Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to demonstrate the effect of all economic activities to help (a) consumers, (b) investors, (c) banks and (d) companies to make more sustainable choices.

The Government launched the 25 Year Environment Plan in January 2018 with a key commitment to develop a comprehensive set of indicators, which collectively describes environmental change as it relates to the ten goals as set out in the Plan. In December 2018 the government published a draft indicator framework for the Environment Plan that aims to capture the wide range of impacts that economic actions have on the environment.

The Government is committed to working with the Office for National Statistics to incorporate natural capital into the UK Environmental Accounts by 2020 so that the benefits of nature would be better recognised. This commitment has been reiterated in the 25 Year Environment plan. The UK accounts are being used to inform natural capital accounts and decisions by businesses and other land owning bodies.

To enable consumers and businesses to make more sustainable choices we have reduced plastic waste by introducing one of the world’s strongest microbead bans, setting out plans to ban plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers and extending the 5p plastic bag charge, and overhauling our waste system with a comprehensive Resources and Waste Strategy.

The Government has launched the Year of Green Action to draw together targeted actions to make it easier for people to get involved in improving the natural world and spread the word about environmental issues. It will provide a focal point for organisations, individuals, communities and businesses to learn more about their environmental impact and take action to reduce it.

On the international stage the UK is at the forefront of combatting the illegal wildlife trade. Our landmark Ivory Act put one of the world’s toughest bans on the sale of ivory into law.