Water Targets Expert Advisory Group
The Water Targets Expert Advisory Group was established to provide independent technical advice to inform the development of legally binding water targets for England
The Water Target Expert Advisory Group was set up to advise the government on setting new legally-binding targets for water, under the Environment Act. The Environment Act Water Targets were set in law in January 2023. So there was no longer a need for this group.
Role of the group
The Environment Act required government to set at least one long-term target in 4 priority areas:
- air quality
- biodiversity
- water
- resource efficiency and waste reduction
The Water Targets Expert Advisory Group (WTEAG) helped government to meet the requirement to set at least one target on water. Separate groups advised on air quality, biodiversity and waste targets.
Terms of reference
The group aimed to provide:
- guidance throughout the life cycle of evidence development, including recommending appropriate analytical methods, datasets and evidence
- advice on the content of final evidence outputs and interim products
- expert judgement in evaluating target evidence
The group did not aim to decide:
- which targets would be set – this was a role for the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- policy roadmaps or pathways for the delivery of the targets
Membership
The group brought together relevant experts in this area. Members were appointed based on their specific skills, knowledge and experience. The group was chaired by Professor Penny Johnes.
The members were:
- Professor Penny Johnes – Professor of Biogeochemistry, University of Bristol (Chair)
- Professor Kevin Hiscock – Professor of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia
- Professor Joseph Holden – Professor of Physical Geography, University of Leeds
- Rob Lawson – Chair of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management Water Resources Panel and Director at Artesia
- Professor Paul Withers – Professor of Catchment Biogeochemistry, Lancaster University
- Professor Paul Whitehead – Professor of Water Science, University of Oxford
- Nicci Russell – Managing Director of Waterwise