Environmental Audit committee chairman comments on NAO report on Achieving government's long-term environmental goals

Commenting on the National Audit Office’s report on Achieving government’s long-term environmental goals, Environmental Audit Committee Chairman, Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP, said:

“Today’s report by the NAO has shone a light on some of the missing pieces of the Government’s environment policy. With a mixture of targets and aspirations, and lacking an overarching strategy to bring environment policy across Government together, cohesion is urgently needed for a Government that strives to be an environmental world leader.

“The NAO’s report reinforces views we are currently examining as part of my Committee’s inquiry on biodiversity and ecosystems. We too have heard that there is a lack of clear objectives on biodiversity targets, and we are exploring how the system can be improved to ensure our precious ecosystems thrive.

“We need to see the Government’s rhetoric turned into action if we are to have any hope of reaching net-zero carbon emissions and, crucially, in the words of the Government which we share, leave the environment in a better condition than we found it.”