Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he has made an assessment of the implications for his policies of the RSPB campaign highlighting a lost decade for nature; and if he will make a statement.

In 2019, the UK Government published its own assessment of progress made towards the goals and targets set under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In common with the RSPB's assessment, this highlighted ongoing declines in biodiversity in the UK, and despite progress, a clear need to do more. Both reports point to success stories on which we can build, and the UK government is determined to do just that.

Biodiversity loss is a global challenge. We are playing a leading role in developing an ambitious post-2020 global framework under the CBD next year. We must learn lessons from the implementation of the Aichi Targets and ensure that the new framework contains ambitious but measurable targets. We are already supporting a global target to protect at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030, and 30 countries have joined our Global Ocean Alliance in support of the target. On 28 September, the Prime Minister announced our support for the same commitment to protect land, globally and at home.

Domestic biodiversity is a devolved matter in the UK. In England, our 25 Year Environment Plan marked a step change in ambition for wildlife and the natural environment. We are already taking steps to meet this ambition, including bringing forward the Environment Bill, investing in woodland expansion and peatland restoration, and developing a new Environmental Land Management scheme that will reward farmers and land managers for delivering environmental public goods.

We are exploring the use of powers in the Environment Bill to strengthen our commitments by setting at least one biodiversity target in law, as set out in our recently published policy paper on environmental targets. These targets will be based on scientifically credible evidence, as well as economic analysis, seeking advice from independent experts and stakeholders. The public will also have an opportunity to provide input. When developing targets, we will consider any relevant international best practice and commitments, including new international biodiversity targets expected to be finalised under the CBD next year. We do not want to prejudge the specific targets that will emerge from these consultations or international processes.