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The UK government published its revised Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) in December, setting out its approach to tackling climate and environmental challenges while supporting growth.
The plan examines how the government intends to meet legally binding targets, and it provides delivery plans for each target, setting out who is accountable for delivering each commitment and by when.
The environmental targets are set under the Environment Act 2021 and cover areas such as air quality, water, biodiversity, resource efficiency and waste reduction.
Following its publication, ISEP is working with the Aldersgate Group, an alliance of businesses, NGOs and academic institutions, on a short guide to how businesses can support environmental action, bearing in mind the government’s commitments and targets. This publication will be published in Q1 2026.
Signe Norberg
As practitioners navigate an evolving policy landscape, ISEP is set to release an essential new guide in 2026: Strategic Assessment: Advice from Practice. Developed by a cross-sector expert working group, this comprehensive document provides urgently needed, up-to-date advice for anyone undertaking strategic-level environmental, social and economic assessments.
Moving beyond dated, one-size-fits-all approaches, the guide champions proportionality and pragmatism. It covers contemporary challenges, such as integrating climate goals and using digital tools such as artificial intelligence and geographic information systems, to ensure effective stakeholder engagement and to tackle cumulative effects.
Packed with practical case studies, from Welsh decarbonisation strategies to the HS2 appraisal, it offers actionable insights for creating more sustainable and transparent policies, plans and programmes.
This guide represents a significant step forward, consolidating decades of professional experience into a flexible framework. It promises to be an indispensable resource for planners, consultants and authorities aiming to deliver meaningful, sustainable outcomes in the year ahead and beyond.
Rufus Howard
Sustainability conversations are full of complex and shifting language, particularly around biodiversity and natural capital (BaNC). To help professionals navigate this evolving vocabulary, ISEP has released an expanded edition of its buzzword guide, first published in 2022.
Biodiversity and Natural Capital Buzzword Guide 2.0 is needed because:
• Definitions have shifted Since 2022, several terms have been refined to reflect new research, standards and policy frameworks. The new guide aligns with current thinking.
• More terms than ever BaNC vocabulary has grown significantly. To keep pace, we have added an extra section, covering related concepts and associated terminology.
• Unsettled language Some words remain contentious, with no universally agreed meaning. We’ve flagged these, so professionals can approach them with care.
New ‘associated’ terms include nature finance, natural flood management, nature footprint and nature transition. The guide includes a timeline of developments in BaNC practice since 2022 that have led to the new definitions.
The guide will help ISEP members interpret and apply BaNC language confidently. It complements the ISEP Jargon Buster on the Green Careers Hub and points readers to trusted sources for deeper learning.
Lesley Wilson
POLICY PULSE: a roundup of the latest reports from the ISEP policy team
Inconsistencies in environmental impact assessments (EIA) for large-scale solar power projects on UK farmland have led ISEP to issue guidance on protecting agricultural land and biodiversity, while supporting renewable energy growth.
With the government targeting 47 gigawatts of solar power by 2030 – triple the current 15GW of installed capacity – there will be a surge in solar developments seeking planning consent.
At the same time, the range of energy, environment and planning policy legislation and guidance for UK and devolved authorities has increased complexity for decision-makers, leading to inconsistencies in EIAs for large-scale solar PV projects.
ISEP’s advice note supports consistent, evidence-based decision-making for all sides of the UK planning system, including for environmental consultants, developers and local planning authorities.
It sets out expectations for land classification surveys, soils, biodiversity net gain, pollution risk management and socio-economic analysis; emphasising the protection of the “best and most versatile” agricultural land.
It recommends promoting the use of “poorer-quality land wherever possible” and calls for independent soil audits following decommissioning.
The advice note is available to download at www.bit.ly/agricultural-advice-note
The UK’s economic success fundamentally depends on natural capital – stocks of nature such as forests, rivers, biodiversity, land and minerals – which should be classified as critical national infrastructure (CNI), according to ISEP’s Natural Capital is Critical Infrastructure.
The paper highlights how the country’s ecosystem services were valued at £1.8trn in 2022, equivalent to 72% of GDP. Conversely, environmental degradation poses a severe economic risk, with potential losses of 6%-12% of GDP by the 2030s.
Natural capital meets the established definition of CNI because its loss or compromise would severely affect essential services, economic stability and national security. It also underpins the resilience of many existing CNI sectors, including food, water, health, transport and communications.
While some government policies – such as the 25 Year Environment Plan and water sector mandates – acknowledge natural capital, adopting a natural capital approach across sectors remains largely voluntary.
The paper is available at www.bit.ly/natural-capital-policy
ISEP has published an advice note for assessing how developments affect soil health, filling “an important gap” in environmental planning.
Soil health is increasingly referenced in EIA scoping documents by Natural England and major consultancies, but practitioners lack consistent tools for evaluating impacts on soil’s biological and chemical properties. Measuring soil health is challenging because of natural variability, seasonal changes and land management influences.
The advice note proposes a methodology where practitioners first assess effects on soil functions using physical indicators, then supplement this with targeted biological and chemical health indicators suited to the soil types present.
The focus is on a practical approach that supports meaningful assessment during the transition from EIAs to Environmental Outcomes Reports, and enhances the integration of soil health into environmental reporting.
Download at www.bit.ly/soil-health-advice
