New legally binding environmental targets published by the Government have come into force at the end of January 2023.
These targets come after three years of detailed consideration of scientific and economic evidence. They are a key part of achieving the Government's obligations under the Environment Act 2021, however the Government missed their own 31 October statutory deadline for the publication of the targets.
The new targets seek to protect the environment, clean up our air and rivers and boost nature, with specific targets being set in the areas of:
Air quality - fine particulate matter
There are two key targets set in this area, which are, by 31 December 2040:
By the end of 31 December 2042, the total mass of residual waste for the calendar year 2042 must not exceed 287 kilograms per head of population in England.
There are four key targets set in this area for:
Agriculture water target
By 31 December 2038, the load of each of the following:
entering the water environment through agricultural diffuse pollution must be at least 40% lower than the baseline.
Waste water target
By 31 December 2038, the load of total phosphorus discharged into freshwaters from relevant discharges must be at least 80% lower than the baseline.
Abandoned metal mines water target
By 31 December 2038, the length of relevant waters polluted by any of the following:
from abandoned metal mines must be at least 50% lower than the baseline.
Water demand target
By 31 March 2038, the volume of potable water supplied per day per head of population in England must be at least 20% lower than the baseline.
Before the end of 31 December 2042:
There are four key targets set in this area:
By the end of 31 December 2050 at least 16.5% of all land in England must be covered by woodland and trees outside woodland.
Comments
The Government have also now published their Environmental Improvement Plan for 2023, which sets out in more detail how they will achieve these targets, including interim targets.
Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey, commented on the new targets:
"We are committed to leaving our natural world in a better state for future generations, and today we are laying the foundations that will help deliver on this commitment.
"These targets are ambitious and will be challenging to achieve – but they will drive our efforts to restore our natural environment, protect our much-loved landscapes and green spaces and marine environment, as well as help tackle climate change."
However, there remains a lot of criticism over the new targets, with many major green groups expressing concern that the targets are "weak and unambitious".
Jane Burston, Clean Air Fund's executive director, commented: "It is hugely disappointing that the Government has set a weak and unambitious target for reducing deadly air pollution. The research is clear that achieving cleaner air by 2030 can be done in a cost-effective way that boosts the economy. By delaying this target by 10 years, between 260,000 and 380,000 more lives could be lost to air pollution.
"This weaker target would also mean the loss of a potential ‘clean air dividend’ to the UK economy of £1.6bn each year or more than £12bn over 10 years, according to recent CBI analysis. We must see greater ambition from the Government if we’re to meet this challenge, protect people’s health, deliver on Net Zero and strengthen the economy."
Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) land analyst Matt Williams, said: "Some may question how serious the Government is, given there’s no target whatsoever for the health of nature reserves – some of the most important areas for storing carbon and providing a home for wildlife. A target for increasing the number of trees – crucial for storing carbon – looks less ambitious than many had hoped, and like it will let England off the hook, relying on greater effort from the other UK nations."
Executive director of the Aldersgate Group, Nick Molho, said: "While the publication of the targets is a significant step forward, work remains to be done to strengthen the targets over time and plug some important gaps. In particular, the water quality targets could be made more effective by being more outcomes focused and the Government should keep open the possibility of increasing ambition on the species abundance targets."
Legislation
These new environmental targets are set out in the following regulations, the:
