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
8 results
Clear
30 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
We recommend the Government commission a review of the operation of ‘perverse subsidies’ in the...
We recommend the Government commission a review of the operation of ‘perverse subsidies’ in the UK economy. This must entail the identification, assessment and tracking of public expenditure harmful to biodiversity, and the publication of data on the extent of … Read more
Government Response
The government defers action, stating it will work with the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and review their recommendations and potential policy/regulatory responses when they are available, rather than commissioning its own review of perverse subsidies.
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37 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
We welcome the Government’s pledge to protect 30 per cent of the UK’s land and...
We welcome the Government’s pledge to protect 30 per cent of the UK’s land and seas by 2030, but simply designating areas as protected is not enough. The UK’s protected areas are poorly managed. More focus must be given to … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need to improve protected area management and is developing a Nature Recovery Green Paper to address its 30x30 commitment and improve management, with a response to the Glover Review to be published later in the year.
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38 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
The Government should not count its wins early: protected areas should only be reckoned to...
The Government should not count its wins early: protected areas should only be reckoned to contribute to the 30 by 30 pledge if they are effectively managed and improved. We recommend the Treasury ensure that all bodies involved in the … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of well-managed protected areas and states it is developing a Nature Recovery Green Paper, to be published later this year, which will set out its approach to achieving the 30x30 commitment and improving management of protected areas.
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39 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
The Government should provide a full response to the Glover Review before the 2021 summer...
The Government should provide a full response to the Glover Review before the 2021 summer recess.
Government Response
The government states it is carefully considering the Glover Review recommendations in the context of a wider Nature Recovery Green Paper, and its response will be published later this year, implying it will not meet the requested pre-summer recess deadline.
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48 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
We welcome the Government’s ambition to create a national Nature Recovery Network but believe far...
We welcome the Government’s ambition to create a national Nature Recovery Network but believe far more detail is needed to translate this ambition into transformative action. The Nature Recovery Network (NRN) is contained in the 25 Year Environment Plan, but … Read more
Government Response
The government plans to publish a Nature Recovery Green Paper later this year, which will outline its vision and initial policy proposals for public consultation, to inform future tangible changes.
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49 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
To address these concerns we recommend that: a) Defra updates its Nature Recovery Network Policy...
To address these concerns we recommend that: a) Defra updates its Nature Recovery Network Policy Paper by the end of the year, explaining how LNRS will be co-ordinated into a national Nature Recovery Network and how local authorities should link … Read more
Government Response
The government plans to publish a Nature Recovery Green Paper later this year, which will set out its vision and proposals for nature recovery and allow for public consultation, thereby deferring specific actions until after this process.
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67 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
The Government should include a Net Zero test of the 2021 Budget in its Net...
The Government should include a Net Zero test of the 2021 Budget in its Net Zero Review. Net Zero tests should be refined for future fiscal events to assess the climate impacts of taxation, spending and resource decisions. The Government … Read more
Government Response
The government states the Green Book already requires climate/environmental considerations and HM Treasury is reviewing how to better support environmental objectives, with more detail coming in the Net Zero Strategy. It does not commit to the specific Net Zero or nature tests for fiscal events or a new fiscal rule, but notes ongoing work with ONS/OBR on natural capital and participation in green budgeting initiatives.
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69 Recommendation Deferred
First Report - Biodiversity in the…
To provide the signals needed for the financial system to manage biodiversity risks, we recommend...
To provide the signals needed for the financial system to manage biodiversity risks, we recommend that: a) The Government commit to legislate for mandatory disclosure of nature-related financial risks once the TNFD framework is ready. b) The Government explore how … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to working with the TNFD and will carefully review its recommendations and potential policy/regulatory responses once the framework is ready by late 2023, deferring a commitment to legislate for mandatory disclosure of nature-related financial risks. The response also broadly refers to existing efforts on corporate environmental disclosures and a UK green taxonomy, but does not commit to the other specific recommendations.
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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
Parliament page
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
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