Part 1: Environmental Governance Chapter 1: Improving the natural environment Section 16: Environmental monitoring
Section 16 establishes a duty on the Secretary of State to obtain and publish data for the purpose of monitoring environmental improvement. This data would be used to measure outcomes achieved through the implementation of the actions set out in the environmental improvement plan (EIP) and inform updates to it. The data will also allow the progress being made towards meeting targets to be monitored. Given section 8(6), this section applies only in relation to England.
	A suite of indicators was first published by the government in May 2019, as Measuring environmental change: outcome indicator framework for the 25 Year Environment Plan. Outcome indicator framework data are updated annually on gov.uk .
	Subsection (1) requires the Secretary of State to obtain data about the natural environment appropriate for monitoring whether the natural environment (or particular aspects of it) is improving in accordance with the EIP, and for monitoring progress towards meeting any targets set under sections 1, 2 and 3 and any interim targets set under sections 11 and 14.
	Subsection (2) requires the Secretary of State to specify in a statement what kinds of data will be obtained, and to lay this statement before Parliament and publish it. This statement will provide the details of how the environment is to be monitored to determine whether there has been an improvement in the environment in accordance with the EIP and progress towards meeting targets.
	Subsection (3) specifies that the first statement on monitoring data must be laid before Parliament within four months of this section coming into force.
	Subsection (4) allows for the Secretary of State to revise the statement on monitoring data at any time. This may be necessary if it becomes clear that additional data is needed, or that current measures do not adequately assess environmental improvement or target progress. Such a revised statement must also be laid before Parliament and published (subsection (2)).
	Subsection (5) requires that data collected under the section must be published.