Environmental Audit Committee

The Environmental Audit Committee scrutinises the government's environmental policies, strategies and delivery of environmental protection across departments and agencies. Operating as a House of Commons select committee, it takes oral evidence from government officials, regulators and external witnesses to examine environmental governance and outcomes. Recent inquiries have centred on air quality and its health impacts, with the committee examining nitrogen pollution levels in England and wider air quality policy effects. The committee has scrutinised ancient woodlands policy through evidence panels and investigated peatlands management with testimony from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Natural England and the Environment Agency. It has also examined per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) regulation with input from regulators and DEFRA, and assessed progress on the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 across farming, ecology and air quality priorities. The committee received evidence from the Office for Environmental Protection on environmental targets and land and sea use objectives as part of its oversight of long-term environmental accountability.