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OEP's statutory report on Progress in improving the natural environment in England 2024/2025

The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has today published its latest report on the Government’s progress in improving the natural environment and a briefing note on the revised EIP. The OEP plays an important role in monitoring and reporting progress towards goals in the Environmental Improvement Plan and 30x30 targets. The Government welcomes the OEP’s latest report and will consider the assessment carefully and respond to the recommendations in the summer.

Following a review launched in July 2024, the Government published a revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) on 1 December 25. We welcome the OEP’s advice in informing the review. Our revised EIP sets out this Government’s steadfast commitment to the ambitious, statutory Environment Act targets. It is our roadmap to improve the natural environment and people’s enjoyment of it. It ensures that nature’s recovery is a key priority, fundamental to the Government’s approach to growth.

Our EIP goes further than the previous plan. We have a clear plan and process, with ambitious but achievable goals and targets. We know the scale of the challenge. We are also matching our ambition with action.

We are reforming the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) to make it simpler, fairer and to enable as many farmers as possible to benefit and to help nature thrive. This will help us meet our ambitious EIP targets – including to double the number of farms delivering for wildlife.

Last year marked the highest rate of tree planting in 20 years – over 10 million trees – and we have started planning two of three new National Forests.

The Water (Special Measures) Act is already transforming the water sector for good, with swifter penalties enabled for environmental offences and new pollution reporting requirements. Alongside this, over the next five years, £104 million in private investment will upgrade our water infrastructure and cut pollution.

We are acting decisively to improve air quality – tackling pollution at its source to restore nature whilst supporting communities to breathe cleaner air.

By advancing our circular economy, we are further reducing environmental harm, turning waste into opportunity and creating green jobs across the country. Industry estimates that our waste reforms will underpin £10 billion of investment in new recycling facilities. Simpler Recycling has now come into effect for all workplaces with 10 or more full-time equivalent employees in England, requiring workplaces to separately recycle dry mixed recycling, paper and card and food waste. We formed a Circular Economy Taskforce, comprising members from industry, academia, and civil society across the UK which has undertaken extensive engagement to ensure that the circular transition reflects the needs and insights of all involved.

By recognising the pride, enjoyment and wellbeing that people across the country take in nature, we are boosting opportunities to access the outdoors – including launching the first of nine new national river walks on Boxing Day, with the Mersey Valley Way.

The EIP brings such actions together and explains how they support each of our Missions. It is a whole of Government plan.

It is only by the Government working hand-in-hand with individuals, communities, businesses, farmers, public and third sector organisations that we will deliver the EIP and the Environment Act targets. Collective action is essential.

The Government remains committed to improving the natural environment and will continue to work with the OEP to ensure delivery against our environmental objectives.