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
3 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Rejected
Second Report - The UK's footprint…
Consumption patterns in the UK are unsustainable.
Consumption patterns in the UK are unsustainable. Addressing these patterns is key to the UK’s contribution to the alleviation of global biodiversity loss. The first step is to recognise the need to reduce the UK’s overall consumption. We welcome that … Read more
Government Response
The government has developed a global environmental footprint indicator and published findings, but explicitly states it will not consider setting a global footprint target until a robust evidence base is established to ensure positive results and avoid unintended consequences.
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2 Conclusion Rejected
Second Report - The UK's footprint…
In 2018 the Government announced it would devise an indicator on the overseas environmental impacts...
In 2018 the Government announced it would devise an indicator on the overseas environmental impacts of UK consumption of key commodities. It appears that little to no progress has been made in developing this indicator. This is disappointing and shows … Read more
Government Response
The government states it already considers environmental implications and is exploring ways to strengthen analytical approaches, but explicitly rejects the specific recommendation to devise an indicator due to practicality and cost-effectiveness concerns.
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27 Conclusion Rejected
Second Report - The UK's footprint…
The policy statement on environmental principles, to be prepared under the Environment Bill, ought to...
The policy statement on environmental principles, to be prepared under the Environment Bill, ought to be a powerful tool for mainstreaming environmental concerns, including biodiversity, across Government. So the Government’s response to the recommendation of our previous report—arguing that general … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the committee's characterisation of its approach, reiterating that the Environmental Principles Policy Statement will be a powerful tool for mainstreaming concerns. It explains that general taxation and spending are exempt due to existing processes and constitutional implications.
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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
Parliament page
15 Oct 2020 To committee Letter from EasyJet CEO to Chairman on additional points raised at meeting
Parliament page