Tackling local breaches of air quality
This report examines government’s progress in tackling local breaches of NO2 limits and its performance on air quality more broadly.
17 Jun 2022
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:
This report examines government’s progress in tackling local breaches of NO2 limits and its performance on air quality more broadly.
This report examines if government is achieving its ambition for the public sector to be a leader in decarbonising its activities.
This investigation assesses government’s oversight of the waste industry and what action is taken to address illegal activity.
This report will examine how BEIS is set up to achieve power sector decarbonisation while maintaining security of electricity supply.
This report evaluates whether Defra’s management of new tree-planting schemes is likely to achieve value for money.
Insights we have drawn from exploratory analysis of data used by the Environment Agency as part of its regulation of storm overflows
This report examines the strategic management of the Environmental Land Management scheme.
This report examines the performance, implementation, procurement and management of the Green Homes Grant scheme.
This guide will help ARACs recognise how climate change risks could manifest themselves and support them in challenging senior management on their approach to managing climate change risks.
This new report responds to a request from the Environmental Audit Committee to examine local government and net zero.