UK Nature and Environment

The window to stop the decline of England’s nature is swiftly closing, the environmental watchdog has said, as its latest report finds that the government is falling short on most of its targets to improve the environment.

Some of Labour’s actions, however, including setting up a water commission and writing a new environmental improvement plan, were praised by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) in its annual review of how the government was meeting the legally binding environment targets.

The OEP’s chair, Glenys Stacey, said: “With each passing month, the window of opportunity to redress environmental harms is closing, while the effort needed and cost to do so increases. This government must act urgently and decisively to catch up if it is to meet its legal obligations.