By Ben Kerrigan
The British government is today introducing a landmark Bill to Parliament to tackle the biggest environmental priorities of our time. The move is being hailed as a historic step change in the way we protect and enhance our precious natural environment.
The transformative Environment Bill will help ensure that we maintain and improve our environmental protections as we leave the EU.
The bill is to build on the UK’s strong track record and sets out a comprehensive and world-leading vision to allow future generations to prosper. Environmental principles will be enshrined in law and measures will be introduced to improve air and water quality, tackle plastic pollution and restore habitats so plants and wildlife can thrive.
IMPROVEMENT TARGETS
The British government said its legislation will also create, legally-binding environmental improvement targets. A new independent Office for Environmental Protection will be established to scrutinise environmental policy and law, investigate complaints and take enforcement action against public authorities, if necessary, to uphold our environmental standards.
The office’s powers will cover all climate change legislation and hold the government to account on its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050. By also championing nature-based solutions, the Bill demonstrates our commitment to tackle climate change.
The Bill also places the bold ambition of the government’s flagship 25 Year Environment Plan on a statutory footing and goes beyond the key government commitments outlined earlier this year by confirming powers to enhance nature and habitats and combat the devastating effects of plastics on our natural environment.
ACCOUNTABILITY
It promised accountability to present and future governments with respect to the upholding of their environmental duties, including meeting net-zero by 2050, and wider long-term legally binding targets on biodiversity, air quality, water, and resource and waste efficiency established under the Bill
improve air quality – by fighting pollution so children and young people can live longer healthier lives.
INCREASED LOCAL POWERS
There would be increased local powers to address sources of air pollution, enabling local authorities to work with families to cut harmful pollution from domestic burning by using cleaner fuels. The government will also be empowered to mandate manufacturers to recall vehicles when they do not meet the relevant environmental standards.
INCREASED PROTECTION
Also promised was improved protection for our natural habitats in supporting a Nature Recovery Network by establishing Local Nature Recovery Strategies and giving communities a greater say in the protection of local trees
transform the way we manage our waste through powers to ensure that producers take responsibility for the waste they create,.
It will introduce a consistent approach to recycling, tackling waste crime, introducing bottle deposit return schemes and more effective litter enforcement.
Powers to introduce new charges will minimise the use and impacts of single use plastics protect precious water resources – by increasing sustainable water management through securing long-term, resilient water and wastewater services in the face of a changing climate.
Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers said:
Our natural environment is a vital shared resource and the need to act to secure it for generations to come is clear.
That’s why our landmark Environment Bill leads a green transformation that will help our country to thrive. It positions the UK as a world leader on improving air quality, environmental biodiversity, a more circular economy, and managing our precious water resources in a changing climate.
Crucially, it also ensures that after Brexit, environmental ambition and accountability are placed more clearly than ever before at the heart of government, both now and in the future”.
The government said Legislation will be set to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and hosting the Climate-focussed COP26 in 2020 will keep the UK at the forefront of international work on these issues.
The government said it would conduct ”extensive and continued collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments”. They credited the Northern Ireland Civil Service for enabling measures to increase recycling rates.
The ground-breaking Bill is expected to bring a step-change in the way we protect and enhance all parts of our natural environment. As well as introducing the Bill to Parliament today, the government said it will publish an updated policy statement which outlines the many transformative measures included in the Bill.