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Environmental sustainability

Protecting the natural environment for future generations requires co-ordinated action across government and a thorough understanding of the long term implications of decisions. Meeting climate change targets, for example, will require radical changes in energy, transport and housing by 2050. Improving air quality involves the environment and transport departments as well as local government.

To achieve real change government needs to ensure there is clear ownership for sustainability in government. This is particularly important in times of austerity, to avoid issues being side-lined under competing pressures. Environmental considerations should be an integral part of departments' planning and decision making processes, with rigorous arrangements for monitoring policy delivery and for holding people to account for performance. Government needs to understand the link between environmental sustainability and economic growth.

Key NAO publications:

Environmental and sustainability metrics briefing (Oct 2015)
A Short Guide to Environmental protection and sustainable development (Sep 2015)
Sustainability reporting in central government: An update (Feb 2015)
NAO Briefing: Environmental protection (Jun 2014)

Water supply and demand management

This report sets out the challenges facing the water industry in England and assesses how Defra is tackling them.

Sector(s): Energy and environment, Infrastructure, Regulation, consumers and competition

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability, Regulation

Department(s): Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Published:
25 Mar 2020

Departmental Overview Environmental protection 2019

The NAO is publishing a suite of Departmental Overviews, one for each government department and a selection of cross-government issues, to assist House of Commons Select Committees and Members of Parliament.

Sector(s): Energy and environment

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability, Support to Boards

Department(s): Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Published:
9 Mar 2020

Electricity networks

This report examines how effectively Ofgem has used electricity network price controls to protect consumers and achieve government’s environmental goals.

Sector(s): Energy and environment, Regulation, consumers and competition

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability, Regulation

Department(s): Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Ofgem

Published:
30 Jan 2020

Fracking for shale gas in England

This report sets out the facts about the government’s support of shale gas development in England.

Sector(s): Energy and environment

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability, Regulation

Department(s): Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Published:
23 Oct 2019

Early review of the new farming programme

This report examines Defra’s approach to developing the Future Farming and Countryside Programme.

Sector(s): Energy and environment, Food and farming

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability

Department(s): Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Published:
5 Jun 2019

Environmental metrics: government’s approach to monitoring the state of the natural environment

Our study evaluates how far the government has an effective system for measuring progress towards its environmental objectives.

Sector(s): Energy and environment

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability, Performance measurement

Department(s): Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Published:
16 Jan 2019

The packaging recycling obligations

This report identifies lessons from the management and performance of the packaging recycling obligation system.

Sector(s): Energy and environment

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability

Department(s): Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Published:
23 Jul 2018

Low carbon heating of homes and businesses and the Renewable Heat Incentive

The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a scheme to encourage a switch from fossil fuel heating systems to renewable and low-carbon alternatives in homes and business premises in Great Britain. Our report assesses the value for money of the RHI for Great Britain.

Sector(s): Business and enterprise, Energy and environment

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability

Department(s): Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Published:
23 Feb 2018

Air Quality

This National Audit Office briefing gives an overview of government’s approach to improving air quality in the UK. It has been prepared in support of a joint inquiry by the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC), the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee, the Health Committee and the Transport Committee. It examines why air quality matters; the UK’s plan for improving air quality; and risks and success factors for delivery of government’s air quality plans.

16 November 2017

Sector(s): Energy and environment, Parliament

Performance Improvement area(s): Environmental sustainability

Department(s): Department for Education, Department for Transport, Department of Health and Social Care

Published:
16 Nov 2017