The UK’s promise to be the "first generation to leave the environment in a better state" is crumbling. A scathing report by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has concluded that the government is on track to miss seven out of ten legally binding targets set under the Environment Act 2021.

From the iconic hedgehog to the humble red squirrel, British biodiversity is in freefall. The watchdog found that despite rhetoric about "green growth," policy decisions are actively harming nature. The report highlights the "Planning and Infrastructure Bill" as a major threat, potentially allowing developers to bulldoze protected habitats in the name of economic acceleration.

"Growth vs. Green"

The clash between Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ growth agenda and environmental protection is stark. Reeves has previously dismissed conservation rules as "blockers," a stance the OEP Chair Glenys Stacey describes as dangerously shortsighted. "Nature is not a blocker; it is the foundation of the economy," Stacey warned. "Without clean water and pollinators, there is no growth."

• The Missed Targets:
  • Biodiversity: "Largely passed" the point of no return for 2030.
  • Clean Air: Only partially on track.
  • Water Quality: Failing significantly due to sewage discharges.

A Call to Action

The report serves as a "red alert" for Downing Street. Environmentalists are calling for an immediate moratorium on building in sensitive areas and a massive increase in funding for nature recovery. Without a U-turn, the 2030 deadline will pass not with a celebration, but with an obituary for England's wildlife.