Environment Bill resumes passage through Parliament

The government’s landmark legislation to transform our environment has returned to Parliament, following a pause due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Environment Bill sets out a comprehensive vision to ensure that we maintain and enhance our environmental protections, including improving wildlife, tackling air pollution, transforming how we manage our resources and waste, and improving the resilience of water supplies in a changing climate to ensure we protect and restore the natural environment.

As such, legally binding targets will be introduced for air quality, nature, water and resource and waste efficiency, and a new, independent Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) will be created to hold government and public bodies to account for their environmental credentials. The Office’s enforcement powers will cover all climate change legislation and hold the government to account on its commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

The Bill also sets a new and ambitious domestic framework for environmental governance as the government seeks to ‘maximise the opportunities’ created by leaving the European Union.

Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said: “Protecting and enhancing our environment is a priority for this government, especially as we strive to build back greener from the coronavirus pandemic. The Environment Bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation for a generation, and it’s essential that we complete its passage into law as soon as possible so that we can continue our work to transform society and improve our air, water and nature.”