The UK requires urgent action to address environmental challenges and begin the transformation towards sustainability. At the interface between science and policy, evidence from environmental scientists is critical to help communities and the Government co-create a sustainable society where people and nature thrive . These priorities will form the basis of the IES's message to the next UK Government.
Find out more about how these priorities were produced
Over the last three weeks, the IES held seven discussion events, seizing the opportunity of the recently announced UK General Election to revisit key policy discussions where intervention is required for the benefit of communities and the natural world. More than 150 environmental scientists from across the IES family took part in the debates on short notice, supporting a uniquely evidence-informed approach to the issues identified as priorities for the next UK Government, whichever party or parties form that Government.
In just a couple of weeks, the start of the new parliamentary term will provide a short yet crucial window of opportunity to engage with policy makers to support environmental improvement. The outcomes of these events will directly facilitate engagement by the IES with policy makers during the early days of the next Parliament. This article summarises the key messages from each of the discussions, ahead of a final policy paper setting out our 'message to government', due in the early weeks of the next Government.
The key message from IES members was the need for cross-cutting action. The environment underpins human needs, economic benefits, and natural services, so challenges and solutions are often cross-governmental. Bringing all government departments together is necessary to avoid siloed approaches or unintended consequences. The IES is prioritising a sustainable wellbeing approach that unites the mutually reinforcing goals of thriving people, a healthy economy, and a flourishing environment.
Find out more about our priorities for Sustainable Wellbeing
Our top priority for the next UK Government is to transform the UK through a new Mission for Sustainable Wellbeing , beginning the transition from years of crisis towards a sustainable society where people and nature thrive.
The IES identified three actions to support that goal:
Develop a cross-cutting Sustainable Wellbeing Framework for England : which could be linked up with equivalent policies like Wales' Wellbeing of Future Generations Act and Scotland's National Performance Framework through a shared Mission for Sustainable Wellbeing across the UK nationsTake a transformative approach to linked challenges without compromising on the specifics for clean air, land use, water, climate, and other key environmental areasEmbedded improvement : Commit to leaving UK nature and the wider environment in a better state than it was at the start of the 2020s
Other priorities will be addressed in more detail in the message to government, including:
Embracing scientific insights and evidence-informed policy : supported by integrated assessments and systems frameworks, as well as partnerships with local communities and businesses to enable access to scienceRobust, independent, and coherent environmental governance : supported by empowered oversight bodies, refreshed targets, principles and indicators, and expert advisory groupsEmpowering communities, now and in the future : supported by the skills that drive sustainability, community democracy, and a modern science-people-policy interface
On Clean Air Day , more than 60 air quality professionals joined the IAQM's discussion event on the most immediate priorities for clean air. The discussion focused on the theme of governance, as well as the need for coherent frameworks to support an ambitious approach to air quality.
Find out more about our priorities for clean air
Our top clean air priority for the next UK Government is to secure a world-leading governance framework for air quality, raising the ambition of existing strategies and targets, and addressing governance gaps.
The IAQM identified five actions to support that goal:
Raise the ambition of the UK’s air quality targets , setting out a credible plan for achieving WHO Guidelines as soon as possibleDeliver oversight mechanisms to ensure air quality is improved in practice , in line with the recommendations of the OEP Introduce a right to clean air into UK law Commit to a regular review of the Air Quality Strategy : with a consultation period of at least two monthsIntroduce a statutory requirement for local authorities to produce local air quality strategies for all key pollutants, and to consider PM2.5 in annual status reports
Other priorities will be addressed in more detail in the message to government, including:
Backing local authorities to deliver on clean air : supported by stronger and clearer enforcement powers, unambiguous guidance, and long-term fundingRecognising the role of indoor air in public health : supported by closing the evidence gap, phasing out non-essential solid fuel burning, and delivering a clear national public health campaignProducing ambitious strategies for highly polluting industries and novel contaminants : supported by a strategy to reduce ammonia from agriculture, ambitious policies to tackle air pollution in ports, and regulation for indoor air and novel contaminants in the forthcoming Chemicals StrategyExpanding air quality monitoring and alert networks : supported by expanded and joined-up air quality monitoring and standards to ensure that monitoring equipment is robust and appropriately used
Despite the overwhelming consensus of the environment sector to take a holistic approach to land, deliver healthy soils, and realise the safe use and redevelopment of brownfield land, the system does not yet deliver beneficial outcomes from the use and reuse of land. A more holistic 'common sense' approach is possible and must be a priority.
Find out more about our priorities for land condition and land use
Our top land use priority for the next UK Government is to take a holistic approach to the use of land across the UK to secure multiple benefits for communities and the natural world.
The Land Condition Community identified three actions to support that goal:
Cross-governmental consensus on land use, supported by a robust Land Use Framework , managing the trade-offs and co-benefits for nature, food & energy security, development, and addressing the housing crisisA joined-up approach to the role of land in delivering the EIP , energy security, food security, public health, meeting housing demand, and responding to the triple crisisPrioritise the use of brownfield land for new developments whenever suitable for use
Other priorities will be addressed in more detail in the message to government, including:
Promoting a sustainable, healthy, and resilient approach to soils : supported by filling the governance gap on soil health, better standards and indicators for soil, and a regulatory framework for the reuse, recovery, and recycling of soilRealising the safe use, reuse, and redevelopment of brownfield land : supported by embedding sustainable wellbeing and multiple benefits in every development, aligning governance and planning policy, and consolidating rules to avoid 'double regulation'Working with the sector and local authorities to deliver competency and best practice : supported by training & competency standards, support for local authorities and delivery organisations, and making Biodiversity Net Gain more transparent and robust
There is increasing public demand for clean and resilient water. Those expectations can be met by recognising the dynamic nature of water and addressing the most pressing challenges for water quality. The sector must be honest about what can be achieved in the short-term and in the long-term we cannot compromise on high ambitions for water.
Find out more about our priorities for water
Our top water priority for the next UK Government is to adopt a long-term approach to water that acknowledges humans as part of the water system , prioritising strategic network solutions that work with nature.
The FWR identified five actions to support that goal:
Deliver on the Integrated Water Plan and its commitment to transform management of the whole water systemAddress the largest causes of water pollution: highway runoff, sewage overflows, and agriculture , meeting public expectations while also addressing under-acknowledged challenges for waterProduce a Roadmap to Sustainable Water Resource Management by working with the water industry, tackling skills gaps in the sectorReimagine the Environment Agency and Ofwat to make water system transformation a core principle of their long-term strategiesEnhance risk assessment and management around the water system , helping people and the Government to understand the risks associated with water use
Other priorities will be addressed in more detail in the message to government, including:
Ending the crisis for water quality by tackling all sources of pollution : supported by specific plans for providing healthy rivers by the end of the Parliament, better access to good or better bathing water, delivering commitments to water quality without regression, and a new Chief Scientist for WastewaterIntegrating the UK approaches to water and climate change : supported by joined-up planning for water stress, a Strategic Programme of reservoir building, a coherent long-term plan on Surface Water Flooding, implementation and rollout of SuDS and soil water storage, and market mechanisms to accelerate action on water securityModernising our approach to evidence through purpose-built standards for water : supported by reassessing existing standards, resourcing the OEP to validate interventions, adopting guidance to government on the use of evidence, and better utilising systems models and citizen science
For years, the IES has been calling for a 'transformative change ' approach to climate action, emphasising mitigation and adaptation as indivisible and parallel aspects of tackling climate change. We need to do things differently and use all the tools at our disposal to transform unsustainable systems and address the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution.
Find out more about our priorities for climate action
Our top climate action priority for the next UK Government is to commit to a ‘transformative change’ approach to reshaping unsustainable systems , addressing the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental pollution and the ways they interact with people and the economy.
The Climate Action Community identified three actions to support that goal:
Make climate a strategic priority across Government departments , ensuring that policy makers understand the triple crisis and all its elementsEmbed a 'multiple benefits' approach to decision making , prioritising early intervention to avoid increased costs in the long-termReturn the UK to a position of climate leadership , working with international partners ahead of COP30 to drive global reductions in emissions, adaptation to climate change, and clear and deliverable NDCs
Other priorities will be addressed in more detail in the message to government, including:
Bringing resilience efforts in line with the scale of the UK’s adaptation challenge : supported by resilience as an explicit consideration in planning, consistent NbS across agriculture and land use, and by reconnecting oceans with the UK’s approach to climate actionClosing the UK mitigation gap ahead of COP30 : supported by a revised Net Zero Strategy which fills the emissions gap , delivery plans for key emitting sectors, strong links with science, a comprehensive plan for energy transformation that delivers an urgent and complete ‘phase out’ of fossil fuels, and a guarantee of no further regressionDelivering a 'just transition' that gives communities control : supported by support and funding to facilitate the transition, new and additional money for Loss and Damage , and the co-creation of solutions with NGOs, delivery organisations and local communities Unlocking private finance and driving corporate sustainability : supported by work with businesses to align green finance taxonomies, upfront public investment to provide certainty, tighter compliance and reporting rules, and sector-by-sector transition pathways
Policy implementation is quickly becoming the environmental challenge of the next decade. While further ambition on the environment is still needed, delivery must catch up with aspirations. Giving the most important delivery organisations, such as local authorities, the capacity and powers needed to act will be critical, and specific policies like England's EIP will require support to see them realised in practice.
Find out more about our priorities for environmental policy implementation
Our top implementation priority for the next UK Government is to champion local authorities to deliver for the environment by clarifying their responsibilities and increasing their powers and resources.
The Environmental Policy Implementation Community identified four actions to support that goal:
Adopt consistent and coherent governance for delivery , including clear responsibilities for local authorities and delivery organisations, including on policy design and evaluationDevolve powers to communities and local authorities for sustainable & active transport, air quality management & wood burning, and nature, with the capacity and resources needed to use themSupport local authorities with appropriate environmental expertise , including through training, guidance, and information sharing on cross-boundary issuesProvide long-term non-competitive funding for environmental schemes , providing certainty on key schemes like LNRS
Other priorities will be addressed in more detail in the message to government, including:
Accelerating the delivery of England’s EIP : supported by transparent, coherent and actionable delivery plans, clear communication of delivery risks, and implementation of the OEP's recommendations for the EIPMaking monitoring, evaluation and response an essential part of the design and implementation of policy : supported by sufficient resources for evaluations and continuous review, robust analysis of barriers to delivery, and appropriate indicators and metrics for evaluation and assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment is crucial for consistently delivering environmental outcomes and securing long-term sustainable development. The future of UK impact assessment has been put in doubt by incomplete reforms . Now, there is an opportunity to create a modern and robust system of EIA, embedded early in planning and infrastructure processes.
Find out more about our priorities for the future of impact assessment
Our top EIA priority for the next UK Government is to deliver a reformed EIA process as part of a planning system which is rational, coherent, flexible, and accessible .
The EIA Community identified three actions to support that goal:
Bring together developers, planning authorities, expertise, and the public early in the planning process , focusing the system around the shared objective of sustainable developmentImprove access to evidence for decision makers and the public by centralising monitoring data, increasing transparency without over-simplifying the process or focusing on ‘ticking boxes’Embed all elements of sustainable wellbeing in EIA , retaining a proportional approach through greater routes for differentiation between different project scales
Other priorities will be addressed in more detail in the message to government, including:
Establishing coherent policy around planning, especially for major infrastructure developments : supported by consistent long-term policies for significant infrastructure and a statutory requirement for development processes to look beyond impact mitigation to identify genuine alternatives during options appraisalDelivering a transition to modern, digital, and data-driven EORs : supported by urgent investment in digital EIA and a centralised, open and accessible data hub to minimise duplication and support evidence-informed decisions
Education is a crucial part of our sustainable future. What we learn shapes how we view the world around us, so education can make a big difference to how society approaches environmental challenges. To produce a society that takes sustainable wellbeing seriously, we need to embed it across all types of education and at all levels.
Find out more about our priorities for environmental education
Our top education priority for the next UK Government is to embed Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) across all types of education and at all levels , from primary school through to the workforce, with a focus on solutions.
CEDHE identified three actions to support that goal:
Include an element of ESD in all education pathways and routes into the workforce , with support for educators on how to translate it into practical steps and teaching resourcesBe more proactive about aligning ESD with climate education , executing, increasing, and amplifying commitments in the DfE's Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy Engage young people with climate action , empowering them to become 'change agents' for communities and the natural world
Other priorities will be addressed in more detail in the message to government, including:
Filling the UK's green skills gap to produce a knowledgeable, skilled, and motivated green workforce : supported by capacity building for teachers and training providers, a plan for creating an environmentally-literate workforce, skills audits and transition plans for key sectors, and investment across green sectorsDelivering interdisciplinary education without compromising on specialist knowledge : supported by designing curricula to support multidisciplinary learning and removing barriers between HE departments and institutionsIncreasing accessibility and awareness of green careers : supported by modern competency frameworks and pathways, support for efforts to increase ED&I, and facilitated engagement with green careers across educationUsing the DfE's own sustainability actions to drive 'situated learning' about sustainability : supported by a clear and ambitious DfE approach to reaching net zero, improved access to high quality nature within school grounds and local areas, and common sustainability reporting across the education sector
What next?
Efforts have already begun to translate the priorities identified in these discussions into a single coherent message for government, which will be published in the coming weeks. The final result will be a concise message on delivering sustainable wellbeing to transform the UK, supported by a list of priorities and key actions to help deliver them.
The message to government will also set out how the IES and our members can support the delivery of that transformation: putting environmental scientists at the centre of solving environmental challenges and co-creating a sustainable society where people and nature thrive . Making the 'business case', it will also identify the links between these priorities and the objectives, commitments, and legal requirements of the incoming government, maximising the chance of achieving meaningful change.
The next five years will be make-or-break for the environment in the UK. This is a fundamental opportunity and IES members have spoken with one voice: use the next five years to transform the UK through sustainable wellbeing, delivering the mutually reinforcing benefits of thriving people, a healthy economy, and a flourishing environment.
