The role of natural capital in the green economy [revived]

Environmental Audit Committee Open Inquiry
Opened: 13 Nov 2024 Parliament page
The Environmental Audit Committee in the 2024 Parliament has revived the predecessor Committee's inquiry into the current and potential future role of natural capital in the green economy, and the Government’s proposals to increase private investment in measures to support nature recovery. Read the call for evidence for more information … Read more
19 Recommendations
16 Conclusions
1 Report
2 Oral sessions
4 Letters
2 Events
Activity timeline 10 events
16 Oct
2025
Correspondence
4 Sep
2025
Correspondence
4 Sep
2025
Correspondence
22 Jul
2025
Report published
22 Jul
2025
Correspondence
7 May
2025
Report published
18 Dec
2024
Oral evidence
18 Dec
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
4 Dec
2024
Oral evidence
4 Dec
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions
18 Dec 2024
View on parliament.uk
Panel 1
Dr Will Lockhart OBE · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Helen Edmundson · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Mary Creagh CBE MP · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
4 Dec 2024
View on parliament.uk
EAC meeting
Alan Carter · The Land Trust Dr Heather Plumpton · Green Alliance Helen Avery · Green Finance Institute Judicaelle Hammond · Country Land and Business Association Kate McGavin · National Wealth Fund Rt Hon Philip Dunne · Environmental Audit Select Committee
Title HC No. Published Items Response
1st Report – The role of natural capital in the UK's green econo… HC 501 7 May 2025 35 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
Clear
22 Recommendation Accepted in Part
1st Report – The role of natural c…
Consult on measures to increase BNG compliance or mandate corporate disclosure of nature-damaging activities.
We recommend that the Government consult on measures to increase compliance as a market driver, potentially through expanding BNG requirements or mandating corporate disclosure of nature-damaging activities. (Recommendation, Paragraph 123)
Government Response
The government has launched consultations on mandatory BNG for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) and streamlining BNG for smaller developers, which aligns with expanding requirements and driving consistency. They also launched a call for evidence on increasing private investment in nature to support future policy development.
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23 Recommendation Accepted in Part
1st Report – The role of natural c…
Commit to reviewing the effectiveness of on-site BNG delivery by February 2027.
The Government should also ensure that on-site gains have sufficient transparency and scrutiny of delivery—through sufficient funding of local authorities to deliver checks, and provision to local authorities of the capacity to undertake enforcement action—with a commitment to reforming the … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees with the principle of reviewing on-site BNG effectiveness but does not commit to the specific proposed timeline. They have allocated an additional £10m this financial year (on top of £35m previously) to assist local planning authorities with BNG implementation and note existing duties for LAs to publish biodiversity reports including on-site gains.
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Government Response AI assessment · 35 of 19 classified
Accepted 15
Accepted in Part 2
Acknowledged 11
Deferred 5
Rejected 2
Total 19 recs + 16 conclusions
Correspondence 4 letters
16 Oct 2025 To committee Letter from the Chief Secretary to the Treasury relating to the environmental impacts of the Spending Review, dated 3 October 2025
Parliament page
4 Sep 2025 To committee Letter from the Under Secretary of State for Nature relating to the Role of Natural Capital in the Green Economy: Government Response, dated 27 August 2025
Parliament page
4 Sep 2025 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to The Role of Natural Capital in The Green Economy: Government response, 22 July 2025
Parliament page
22 Jul 2025 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, regarding the Government's response to the Committee's report on the role of natural capital in the green economy, dated 22 July 2025
Parliament page