The UK government is “largely off track” on almost all of its environmental targets, putting the nation at risk of an “irreversible spiral of decline” in nature, says a new report by the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP).

Today OEP published its second annual report revealing progress on around half of the UK government’s nature goals are either stagnant or in decline.

If action is not taken England will fail to meet its goal of halting nature’s decline by 2030, says the new report.

Of the 40 environmental targets legally bound under the Environment Act 2021, the government is reportedly on track to achieve four, partially on track to achieve 11, and “way off track” to achieve 10. Progress towards a further 15 targets could not be assessed due to a lack of sufficient data.

Failed policy targets include slow tree planting, the rate of which needs to double in order to meet the EIP woodland cover target, and a failure to release its chemicals and land-use strategies.

Elliot Chapman-Jones, head of public affairs at The Wildlife Trusts says: “This report is a wake-up call to the government”, and is urging them to “get a proper plan in place to restore nature.

“We only have six years left to meet the UK Government’s own 2030 deadlines to halt the decline of nature and protect at least 30% of land and sea for nature.”

He goes on to warn that “we desperately need a better plan…we’re running out of time.”

This report follows the news that the government has delayed the Biodiversity Net Gain legislation for a second time.