Wildlife targets will be missed in England and Northern Ireland, watchdog says

"the Office for Environmental Protection watchdog has said. In a damning report, the OEP has found that seven of the 10 targets set in the Environment Act 2021 have little likelihood of being met by 2030, which is the deadline set in law. The three remaining targets: clean air, reducing the harmful impact of environmental hazards, and improving the beauty of nature are only partly on track."

"The biodiversity target, which means stopping the decline of British species such as the hedgehog and red squirrel, will almost certainly not be met. The report says: Important species continue to decline. The opportunity to effect further change ahead of the 2030 target has now largely passed. On some measures, the government is bringing forward legislation that could negatively affect the environment. This includes the planning and infrastructure bill, which could allow developers to build on currently protected nature sites."

Seven of the ten targets in the Environment Act 2021 have little likelihood of being met by 2030. Clean air, reduced harmful impacts from environmental hazards, and improved natural beauty are only partly on track. The biodiversity target to stop declines of species such as hedgehogs and red squirrels will almost certainly not be achieved. Important species continue to decline and the opportunity for major change before 2030 has largely passed. Planned legislation, including the planning and infrastructure bill, could allow development on protected nature sites and lead to loss of valuable habitats. Flood and wildfire risks have increased and flood defenses are deteriorating.

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