Committee publication · Correspondence · 9 September 2025

Correspondence from the Secretary of State and the Secretary State for Energy Security and Net Zero regarding the State of the Climate and Nature announcement, dated 14 July 2025

From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Inquiry: Work of the Department and its arm’s-length bodies

Summary

The Secretaries of State for Energy Security & Net Zero and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs inform the EFRA Committee of a new 'State of the Climate and Nature' announcement made to Parliament on 14 July 2025. The statement sets out government action on climate and nature crises, including publications on UK climate data, environmental progress, and integrated strategies addressing both climate change and biodiversity loss under international commitments.

Key findings

  • Government released Met Office 'State of the UK Climate 2024' report showing extreme weather events becoming more common in the UK
  • Published 2025 Environmental Improvement Plan Annual Progress Report and first-ever progress report on Protected Landscapes Targets and Outcomes Framework
  • Launched report on joint actions to address climate change and biodiversity loss, aligning UK's Paris Agreement contributions with National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
  • Confirmed delivery of actions from Climate and Nature Private Members' Bill, including nature restoration, consumption emissions, and collaboration between Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Climate Change Committee
  • DEFRA announced commitment to explore stronger adaptation objectives for fourth National Adaptation Programme due in 2028

Tone

Procedural

Topics

climate-changenature-biodiversityenvironmental-policynet-zeroadaptation

Key actors

Ed Miliband, Steve Reed, Alistair Carmichael, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Met Office, Climate Coalition, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Climate Change Committee

Notable line

We know there is a nature crisis, but we also know we cannot have functioning ecosystems and biodiversity without a stable climate.

Key Quotes

We know there is a nature crisis, but we also know we cannot have functioning ecosystems and biodiversity without a stable climate.
Ed Miliband and Steve Reed · Explaining rationale for integrated climate and nature approach
This government has put climate and nature at the heart of the agenda as never before, recognising that the fight to protect our home is a deeply British cause
Ed Miliband and Steve Reed · Articulating government priority and framing
The Met Office has released its 'State of the UK Climate 2024' report, which shows extreme weather events, such as th is summer's heatwaves, are becoming more common in the UK.
Ed Miliband and Steve Reed · Referencing published climate evidence
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗