Draft environment (principles and governance) bill
On 19 December 2018, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) published draft clauses on environmental principles and governance. |
The draft clauses will be part of a broader Environment Bill introduced early in the second session of parliament, which will include legislative measures to take direct action to address the biggest environmental priorities:
- air quality;
- protection and enhancement of landscapes,
- wildlife and habitats;
- handling of resources and waste,
- management of surface, ground and waste water.
The creation of an Environment Bill was announced by the Prime Minister in July, and is intended to put environmental ambition and accountability at the heart of government, creating a new framework for environmental governance.
An independent body will provide scrutiny and advice, and hold government to account on the development and implementation of environmental law and policy. The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) will be a statutory environmental body that will be able to take legal action to enforce the implementation of environmental law where necessary, replacing the current oversight of the European Commission.
The draft Bill proposes making it a legal requirement for the government to have a plan for improving the environment, to monitor and report annually to Parliament on progress and to update it at least every 5 years. The 25 Year Environment Plan, published in January, will become the first such plan.
Environment Secretary, Michael Gove said the clauses; “…set out how we will create a pioneering new system of green governance, placing our 25 Year Environment Plan on a statutory footing. We will explore options for strong targets to improve our environment, and provisions on air quality, waste and water resource management, and restoring nature.”
John Alker, Director of Policy and Places at UKGBC said; "The Draft Environment Bill represents some welcome ambition from government. Our built environment has a huge impact on nature and biodiversity, and ensuring we protect and enhance our natural assets is vital, not least for our own health and wellbeing. This bill should give clarity to construction and property businesses on environmental principles and provide the policy certainty to raise the bar on standards.”
You can see the clauses at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/draft-environment-principles-and-governance-bill-2018
This announcement came in the same week that the government published: Our waste, our resources: a strategy for England.
See also: Environment Bill 2020.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Climate change science.
- Earth overshoot day.
- Energy Act.
- Energy Related Products Regulations.
- Environment Bill 2020.
- Environmental legislation.
- Environmental Protection Act.
- Governance.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
- The Carbon Plan: Delivering our low carbon future.
- UK Climate Change Risk Assessment.
- Our waste, our resources: a strategy for England.
Featured articles and news
Considerate Constructors Scheme acquires Building A Safer Future
Acquisition defines a new era for safety in construction.
AT Awards evening 2024; the winners and finalists
Recognising professionals with outstanding achievements.
Reactions to the Autumn Budget announcement
And key elements of the quoted budget to rebuild Britain.
Chancellor of the Exchequer delivers Budget
Repairing, fixing, rebuilding, protecting and strengthening.
Expectation management in building design
Interest, management, occupant satisfaction and the performance gap.
Connecting conservation research and practice with IHBC
State of the art heritage research & practice and guidance.
Innovative Silica Safety Toolkit
Receives funding boost in memory of construction visionary.
Gentle density and the current context of planning changes
How should designers deliver it now as it appears in NPPF.
Sustainable Futures. Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living
More speakers confirmed for BSRIA Briefing 2024.
Making the most of urban land: Brownfield Passports
Policy paper in brief with industry responses welcomed.
The boundaries and networks of the Magonsæte.
London Build Fire and Security Expo
20-21 Nov and now with new Ambassador Programme..
The Scottish Building Safety Levy
Eight weeks of consultation closing on 18 November.
The grey, the brown and the golden rules of housing
shifting policies from the wild west of housing development.
Future proofing homes that are fit for purpose
Specification challenges and the role of plastic.
Thousands of new homes unlocked for brownfield sites
£68 million to 54 councils for neglected land into new homes.