Our departmental priorities laid down in Defra’s Structural Business Plan include:

• helping to enhance the environment and biodiversity to improve quality of life
• enhancing and protecting the natural environment – including biodiversity and the marine environment – by reducing pollution and preventing habitat loss and degradation
• supporting a strong and sustainable green economy, resilient to climate change
• encouraging businesses, people and communities to manage and use natural resources in a sustainable manner and to reduce waste
• working to ensure that the UK economy is resilient to climate change

Our priority areas of work include:

• the Natural Environment White Paper
• Water for Life: Water White Paper
• managing flooding
• pursuing the zero waste agenda
• reforming the water industry to enhance competition and improve conservation
• driving sustainable public sector practice across government

Recent publications

• Coastal Pathfinder Evaluation: An Assessment of the Five Largest Pathfinder Projects

• Coastal Change Pathfinder Review

• Environmental Permitting general guidance manual on policy and procedures for A2 and B installations

• Developing a joint approach to improving flood awareness and safety at caravan and camping sites in England and Wales

• Small business user guide: Guidance on how to measure and report your greenhouse gas emissions

• The Government Response to Parliamentary Scrutiny of the Draft National Policy Statement for Waste Water

All environment publications