The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has published its third assessment of the Government’s progress on improving the natural environment. This report covers the period of April 2023 to March 2024. It should be noted that the Government has this week just published its response to the second assessment.
This third assessment report was launched today at an event in London with presentations from Natalie Prosser (CEO), Dame Glenys Stacey (Chair) and Dr Cathy Maguire (Head of Assessments). and hosted by Professor Robbie McDonald (Chief Insights Officer). As Dame Glenys noted, this is a “weighty tome” that provides an in-depth assessment of improving nature.
The OEP is now into its fourth year of operations and continues its robust approach to holding government to account, including current work on protected sites and inspection regimes.
The report says that the Government remains largely off track to achieve its legal commitments. There is some progress, but that progress is slowing and substantial challenges remain, and indeed that there is less progress in this assessment than in the previous assessment noting a “loss of momentum“. There is clearly work for Government to do. There are a number of key dates that are now not that far off, and the Government’s review of the Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) will be pivotal to getting back on track.
Posted On: 17/01/2025
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