In a statement published around new pollinator protection guidelines, the UK Government has announced that it will be releasing its new Environmental Improvement Plan “in due course”.

The Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) is the Government’s statutory plan under the Environment Act 2021 that outlines goals and targets, and action plans towards halting the decline of nature by 2030.

The last EIP was published in 2023 under the Conservative Government in which the Government announced the launch of the Species Survival Fund, as well as a revised Green Finance Strategy.

This announcement comes as part of the Government’s newly put forward guidance on the emergency authorisations of pesticides guidance.

It is hoped the new guidance works to “clarify and strengthen” the existing guidelines and ensure anyone applying for emergency authorisation takes full account of the risks it poses to pollinators.

Both announcements come just days after environmental charities across the UK called on the government to take urgent action following the release of new figures that reveal only a fraction of the nation’s 30by30 targets have been met.

More information on the updated emergency pesticide guidance can be found here.