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); and NAO Briefing: Environmental protection (Jun 2014)
Our study evaluates how far the government has an effective system for measuring progress towards its environmental objectives.
This report identifies lessons from the management and performance of the packaging recycling obligation system.
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.
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
The Environmental Audit Committee requested a review of sustainability within the Ministry of Justice.
The NAO is publishing a suite of short guides for the new Parliament, one for each government department and a selection of cross-government issues, to assist House of Commons select committees and members of Parliament.
Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) are local independent public bodies responsible for managing water levels in low-lying areas where there is a special drainage need and contributing to flood risk management. IDBs cover nearly 10% of England’s land area and spent more than £61m last year. The report focuses on governance and oversight arrangements; processes for raising concerns; and, the potential for conflicts of interest.
The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has not achieved value for money for its £100 million spend on the second competition for government financial support for carbon capture storage.
This Departmental Overview looks at Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and summarises its performance during the year ended March 2016, together with our recent reports on it.
This memorandum has been prepared to support the Environmental Audit Committee to consider the decision taken by Defra in 2010, to withdraw the provisional allocation of PFI credits from seven (out of 18) PFI projects.