meeting
Parliament page