Environment Agency EA2025: updates 2022 to 2023
Updated 31 October 2022
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EA2025 translates our vision for the future into action.
We will protect and enhance the environment as a whole and contribute to sustainable development.
The plan sets out 3 long term goals:
- a nation resilient to climate change
- healthy air, land and water
- green growth and a sustainable future
These goals will drive everything we do today, tomorrow and to 2025. They:
- champion sustainable development
- support our work to create better places
- challenge us to tackle the climate emergency
- deliver a green economic recovery for everyone
This annual update shows where we have made changes to the EA2025 in 2022 to 2023, particularly in the way we measure our performance.
How we know we are succeeding
Goal - a nation resilient to climate change
| 5 Year Aims | 2022 to 2023 metric | 2022 to 2023 out-turn target |
|---|---|---|
| 1. By 2025 we will have created more climate resilient places and infrastructure, by ensuring the nation is prepared for flooding, coastal change and drought | a) We reduce the risk of flooding for more properties b) We maintain our flood and coastal risk management assets at or above the target condition |
a) cumulative total of 65,000 properties by end of financial year b) 98% of high risk Environment Agency maintained assets at target condition |
| 2. By 2025 we will be a stronger leader on climate adaptation and resilience, encouraging others to act now on the climate emergency | We deliver our climate impact plan and enabling UK net zero plan to tackle the climate emergency | a) 90% of climate impacts plan actions completed or on track b) 90% of enabling UK net zero plan actions completed or on track |
| 3. By 2025 we will be a recognised and trusted incident management organisation responding rapidly to environmental emergencies to protect people and the environment | We have a first class incident response capability - proportion of trained staff utilised in core incident roles - number of staff cumulative and percentage | 80% utilisation rate |
Goal - healthy air, land and water
| 5 Year Aims | 2022 to 2023 metric | 2022 to 2023 out-turn target |
|---|---|---|
| 4. By 2025 air will be cleaner and healthier | Air quality is improving - monitor the reductions across 5 priority pollutants: NOX (oxides of nitrogen) SOX (oxides of sulphur) NMVOC (non-methane volatile organic compound) NH3 (ammonia) particulates in the refineries sector |
This measure will cover the following: GREEN: all 4 pollutants reducing AMBER: 1 pollutant failing, 3 reducing RED: 2 pollutants or more failing |
| 5. By 2025 rivers, lakes, groundwater and coasts will have better water quality and will be better places for people and wildlife | Kilometres of the water environment enhanced | 1,300km |
| 6. By 2025 nature and land is better protected and enhanced | a) We increase biodiversity and promote an environmental net gain by creating more and better habitats for the benefit of people and wildlife b) We protect people and the environment through effective regulation |
a) 660 hectares total (restoration and creation of habitat) b) 97% compliance of permitted sites |
Goal - green growth and a sustainable future
| 5 Year Aims | 2022 to 2023 metric | 2022 to 2023 out-turn target |
|---|---|---|
| 7. By 2025 we will achieve cleaner, greener growth by supporting businesses and communities to make good choices, through our roles as a regulator, adviser and operator | We successfully influence planning decisions by local planning authorities | 97% of decisions taken in line with our advice |
| 8. By 2025 we will have cut waste crime and helped develop a circular economy | We reduce the number of high risk illegal waste sites | 180 sites calculated as a 17.5% reduction (over 2 years) from a pre COVID-19 estimated baseline of 216 sites |
| 9. By 2025 we will be on track to deliver our sustainable business commitments including to be net zero by 2030 | 246,383 tonnes target for 2030 (45% reduction from baseline) | 150,332 tonnes |
Goal - cross cutting enabling aims
| 5 Year Aims | 2022 to 2023 metric and out-turn target |
|---|---|
| We manage our money efficiently to deliver our outcomes | Achieve 100% spend to budget |
| The proportion of our staff who are from a Black, Asian and minority ethnic background | 14% of workforce (cumulative) |
| The proportion of our executive managers who are female | 50% of executive manager workforce |
| We have the lowest possible lost time incident (LTI) frequency rate | Achieve a lost time incident frequency rate of 0.11 per 100,000 hours worked or better |
Our culture
In 2022 we refreshed our culture statements to better reflect the kind of organisation we want to be.
After an organisation-wide consultation, we created new statements to summarise our culture:
- one team, one mission: create a better place
- focus on outcomes: deliver our commitments
- think big, act early, be visible
- be kind, stay safe and grow
- value difference: include everyone
- innovate, move fast, stay agile
- seek partnership, show leadership, take responsibility