Dr Thérèse Coffey made the pledge on 23 January in a letter to Philip Dunne, chair of the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC).
The EAC, a cross-party parliamentary scrutiny body, wrote to Dr Coffey in November raising concerns about a “culture of delay” at Defra after the department failed to meet the statutory deadline to confirm new long-term environmental targets (see letsrecycle.com story). In the letter, Mr Dunne singled out tackling fast fashion as a key area with slow progress.
In her response, Dr Coffey said: “The challenges that we face are broad and significant. I am determined that we will address these issues with urgency. I am conscious of the changes in administration in 2022 but I am determined to get a grip.”
Dr Coffey said Defra had laid the statutory instruments setting out the suite of final environmental targets under the Environment Act and these were proceeding for parliamentary approval. She said Defra would publish more details about how they would achieve the targets tomorrow (31 January) in an environmental improvement plan.
Textiles
Within the letter, Dr Coffey also lays out progress updates on Defra’s work commitments. She says Defra launched a research project to develop policy options on textile waste, including using extended producer responsibility (EPR), in August 2021, followed by a cost benefit analysis of the options.
Engagement took place through workshops, interviews and focus groups from October 2021 to January 2022, Dr Coffey says, and Defra expects to publish a summary of responses and the final programme in “early 2023”.
Elsewhere, Dr Coffey writes that recycling minister Rebecca Pow recently met with producer representatives to discuss their concerns about EPR for packaging and the next steps.
And, amongst other things, she says a shortlist of policy options for tackling the environmental impacts of fishing and aquaculture gear will be produced “by the end of 2023”.
‘Time for delivery’
Mr Dunne said today he was pleased Dr Coffey had demonstrated a commitment to getting a grip on delivery of the government’s environmental pledges.
“Following the passage of the Environment Act in 2021 – itself delayed – we have been keen to see the detail of government policies intended to tackle mounting problems of waste and to enhance the environment for future generations. Now is the time for delivery,” he said.
“2023 will be a busy year for environment policy. Our committee looks forward to examining each of these policy proposals in due course, to make sure they contribute positively to the government’s stated objective of ‘leaving the environment in a better state than we found it’.”
Mr Dunne said Dr Coffey would appear before his committee next week and he “looks forward to exploring with her the points raised in the letter”.
Related link
Letter from Dr Thérèse Coffey to Philip Dunne
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