Environmentalprotectionbriefing-NationalAuditOffice.PDFVIP

Briefing for the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee Environmental protection JUNE 2014 Our vision is to help the nation spend wisely. Our public audit perspective helps Parliament hold government to account and improve public services. The National Audit Office scrutinises public spending for Parliament and is independent of government. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), Amyas Morse, is an Officer of the House of Commons and leads the NAO, which employs some 820 employees. The CAG certifies the accounts of all government departments and many other public sector bodies. He has statutory authority to examine and report to Parliament on whether departments and the bodies they fund have used their resources efficiently, effectively, and with economy. Our studies evaluate the value for money of public spending, nationally and locally. Our recommendations and reports on good practice help government improve public services, and our work led to audited savings of almost £1.1 billion in 2013. Contents Summary 4 Part One Overarching changes to the government’s approach to environmental protection 7 Part Two Key issues facing the main areas of environmental protection 17 Atmospheric pollution and climate change 18 Air pollution 20 Biodiversity 22 Forestry 24 Soil 26 Flooding and coastal protection 28 Resource efficiency and waste 30 The freshwater environment 32 Water availability 34 The National Audit Office study team The marine environment 36 consisted of: Alex Black, Lewis Egan, Nikhil Gupta, Appendix One Katy Losse and Zeleke Nigatu, Bibliography 38