Consultation on environmental targets

Overview

The evidence reports and impact assessments to accompany the consultation have been published. These can be found below (see ‘related’ section).

If you have already responded to the consultation and want to provide an additional response, please use the same email address that you used in your first response. This will help in our consultation analysis.

Evidence on the biodiversity was updated on 04/05/22 to correct uptake scenario levels for birds on page 108.

Environmental targets, a key commitment in our Environment Act, will help deliver the government’s vision of leaving the environment in a better state than it was found and will drive forward ambitious environmental improvements by successive governments that protect and enhance our natural world.

The targets form part of the government’s response to the clear scientific case, and growing public demand, for a step-change in environmental protection. Environmental targets will require action across the economy and will provide long-term certainty to businesses and society. This will stimulate innovation and economic growth and will create and support green jobs across the country. 

The Environment Act 2021 requires the government to set at least one long-term target in each of the following areas: air quality; water; biodiversity; and resource efficiency and waste reduction. It also requires targets to be set for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and species abundance.  

We are proposing targets that we think will deliver environmental outcomes in the areas where there are some of the greatest problems. This is why we are considering targets beyond the legal minimum that we are required to set, with additional proposals on: biodiversity; water; marine; and woodland cover. 

We strongly encourage responses via Citizen Space by clicking the online consultation link below. Consultations receive a high level of interest across many sectors and using the online tool assists our analysis of responses, enabling more efficient and effective consideration of issues. However, responses can be sent by email or post.