Science challenges

Our Strategy 2025: Research and Innovation focuses on the role of UKCEH in addressing three major environmental and societal challenges:

Our specific contribution to these challenges focuses on ten integrated issues:

Biodiversity

Enhancing biodiversity to safeguard and enhance environmental health and resilience.

Chemical risks

Sustainable use of chemicals to protect the environment and people.

Clean air

The evidence base for reducing air pollution.

Climate and land

Land surface science for climate change prediction, adaptation and mitigation.

Ecosystem restoration and resilience

Restoration for long-term recovery and resilience to deliver sustainable landscapes.

Flood and drought impacts

Increasing societal and environmental resilience to hydro-climate risks.

Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions

Improving land-use planning and land management practices.

Soil health

Enabling integrated management for healthy soils.

Sustainable agriculture

Enhancing ecosystems to underpin productive and regenerative agricultural systems.

Water quality and resources

Balancing water demand with a healthy and productive environment.