Corporate report

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Outcome Delivery Plan: 2021 to 2022

Published 15 July 2021

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Image credit: Alex West (E+/Getty Images)

Secretary of State for Defra

The Rt Hon George Eustice MP

Permanent Secretary

Tamara Finkelstein

Welcome to the Defra group 2021 to 2022 Outcome Delivery Plan. The plan sets out the outcomes we seek to achieve as a department and how we will measure our success. It is structured around our four priority outcomes for environment, net zero, floods and resilience, and agriculture, food, fisheries, animal welfare and biosecurity, and a set of strategic enablers that aim to strengthen our capacity and capability.

Key programmes across our priority outcomes include: NO2 reduction, implementation of collection and packaging waste reforms, nature restoration, a 6 year capital investment in flood and coastal defences, future farming and countryside, and animals and their welfare. Another top priority for the year will be the passage of the Environment Bill, through which we will set legally binding long-term targets on air quality, water, biodiversity, and resource efficiency and waste reduction by October 2022.

The international context this year is an opportunity to put the environment and nature at the heart of the global agenda. We will forge new international partnerships and trading relationships, and drive ambition on biodiversity and climate change through our presidencies of the G7 and UNFCCC COP26, and at the Convention of Biological Diversity.

A. Executive summary

Vision and mission

We are here to make our air purer, our water cleaner, our land greener and our food more sustainable.

Our mission is to restore and enhance the environment for the next generation, leaving it in a better state than we found it.

Our priority outcomes

This delivery plan sets out in detail how we will deliver our priority outcomes, how we will measure our success, and how we will ensure we continuously improve. We lead the delivery of the following priority outcomes:

1. Improve the environment through cleaner air and water, minimised waste, and thriving plants and terrestrial and marine wildlife (this is a cross-cutting outcome, with Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Department for Transport (DfT) as contributing departments).
2. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in the agricultural, waste, peat and tree planting sectors to help deliver net zero (this outcome reflects Defra’s contribution to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)-led cross-cutting net zero outcome).
3. Reduce the likelihood and impact of flooding and coastal erosion on people, businesses, communities and the environment.
4. Increase the sustainability, productivity and resilience of the agriculture, fishing, food and drink sectors, enhance biosecurity at the border and raise animal welfare standards.

Provisional priority outcomes and associated metrics will be adjusted through the next Spending Review as necessary, including to deliver the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.

The department is also supporting the delivery of the following priority outcomes led by other departments:

Priority outcome	Lead department
Reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Seize the opportunities of EU Exit, through creating the world’s most effective border to increase UK prosperity and enhance security	Cabinet Office
Raise productivity and empower places so that everyone across the country can benefit from levelling up	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Strategic enablers

To deliver our priority outcomes - and reinforce the ambitions of the Declaration on Government Reform - we will focus on four key enablers:

1. Workforce, skills and location
2. Innovation, technology and data
3. Delivery, evaluation and collaboration
4. Sustainability

B. Introduction

1. Context

This past year marks a turning point for our country - it is a year where we have faced unprecedented challenges from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but also a year of opportunity with our exit from the EU and regaining control of our borders.

In 2021 to 2022, Defra group has a crucial role to play in the economic and broader recovery from the pandemic, supporting the government’s agenda to level up and build back greener. We are working with the rest of government to deliver the UK’s plan for growth, which will focus efforts on delivering green and sustainable growth through three pillars of investment: infrastructure, skills and innovation.

Defra researchers are working hard to map out the impact of the pandemic, responding to the crisis in innovative new ways. This reflects our commitment to revitalise our system of science, research and innovation to release its potential – to unlock and embrace talent, diversity, resilience and adaptability, and to tackle our biggest challenges, such as helping to deliver net zero.

We will take a significant role in delivery Her Majesty’s Government’s Integrated Review, which underscores that tackling climate change and biodiversity loss is our number one international priority. The international context this year is an opportunity to put the environment and nature at the heart of the global agenda. We will forge new international partnerships and trading relationships, and take the opportunities offered by the UK presidency of the G7, the global negotiations on biodiversity and climate change at the Convention of Biological Diversity COP15 and UNFCCC COP26 taking place in the UK. Alongside this global ambition, we are leading efforts across government to ensure that our own nation is prepared for current and future climate risks.

This outcome delivery plan sets out how we will contribute to the UK’s growth and recovery while continuing to build our resilience so we are in a strong position to face future challenges.

2. Governance and delivery agencies

Our governance structure

Defra is a ministerial department, supported by 33 agencies, public bodies and Public Sector Research Establishments, which we collectively refer to as ‘Defra group’.

3. Overview of strategic risk

Defra group is actively involved in managing some of the most severe threats facing the UK, which are recorded on the National Risk Register. These risks include flooding, severe weather, air quality, CBRN emergencies (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear), antimicrobial resistance, and plant and animal disease outbreaks. Defra group also manages a range of corporate risks of the type that affect many large organisations, such as: security incidents or failure of key suppliers; strategic and financial risks; and specific risks associated with the delivery of both Defra group’s core business and its change programmes.

We will continue to demonstrate resilience and adaptability in our changing landscape, mindful of long-term impacts including climate change and newer challenges on the horizon including cyber security and the need to replace legacy systems as we increasingly rely on technology to facilitate our work. With the huge change to how we work over the last 12 months, we have increased our focus on staff wellbeing and built in additional capacity to assure our effective emergency response in the case of concurrent incidents (for example major flooding, animal disease outbreaks and food supply issues).

4. Our resources

Our finances:

• Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) (including depreciation): £5.9 billion
• Resource DEL (including depreciation): £4.4 billion
• Capital DEL: £1.5 billion
• Annually Managed Expenditure (AME): £0.3 billion

Control totals included in this document are in line with those presented in the Main Supply Estimates 2021/22. Any changes arising from the Parliamentary approval process will be reflected in due course.

Source: Main Supply Estimates 2021/22

5. Our people

As at 31 December 2020, 10,250 full-time equivalent employees.

Source: Table 8 in ONS public sector employment data (Note: This is only a sub-set of the full-time equivalent (FTE) employees data shown in table below, as it excludes NDPBs. The 10,250 FTE figure is civil service employment as of 31 December 2020 for core Defra, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Rural Payments Agency and Veterinary Medicines Directorate only) / Release schedule: quarterly.

Breakdown of resource by work

The importance of our work has never been greater. We need to have the resources to do our work effectively and respond to new priorities as they arise. This table shows how our resources are allocated to our different priority outcomes:

Priority outcome	Budget (£)	Workforce (FTE) (4)
Improve the environment through cleaner air and water, minimised waste, and thriving plants and terrestrial and marine wildlife (1,2)	RDEL: £801.6m CDEL: £194.0m AME: £53.7m	10,327 FTE
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in the agricultural, waste, peat and tree planting sectors to help deliver net zero (1)	RDEL: £64.7m CDEL: £91.2m AME: £2.9m	2,320 FTE
Reduce the likelihood and impact of flooding and coastal erosion on people, businesses, communities and the environment (1)	RDEL: £278.9m CDEL: £888.4m AME: £156.0m	5,007 FTE
Increase the sustainability, productivity and resilience of the agriculture, fishing, food and drink sectors, enhance biosecurity at the border and raise animal welfare standards (1)	RDEL: £2,445.3m CDEL: £181.9m AME: £29.5m	7,443 FTE
Strategic enablers and centrally held budgets (3)	RDEL: £799.6m CDEL: £180.1m AME: £70.9m	4,153 FTE
Total	RDEL: £4,390.2m CDEL: £1,535.6m AME: £313.0m	29,250 FTE

Table footnotes:

(1) The breakdown for these rows shows resources, excluding depreciation, across Defra group to deliver our four priority outcomes, including in the core department, executive agencies and NDPBs.

(2) This row includes resources for international biodiversity.

(3) This row mainly includes resources for our strategic enablers. It also covers centrally held budgets, closed pension funds and total depreciation.

(4) The FTE data is an indication of the forecast workforce for 2021 to 2022 and is subject to change.

C. Priority Outcome Delivery Plans

1. Improve the environment through cleaner air and water, minimised waste, and thriving plants and terrestrial and marine wildlife (this is a cross-cutting outcome, with MHCLG and DfT as contributing departments)

Lead ministers

Rebecca Pow MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

The Rt Hon Lord Benyon, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Senior Sponsor

David Hill, Director-General Environment, Rural and Marine

Outcome Strategy

The 25 Year Environment Plan (25YEP) sets out ambitious goals to improve the natural environment. The scale of action required by government, business and the public to turn the tide on environmental decline is significant. Clean air, clean and plentiful water and thriving plants and wildlife will not only deliver environmental outcomes, but also bring economic benefits and help build health resilience.

This year the UK hosts COP26, assumes the presidency of the G7 and will focus on strong domestic action for the environment. This will provide us with a platform to secure ambitious international commitments on climate change and biodiversity on land and in the ocean.

Delivery towards the environment outcome is led by Defra with key contributions from MHCLG and DfT, together with partners from across other departments, business, local government, the environment, water and waste sectors, and our Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs). We will strengthen environmental governance and scrutiny through the establishment of the independent Office of Environment Protection and a new cross-government 25YEP Board. Through implementation of the Environment Bill we will set legally binding long-term targets on areas including air quality, water, biodiversity and resource efficiency and waste.

We are committed to delivering towards the government ambition to protect 30% of land and 30% of ocean by 2030. This year will see major domestic action towards this, including progress on the England Coast Path, work towards designating new protected landscapes and we will respond to the Benyon Review of Highly Protected Marine Areas. We will work to further embed environment into wider policy development and departmental planning through increasing use of natural capital approaches and wider green finance initiatives.

In partnership with DfT, we will make progress towards our clean air goals through the NO2 programme, including supporting councils to implement their own local Clean Air Zones; and we will bring the solid fuels legislation into force. In partnership with MHCLG, we will deliver environmental planning reform as part of the Planning Reform and National Infrastructure Strategy, which both supports growth and protects and enhances the environment. In addition, operating our own statutory regulatory regimes in areas such as chemicals and pesticides will allow us to take independent policy decisions to reduce risks to health and the environment. We also aim to manage noise and light pollution effectively.

Defra is responsible for coordinating the government’s overall approach to rural policy and we are working with MHCLG, BEIS, DCMS and other departments to ensure that the needs of and opportunities presented by rural communities and businesses are reflected in the government’s levelling up agenda.

Departments supporting the outcome delivery

• Department for Transport (DfT): Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) is working with local authorities, DVLA and external suppliers to support the development of local plans to tackle roadside NO2 concentrations including through the designation of Clean Air Zones (CAZ)
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG): MHCLG, in partnership with Defra, will deliver environmental planning reform in 2021/22 as part of the Planning Reform and National Infrastructure Strategy

Our performance metrics

Annual ammonia (NH3) emissions

Year	NH3 emissions (% of 2005 baseline)
2019	97.9
2018	98.6
2017	99.2

Source: Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2019 (2021 submission): Emissions of air pollutants in the UK / Release schedule: annually.

Annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions

Year	PM2.5 emissions (% of 2005 baseline)
2019	84.2
2018	86.5
2017	84.9

Source: Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2019 (2021 submission): Emissions of air pollutants in the UK / Release schedule: annually.

Annual sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions

Year	SO2 emissions (% of 2005 baseline)
2019	20.6
2018	22.5
2017	24.3

Source: Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2019 (2021 submission): Emissions of air pollutants in the UK / Release schedule: annually.

Annual nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions

Year	NOx emissions (% of 2005 baseline)
2019	48.5
2018	50.0
2017	51.5

Source: Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2019 (2021 submission): Emissions of air pollutants in the UK / Release schedule: annually.

Annual non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) emissions

Year	NMVOC emissions (% of 2005 baseline)
2019	69.0
2018	69.6
2017	68.5

Source: Emissions of air pollutants in the UK, 1970 to 2019 (2021 submission): Emissions of air pollutants in the UK / Release schedule: annually.

Number of kilometres of enhanced and protected water

Year	Number of kilometres (kms)
2019/20	1,753
2018/19	1,719
2017/18	2,038

Source: Environment Agency / Release schedule: quarterly.

Percentage of bathing waters reaching minimum standard

Year	Percentage of bathing waters
2019	98.3
2018	97.9
2017	98.3

Source: Bathing water quality statistics / Release schedule: Annually.

Municipal waste recycling rate (per cent)

Year	Percentage recycling rate
2018	45.0
2017	45.5
2016	45.1

Source: Government statistical service / Release schedule: annually.

Number of high-risk illegal waste sites

Year	Number of sites
2019/20	233
2018/19	250
2017/18	259

Source: Environment Agency / Release schedule: quarterly.

Additional metrics for 2021/22 (these metrics are either new or operating with changed definitions – no historic data available):

• percentage of waters close to their natural state
• number of hectares of priority habitat being created or restored

How our work contributes to the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Priority outcome

Link to SDGs

Priority outcome 1

SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages (Targets 3.3 and 3.9). SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all (Targets 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 and 6.6). SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (Targets 11.6, 11.7 and 11.a). SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns (Targets 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6 and 12.8). SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (Targets 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4 and 14.a). SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss (Targets 15.1, 15.5, 15.8, 15.9 and 15.a).

Projects and programmes

Continue to implement the Clean Air Strategy to reduce emissions of five pollutants by bringing the first stage of solid fuels legislation into force by June 2021 and introduce controls on urea fertilisers (contributes to SDGs 3.9 and 11.6)

Work with DfT and local authorities to tackle roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations, including through the designation of Clean Air Zones (CAZs), with the next CAZ due to launch in Portsmouth in late 2021 (contributes to SDGs 3.9 and 11.6)

Work with water companies to deliver £5bn investment to improve the water environment by 2025, including new guiding principles for water resources and drainage planning (contributes to SDGs 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6)

Publish draft River Basin Management Plans by December 2021 (contributes to SDGs 6.5 and 6.6)

Continue with the development and implementation of the collection and packaging reforms, including the launch of scheme administrator approval for EPR and DRS (contributes to SDGs 11.6, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6 and 12.8)

Seek to reduce the number of active high-risk illegal waste sites operating illegally in England each year (contributes to SDGs 11.6 and 12.4)

Develop plans to achieve our ambition and goals for nature recovery, including by establishing the Nature Recovery Network and delivering our commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (contributes to SDGs 14 and 15)

Start to put in place measures for offshore marine protected areas (MPAs) by the end of 2021, as part of the UK Marine Strategy (contributes to SDGs 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.5, 14.a)

In partnership with MHCLG, introduce reforms to the system of environmental assessment (including Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environment Assessment) as part of the wider Planning Reform and National Infrastructure Strategy (contributes to SDGs 9.1 and 15.9)

Publish the government response to the Glover Review by September 2021 (contributes to SDG 11.7)

Publish all outstanding proposals for the England Coast Path and open all new stretches by the end of March 2022 (contributes to SDG 11.7)

Start the process for designating new National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) in 2021 (contributes to SDG 11.7)

Award up to £40 million funding through Round 2 of the Green Recovery Challenge Fund to support nature conservation and restoration projects across England, helping to improve biodiversity, tackle climate change and create green jobs (contributes to SDGs 11.6, 11.7 and 15.a)

Work with MHCLG to develop and pilot a nutrient trading process to secure more nature-based solutions to nitrogen pollution across the Solent area, exploring how multiple benefits for people and nature can be maximised (for example, biodiversity enhancement, increased access to nature and flood risk reduction) (contributes to SDGs 6.6, 11.7, 14.1 and 15.1)

Ensure a reduction in harm from chemicals and pesticides via regulatory decisions under new UK regimes and international engagement and programmes (contributes to SDG 12.4)

Publish the annual rural proofing report by March 2022 to help ensure government departments consider the needs of rural communities

Achieve Royal Assent of the Environment Bill and establish an Office for Environmental Protection to act as an independent regulator to scrutinise environmental policy and law

Through implementation of the Environment Bill, set legally binding long-term targets on air quality, water, biodiversity, and resource efficiency and waste reduction by October 2022, following a public consultation on proposed targets in early 2022 (contributes to SDGs 3, 6, 11, 12 and 15)

Mandate biodiversity increase in planning development and a strategic approach to nature recovery at a local, regional and national level through the Environment Bill by December 2021 (contributes to SDGs 9.1 and 15.9)

Secure the agreement of an ambitious set of global targets at the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15, including targets to ensure a greater percentage of land and ocean is protected (at least 30% of global land and ocean by 2030), ecosystems are restored, species extinction rates are slowed and population sizes are recovering (contributes to SDGs 6, 12, 14 and 15)

Continue to support the North East Atlantic Hub of the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network to facilitate data sharing and reporting to the SDG14.3.1 target “Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations” (contributes to SDG 14.3)

Undertake evaluations to assess the impact from Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding such as the Darwin Fund, Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, Biodiverse Landscapes Fund and various International Climate Fund (contributes to SDG 15)

Outcome evaluation plan

The 25YEP supplementary evidence report sets out a monitoring and evaluation framework, which is intended to track progress and provide feedback to enable policy and delivery to be adapted, ensuring we learn lessons from what works. We have a well-developed infrastructure in place for monitoring many aspects of our environment. The framework includes annual progress checks, periodic comprehensive assessments, policy evaluations, international comparisons and ongoing publication of data and statistics.

Policy evaluations are being undertaken in relation to specific policy interventions and measures, following Magenta Book guidance. These are providing feedback on how interventions have been delivered, what difference they have made, and whether they are a good use of resources. Policy evaluations are linked closely with the annual progress checks and will feed into periodic state of the environment assessments.

The Natural Capital & Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) will gather vital, accurate and up to date information to measure ecosystems, their condition and how they are changing over time to help ensure that the value of natural capital is fully considered in decision making across national and local government and in the private sector.

A comprehensive evaluation of Local Nitrogen Dioxide Plans is underway and baseline research was published in February 2021. Air quality and traffic data is collected from Local Plan areas before, during and after implementation of measures. Case studies in selected areas will allow us to understand whether Local Plans are having the desired effect, how this has been achieved and provide transferable learning.

We have published an evaluation plan for the Resources and Waste Strategy which lays out planned evaluation in the key areas of the collection and packaging reforms, plastics policies and waste crime.

A long-term monitoring and evaluation strategy is currently being scoped to identify how to evaluate the process, impacts and value for money elements of the new UK REACH regulation, which came into effect from 1 January 2021.

2. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon storage in the agricultural, waste, peat and tree planting sectors to help deliver net zero (this outcome reflects Defra’s contribution to the BEIS-led cross-cutting net zero outcome)

Lead minister

The Rt Hon George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for Defra

Senior Sponsor

David Hill, Director-General Environment, Rural and Marine

Outcome Strategy

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our times. Since 1990 the UK has reduced emissions by 44% whilst increasing GDP by 78%, the fastest rate in the G7 countries. In June 2019, the UK became the first major economy to set a legally binding target to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, in recognition of the transformative change needed to tackle global climate change. We now need to continue to accelerate domestic action and drive global commitment to tackling climate change over the coming decade.

In November 2020, the Prime Minister announced his Ten Point Plan for the UK to lead the world into a new green industrial revolution. This innovative programme sets out ambitious policies and significant new public investment to support green jobs, accelerate our path to reaching net zero by 2050 and lay the foundations for building back greener.

This outcome reflects Defra’s contribution to the BEIS-led cross-cutting net zero outcome. Defra’s key programmes take a dual approach: to minimise emissions or maximise carbon sequestration whilst taking account of our wider environmental commitments. We are responsible for reducing emissions from agriculture, land use (including peat), fluorinated gases and waste / wastewater, whilst simultaneously increasing England’s carbon sequestration potential through our forestry policies and protecting the marine environment.

The government has committed £92 million from the Nature for Climate Fund during 2021/22 to support a significant increase in afforestation and peatland restoration across England. We published the England Trees Action Plan and England Peat Action Plan in May 2021. We will support greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the waste and agriculture sectors respectively through the upcoming packaging and recycling reforms and schemes in the agricultural transition plan. The regulatory phase down of HFC gases will contribute towards reducing fluorinated gases emissions.

The government will set out ambitious plans across key sectors of the economy and publish a bold Net Zero Strategy to show how we will cut emissions and create new jobs and industries across the whole country. Defra is working to develop further policies to increase emissions reduction ambition which will be outlined in the Net Zero Strategy, due to be released later this year and ahead of COP26.

Our performance metrics

Additional metrics for 2021/22 (these metrics are either new or operating with changed definitions – no historic data available):

• greenhouse gas emissions by sector (waste, agriculture) (tonnes of CO2 equivalent)
• total projected greenhouse gas savings through Defra policies) included in the Energy and Emissions Projections (EEP)
• hectares of peatland brought under restoration
• change in fluorinated greenhouse gases emissions
• hectares of trees planted (England only)

How our work contributes to the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Priority outcome

Link to SDGs

Priority outcome 2

SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (Targets 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3). SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns (Targets 12.2 and 12.4). SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss (Targets 15.1, 15.2, 15.3 and 15.b).

Projects and programmes

Publish an England Peat Action Plan and an England Trees Action Plan in May 2021, outlining a holistic approach for the management, protection, restoration and enhancement of our peatlands and woodlands (contributes to SDGs 13 and 15)

Launch new tree planting and peat restoration schemes and offers under the Nature for Climate Fund by June 2021, including Local Authority Treescapes Fund, Urban Tree Challenge Fund, Woodland Creation Leasehold Offer and Peatland Restoration Grant Offer (contributes to SDGs 13 and 15)

Provide funding for Woodland Creation Partnerships by June 2021 and launch the England Woodland Creation Offer by June 2021 (contributes to SDGs 13 and 15)

Deliver the £50m Woodland Carbon Guarantee, which will boost the domestic carbon offset market and provide long-term payments for land managers who plant trees to sequester carbon (contributes to SDGs 13 and 15)

Launch a consultation on the use of peat in horticultural growing media by September 2021 (contributes to SDGs 13 and 15)

Complete the consultation on a new waste prevention programme for England in June 2021, and develop and implement collection and packaging reforms to help deliver emissions reductions in the waste sector (contributes to SDGs 13, 12.2 and 12.4)

Undertake a comprehensive review of the F-gas regulation during 2021 to determine how best to achieve the current international HFC target under the Kigali Amendment and the scope for faster action to reduce F-gases emissions (contributes to SDG 13)

Outcome evaluation plan

To monitor the overall trajectory towards achieving this priority outcome we can infer progress in England from our delivery focussed metrics and also the yearly UK Greenhouse Gas Inventory submission data. The greenhouse gas emissions national statistics show territorial emissions by sector and gas since 1990.

We will evaluate our programmes to ensure value for money and impact towards achieving our desired outcomes:

• for the nature restoration programme covering our tree planting and peat restoration activities, we will develop an evaluation framework which outlines how we should monitor and evaluate the core objectives and outcome benefits of the Nature for Climate Fund. We will follow HMT Magenta Book guidance to develop a robust and proportionate monitoring and evaluation project to track the implementation, outcomes and impacts of the programme
• we have published an evaluation plan for the Resources and Waste Strategy in the key areas of the collection and packaging reforms, plastics policies and waste crime. We will continue to make progress against these published plans to help improve existing policy commitments and identify new possible opportunities. In the immediate term this will mainly focus on evidence gathering to help ensure effective baselining of policy reforms so that they can effectively be evaluated once introduced
• each scheme set out in our Agricultural Transition Plan (for example Environmental Land Management schemes, Farming Investment Fund and Tree Health) will have a theory of change and be monitored and evaluated at key points in delivery. A set of metrics and benefit assessment will track progress and be reported on; we will publish a timetable alongside our business case in the autumn
• the review of F-gas regulation will assess the effectiveness of the existing legislation and provide recommendations for further action. It will look at the current state of play regarding F-gas sectors, future demands for F-gases including the availability and accessibility of alternative gases and pathways to their deployment. It will also consider barriers to their uptake, such as training and safety considerations, and consider the relationship with other government policies, such as heat pump rollout

3. Reduce the likelihood and impact of flooding and coastal erosion on people, businesses, communities and the environment

Lead minister

Rebecca Pow MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Senior Sponsor

David Hill, Director-General Environment, Rural and Marine

Outcome Strategy

As climate change leads to sea level rise and more extreme rainfall, there is increased potential for damage and disruption to properties, health and wellbeing, the environment and the economy from flooding and coastal erosion.

Our long-term policy statement sets out our goal to create a nation more resilient to future flood and coastal erosion risk. In doing so, we will reduce the risk of harm to people, the environment and the economy. We will be better protected to reduce the likelihood of flooding and coastal erosion, and we will be better prepared to reduce the impacts when flooding does happen. To drive action towards our goal the government has outlined 5 key policies:

1. Upgrading and expanding our national flood defences and infrastructure
2. Managing the flow of water more effectively
3. Harnessing the power of nature to reduce flood and coastal erosion risk and achieve multiple benefits
4. Better preparing communities
5. Enabling more resilient places through a catchment based approach

Our objective is to reduce the likelihood and impact of flooding and coastal erosion on society and the environment through our flood policies and strategy. We will take forward our £200 million flood and coastal resilience innovation programme, which includes pioneering projects in 25 local areas to trial and test a wide range of different approaches to drive resilience tailored to local communities. We will publish our Investment Plan for the new £5.2 billion 6 year flood defence investment programme that will better protect 336,000 properties. We will continue to maintain flood defences aiming for 98% of assets in high consequence systems in good condition to ensure our flood defences are effective in a changing climate.

Defra is the lead department for domestic preparedness for climate change, responsible for statutory duties set out in the UK Climate Change Act 2008. We continue to co-ordinate cross-government delivery of the second National Adaptation Programme (NAP) (2018-2023), a five year programme of action to make the country more resilient to climate change. The NAP includes actions in a broad range of areas, including the natural environment, infrastructure, people and the built environment, business and industry, and local government. Alongside delivery of the NAP, priorities for the year ahead include publishing the third UK Climate Change Risk Assessment due in January 2022, informed by the Climate Change Committee’s evidence report due in June 2021.

Looking ahead we are also reviewing our approach to enhancing resilience in the long-term. Our goal is that all government departments, sectors of the economy, society, and the natural environment, are prepared for a two degree rise in global temperature, compared to pre-industrial times, with consideration of a four degree rise in global temperature.

We will continue to provide a professional, trusted national level emergency response capability that is well-prepared to respond rapidly to and recover from flooding, drought, environmental and CBRN incidents, supporting government’s ambition to be a more resilient nation. Alongside this we will work with government partners, local responders and businesses to reduce the risk of incidents and to help them act to reduce damage to their homes, property and communities.

Our performance metrics

Number of properties* better protected from flooding in England

Year	Cumulative number of homes*
2020/21	300,000 (by 23 March)
2019/20	242,343
2018/19	193,604

*The target for the 6 year capital programme to 31 March 2021 referred to residential ‘homes’ better protected, and this is what the historical data table refers to. The new 6 year programme from 1 April 2021 will measure ‘properties’.

Source: Environment Agency / Release schedule: quarterly.

Flood defence assets at required condition

Year	Percentage EA flood defence assets in high consequence systems at required condition
2020/21	94.5
2019/20	96.1
2018/19	97.9

Source: Environment Agency / Release schedule: quarterly.

Additional metric for 2021/22 (this metric is new - no historic data available):

• climate change adaptation progress score by sector

How our work contributes to the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Priority outcome	Link to SDGs
Priority outcome 3	SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable (Target 11.5). SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (Targets 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3).

Projects and programmes

Take forward our £200 million flood and coastal resilience innovation programme, including the 25 local areas that are trialling a range of approaches to drive resilience (contributes to SDGs 11.5, 13.1 and 13.3)

Publish our investment plan by July 2021 for the new £5.2 billion 6-year flood defence investment programme that will better protect 336,000 properties by March 2027 (contributes to SDG 11.5)

Start construction on a further 22 shovel-ready schemes from the £170 million economic update funding by March 2022 (contributes to SDG 11.5)

Provide ongoing advice to planning authorities across the country to reduce the risk of inappropriate development in the floodplain (contributes to SDG 11.5)

Continue to maintain flood defences, aiming for 98% of assets in high consequence systems in good condition by April 2025 (contributes to SDG 11.5)

Continue to co-ordinate cross-government delivery of the second National Adaptation Programme (NAP) (2018-2023), a five year programme of action to make the country more resilient to climate change (contributes to SDGs 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3)

Publish the third Climate Change Risk Assessment due in January 2022, informed by the Climate Change Committee’s evidence report due in June 2021 (contributes to SDGs 13.1, 13.2 and 13.3)

Deliver our incident ready and resilient programme, including through improved flood forecast and warning online services, updated multi-agency flood plans and incident awareness campaigns (contributes to SDGs 11.5 and 13.3)

Continue to provide a professional, trusted national-level emergency response capability that is well-prepared to respond rapidly to and recover from flooding, drought, environmental and CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) incidents (contributes to SDG 11.5)

Outcome evaluation plan

There are four evaluations which aim to evidence and understand process, impact and value for money of interventions delivering this outcome:

• evaluation of the innovation fund: This project will undertake a process, impact and economic evaluation of the 25 innovative action areas using a realist approach, and a process and impact evaluation of the four adaptive pathways areas. This will help us better understand the impact of, and quantify the costs and benefits of, innovative resilience actions. We will also better understand whether, and in which circumstances, these innovative actions can be used to reduce flood risk and increase resilience. We expect the final report in March 2027
• Property Flood Resilience (PFR) evaluation: This project will undertake a process evaluation of the PFR repair scheme’s delivery and an impact evaluation of the investment. This will generate evidence to inform improvements in delivery of the programme. The project will complete in late spring/summer 2022
• evaluation of 2015-2021 capital programme: We will undertake an assessment of the benefits of this programme linked to its intended social, economic and environmental impacts. This will help us understand what was achieved and will provide evidence to improve future programmes and policies. The assessment will include synthesising existing evidence and there will be a report in 2021
• property flood risk resilience pathfinders - strategic programme evaluation: This process and impact evaluation will baseline the current level of resilience uptake within the three pathfinder locations, monitor delivery, measure how effective the range of pathfinder activities have been, assess the outcomes and impacts of the programme and ensure that learning from the different approaches is collected and shared. This work is due to complete in January 2022

4. Increase the sustainability, productivity and resilience of the agriculture, fishing, food and drink sectors, enhance biosecurity at the border and raise animal welfare standards

Lead Ministers

Victoria Prentis MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

The Rt Hon Lord Benyon, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Senior sponsors

David Kennedy, Director-General Food, Farming and Biosecurity

David Hill, Director-General Environment, Rural and Marine

Outcome Strategy

Leaving the EU provides us with the opportunity to deliver ambitious reforms and improve our agriculture, fishing and food and drink sectors to make them as productive and competitive as possible, whilst also incentivising environmentally-sustainable farming and ensuring we achieve the highest standards of animal welfare.

We will ensure a smooth agricultural transition by gradually reducing and then stopping the Common Agricultural Policy’s untargeted Direct Payments. We will invest the money that we free up to support agriculture in different ways through environmental land management pilots and schemes. We will create a renewed agricultural sector, where farms can be profitable and economically sustainable without subsidy. At the same time, we want farming and the countryside to contribute significantly to environmental goals, including achieving our commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 and meeting our statutory carbon budget requirements. To achieve this, we will pay farmers to improve the environment with pilots launched in 2021; improve animal health and welfare including through the launch of welfare grants in 2022 and animal health scheme from 2023; and reduce carbon emissions.

Now that we are out of the Common Fisheries Policy and have our new Fisheries Act, we have the opportunity to reform how we manage our fisheries, control our waters and support our marine environment. We will undertake annual negotiations on fishing opportunities as an equal independent coastal state, deliver replacement devolved EU funding schemes alongside a new larger £100m funding scheme to modernise and rejuvenate the sector, support levelling up by bringing economic growth to our coastal communities and support the sector across the UK to flourish. We will implement and improve our Fish Export Service and approaches to enforcement will be phased, trialled, evaluated and adapted. All the actions will ensure we support a sustainable, diverse, responsible and profitable fishing industry and improve the marine environment.

We will improve the productivity and economic performance of food and farming industries and ensure the UK is a great place to start, innovate and thrive as a farming, food or drink business, delivering healthy, affordable and sustainable food and drink to consumers at home and abroad. We will join all of this together, along with related work on the environment, trade and consumers, through a Food Strategy White Paper, which will also respond to Henry Dimbleby’s independent review of the food system. We are also currently analysing the returns from our recent genetic technologies consultation and will publish a full government response, aiming to foster strong science and innovation in the UK delivering widespread economic and environmental/sustainability benefits.

We will be at the forefront of animal and plant science and use that to reduce bovine TB, improve welfare, maintain GB biosecurity, reduce antibiotic use and support industry to import and export plants, animals and associated products.

We will deliver a series of ambitious reforms to animal welfare legislation through three Bills on sentience, kept animals and animals abroad. This will enable us to meet government manifesto commitments on banning live exports for fattening and slaughter, cracking down on puppy smuggling, banning the keeping of primates as pets and banning trophy hunting., We will use legislative and non-legislative approaches to raise standards and provide global leadership as set out in our Action Plan for Animal Welfare.

Through an effective system of compliance, enforcement and assurance we will ensure high standards and satisfy trading partners that the regulation of animal health and welfare, plant health and veterinary medicine/pesticide residues in food is fit for purpose. We will refresh the Plant Biosecurity Strategy for GB and continue to implement the goals of the Tree Health Resilience Strategy.

Our performance metrics

Productivity of UK agricultural industry

Year	Index (2015 = 100)
2019	102.0
2018	98.3
2017	100.6

Source: Government statistics / Release schedule: annually.

Productivity of the UK food industry

Year	Food sector productivity (base 2000 = 100)
2018	107.4
2017	106.5
2016	105.3

Source: Government statistics / Release schedule: annually.

Value of UK food and drink exported

Year	Value of exports (£bn)
2019	23.6
2018	23.0
2017	22.8

Source: Food statistics pocketbook / Release schedule: annually.

Percentage of cattle herds that are bovine tuberculosis free

Year	Percentage free (average)
2020/21	95.0 (at 31 Dec)
2019/20	94.9
2018/19	93.8

Source: TB cattle in Great Britain / Release schedule: quarterly.

Number of high priority forest pests in the UK Plant Health Risk Register

Year	Number
2020	14 (4%) (at 31 Dec)
2019	19 (5%)
2018	17 (5%)

Source: Government statistics / Release schedule: annually.

Percentage of export health certificates and licences issued within agreed timescales

Year	Percentage of certificates
2019/20	91.5
2018/19	98.7
2017/18	98.51

Source: APHA / Release schedule: monthly.

Additional metric for 2021/22 (this metric is new – no historic data available):

• percentage of total allowable catches for quotas for fish stocks of UK interest that have been set consistent with maximum sustainable yield

How our work contributes to the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Priority outcome

Link to SDGs

Priority outcome 4

SDG 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture (Targets 2.1, 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5). SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages (Target 3.3). SDG 8:Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all (Target 8.3). SDG 12:Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns (Targets 12.2, 12.3, 12.7 and12.8). SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (Targets 14.4,14.6, 14.7 and 14.c). SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss (Targets 15.7, 15.8 and 15.c).

Project and programmes

Issue the first Basic Payment Scheme payments with a reduction applied in December 2021, to gradually start reducing the Common Agricultural Policy’s untargeted direct payments)

Invest the money that we free up to pay farmers to improve the environment with environmental land management pilots and schemes launching in 2021, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Future Farming Resilience Fund, as well as Local Nature Recovery and Landscape Recovery schemes (contributes to SDGs 2.4, 12.2 and 12.8)

Launch the Farming Investment Fund in October 2021 as part of our farming prosperity offer (contributes to SDG 8.3)

Publish a Joint Fisheries Statement to set out how the objectives of the Fisheries Act 2020 will be met, working with Devolved Administrations (contributes to SDGs 14.4, 14.6, 14.7 and 14.c)

Launch the new £100m funding scheme to rejuvenate the industry and coastal communities across the UK, support long-term sustainable growth and help the sector take advantage of new trading conditions outside the EU (contributes to SDG 14.7)

Improve the productivity and economic performance of food and farming industries, including through the implementation of border checks and controls for imports and exports of agri-food goods (contributes to SDG 8.3)

Respond to Part 2 of Henry Dimbleby’s independent review of the food system through a Food Strategy White Paper by January 2022 (contributes to SDGs 2.1, 12.3, 12.7 and 12.8)

Award funding to successful R&D projects through the Farming Innovation Pathways competition as part of the UKRI-led Transforming Food Production programme (SDG 8.3)

Publish the UK food security risk assessment by December 2021

Publish the government response to the genetic technologies consultation by August 2021

Publish an Action Plan for Animal Welfare in May 2021, setting out our aims domestically and internationally on how we interact and care for our animals, including our pets, farmed animals and kept wild animals

Take forward commitments in the Action Plan for Animal Welfare, including Animal Sentience Bill, Kept Animals Bill and response to live exports consultation.

Publish a targeted consultation by the end of 2021 on zoo licensing improvements, with the aim of publishing the new Zoo Standards in 2022

Continue to deliver the bovine TB eradication strategy, including cattle vaccine field trials (contributes to SDG 3.3)

Maintain the UK Plant Health Risk Register for a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the threats to the health of plants and trees in the UK

Continue to deliver the Tree Health Resilience Strategy, including public consultation on additional biosecurity measures for high risk tree species and commodities in July 2021

Publish a new Plant Biosecurity Strategy for GB in March 2022

Implement the new UK Office for SPS (Sanitary & Phyto-Sanitary) Trade and Assurance, working with Devolved Administrations

Continue to deliver the animal health actions within the UK 5-year antimicrobial resistance action plan to 2024, including through the veterinary pathogen surveillance programme (contributes to SDG 3.3)

Outcome evaluation plan

Each scheme set out in our Agricultural Transition Plan will have a theory of change and be monitored and evaluated at key points in delivery, whether that is in terms of the environmental land management pilots or full scheme implementations (for example Countryside Productivity). There will be a mix of evaluation methods and reporting timelines, with annual reporting as well as periodic whole programme meta-evaluations. A set of metrics and benefit assessment will track progress and will be published alongside our business case. Data will be sourced from management reporting of scheme administration, modelling greenhouse gas savings and primary survey work to assess impact ‘on the ground’.

The new Fisheries and Seafood Scheme (FaSS), and other funding schemes to support the delivery of the Fisheries Act, will be supported by a recently developed evaluation framework for seafood sector funding. A 2-year process and impact evaluation, evidencing before and after impacts, will begin in 2021. The evaluation will take a developmental and participatory approach to improve delivery of this evolutionary scheme over its lifecycle. The active 3-year evaluation of the Seafood and Innovation Fund will continue for its final year, using a similar approach as for the FaSS evaluation.

Agri-food evaluation activities for 2021 will include a Workforce Needs Assessment for Defra’s sectors. This needs assessment will include the outputs from the evaluation of the Seasonal Workers Pilot (SWP), an evaluation of domestic recruitment in 2021, and an automation review. The outcome of this assessment will inform future labour policy in this area for 2022 and beyond.

A draft evaluation framework for the bovine TB programme has been developed and evaluation of this is already underway. Further planned evaluation as part of this programme includes assessing the role of compensation in relation to biosecurity. We will be developing process and impact evaluation work for the wider animal and plant health and welfare portfolio.

D. Strategic Enablers

Workforce, skills and location

This means building a talented, skilled and committed Defra group workforce that reflects the department’s vision to be ambitious, outward looking, professional and inclusive. We will achieve this by attracting and retaining diversity and expertise; encouraging innovation and efficiency; developing effective leadership and management capability; and taking a strategic approach to workforce planning so that we have the right skills in the right place at the right time – now and in the future.

We will:

• reinforce the systems for talent management and performance management to address the personal and professional development needs and reward performance in line with government and departmental priorities
• build career paths and invest in capability development to cultivate a breadth of experience and depth of expertise
• ensure that our organisation reflects the country we serve by relocating roles, including Senior Civil Servants, from London
• continue to remove barriers to recruitment, development and promotion of a diverse workforce

People survey engagement score

Year	Engagement score
2020	65%
2019	63%
2018	61%

Source: Civil Service People Survey / Release schedule: annually.

Representation of female staff, ethnic minority staff and disabled staff

Year	Total Number of Staff	Female	Ethnic minority	Disabled
2019	9,670 (Dec 19)	55.8%	8.7%	13.5%
2018	8,650 (Dec 18)	55.4%	7.4%	14.6%
2017	7,590 (Dec 17)	55.0%	7.4%	13.3%

Source: For total number of staff: ONS public sector employment data / Release schedule: quarterly; for diversity statistics: Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Dashboard / Release schedule: quarterly and annually.

Innovation, technology and data

Priorities for technology investment in 2021-22 focus on reducing risks from legacy IT and technical debt and investing sufficiently in newer, emerging technologies to improve Defra group’s most outdated IT and applications estate. Working in partnership across Defra group, we will deliver digital data and platforms services that support ambition in the post-EU world and improve workforce efficiency and agility with the goal of making Defra a digital and data-driven organisation.

We will:

• improve our strategic planning and continue to work with Defra group leadership and policy teams to co-design technology solutions which support strategic delivery, drive value for money, and take advantage of innovation and automation
• regularly review our processes to support a partnership and outcome-focussed way of working
• deliver the investment programme agreed in the 2020 Spending Review, improving the most outdated IT environment to ensure critical systems and applications are safe, secure and provide business resilience, and ensure further investment is effectively spent against Defra group priorities
• invest in the tools, processes, standards and frameworks needed to enable safe, secure data sharing across departments to support decision making and improve services
• continue to improve security culture and controls in Defra, developing a holistic response to security and cybersecurity threats, underpinned by the cross-government Security Functional Standard
• renew IT systems to automate and fully digitise repetitive manual process and update outdated legacy IT systems
• mature data governance, management quality and the exploitation of data to drive analytics insight helping us to support science in the department
• enable Defra group workforce to work flexibly and effectively in the workplace of the future

Delivery, evaluation and collaboration

We will achieve better outcomes by setting the vision and strategic priorities for Defra group and advising how best to deliver them, including through organisational structures, culture, allocation of resources, portfolio management and legislative support. We will support ministers, the Board, the Permanent Secretary and Executive Committee in their work setting direction, monitoring progress and maintaining collective oversight of these priorities, ensuring science, evidence and evaluation underpin decision-making.

We will have a clear science strategy that will look to strengthen our investment in research, unlocking new discoveries and applying research to solving our most pressing problems in government, industry and across society. We will outline how we will work in partnership with others recognising that transformative research can produce the greatest long-term rewards, especially when combined with support for applied research, and a strong monitoring and observational background and implementation. We will ensure that institutional funding and international collaboration can support our ambitions. We will deliver integrated corporate services to the core department and five largest ALBs through a partnership model.

These corporate enablers continue to underpin strategic capability, deliver streamlined efficient services, reduce duplication and move to greater automation. The transformation will seek alignment with central government functional standards and industry best practice.

We will:

• set a bold ambition for Defra group transformation that goes beyond incremental change to ensure we are fit for the future
• lead cross-cutting projects of strategic importance within the department, including on the COVID-19 recovery
• prepare Defra group for fiscal events, including spending reviews
• develop a portfolio approach to delivering Defra group’s change agenda that tracks our priority outcomes and supports strategic decision making
• champion science and scientists across Defra group, and make sure ministers and policy officials get the best quality scientific advice
• develop a strategic legislative programme, understanding key trade-offs and making best use of limited resources including stakeholder time
• manage the planning cycle in such a way that it engages all staff in delivering priorities, through a well understood, efficient and transparent process
• provide transparent accountability through regular reporting, both within the department, to the centre and parliament
• strengthen functional expertise and delivery, ensuring adherence to functional standards and effective monitoring of performance

Sustainability

Our goal is to take from the environment the minimum that we need to operate and put back more than we take. This year we will set out our first ever sustainability strategy for Defra group and progress delivery against new Greening Government Commitments (GGCs) for 2025. We will work with partners across Defra group to shape our ambition, share best practice and work jointly on the challenges that being sustainable sets us. We will deliver projects that will reduce our impact on the environment – not just on our estate, but across our operations.

We will:

• ensure that we are able to meet our Greening Government Commitments and continue to monitor and track their delivery
• continue to ensure that our estate, activities and policies are sustainable and support climate change, resilience and adaptation
• continue to ensure that sustainability is prioritised through our supply chain and is at the heart of partnerships and Defra group ways of working

Greenhouse gas emissions (departmental)

Year	Total emissions
2019/20	49% reduction since baseline of 2009/10
2018/19	49% reduction since baseline of 2009/10
2017/18	41.3% reduction since baseline of 2009/10

Source: Greening Government Commitments annual reports / Release schedule: annually.

E. Our equality objectives

We have set objectives to help us advance equality. These are:

1. Create more inclusive cultures
2. Build and sustain a representative workforce across all parts of Defra group
3. Enhance making the UK a great place to live for all citizens
4. Improve equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) capability and confidence
5. Communicate, raise awareness and report progress

For further information on the actions to deliver each objective, please refer to the Defra group equality, diversity and inclusion strategy 2020 to 2024.