UK published the International environmental protection report

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs presented the International environmental protection report to the House of Parliament pursuant to Section 21 of the Environmental Act 2021.

DEFRA called the report the first of its kind, highlighting key global developments in environmental protection, climate mitigation, and adaptation from April 2022 to March 2024. The report aimed to highlight ambitious and pioneering initiatives across different levels—multilateral, regional, national, and subnational.

The report highlighted several international developments which DEFRA considers worth noting, including:

• Ongoing developments during the annual UN Conference of Parties under the Paris Agreement (COP).
• The conclusion of several international agreements, including: The World Trade Organisation (WTO) introducing measures to reduce harmful fishing subsidies, marking its first environmental-focused agreement; the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) setting global targets for preserving natural habitats; and the BBNJ Agreement under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea aiming to protect marine life in international waters.
• Further developments in green finance initiatives in various countries, such as Australia’s Nature Repair Market and Canada’s National Adaptation Plan.
• The incorporation of sustainability into economic recovery efforts post-COVID-19 like the US Inflation Reduction Act and the EU’s Green Deal Industrial Plan.

On a domestic level, the report also reaffirmed that the UK remains committed to 13 legally binding environmental targets under the Environment Act 2021, focusing on air and water quality, biodiversity, marine protection, resource efficiency, and woodland expansion. Among other things, the Act requires the Government to adopt a long-term Environmental Improvement Plan, with a minimum duration of 15 years. Following a review of the existing plan, the government published key findings on 30 January 2025 and plans to release a revised version later this year. The new statutory plan will outline measures to meet these targets, addressing issues like cleaner waterways, reduced waste, increased tree planting, improved air quality, and halting species decline by 2030.

With appreciation to Amineh Farasatmand for her contribution in preparing this blog.