Stakeholders from business sectors, environmental groups, academics and professional bodies have come together to establish common ground in shaping a world leading Environment Act.
A wide cross section of stakeholders, including IEMA, FSB, Water UK, the Wildlife Trusts and the Broadway Initiative, have launched its Blueprint for an Environment Act, which aims to create a long-term framework for enhancing the environment while meeting key social and economic objectives.
A set of core “assurances” that stakeholders states they need from the Bill to create a framework that works for all sectors, has also been developed as part of the Broadway’s programme.
Martin Baxter, IEMA’s Chief Policy Advisory – “It is vital that Government comes forward with an ambitious Environment Bill that meets stakeholder expectations and provides the basis for long-term environmental protection and enhancement”.
Prime Minister Teresa May announced in July this year that Government is planning to bring forward the first Environment Bill in 20 years.
“This bill is another key step towards achieving a Green Brexit and it will help to ensure Britain can be cleaner and greener for future generations,” the PM said.
The Blueprint has been tested and refined through engagement with over 40 industry bodies, 15 environmental groups and 40 professional bodies, learned societies and think-tanks.
Speaking at the launch of the Blueprint, Martin Baxter, IEMA’s Chief Policy Advisory said: “We have a significant opportunity to develop a progressive new environmental governance framework that will deliver a healthy environment. It is vital that Government comes forward with an ambitious Environment Bill that meets stakeholder expectations and provides the basis for long-term environmental protection and enhancement”.
Having set out the overall approach, IEMA will be working with the Broadway Initiative to develop in more detail the following areas:
- the objectives and target-setting mechanism to be included in the Bill
- how best to integrate the environment into spatial planning
- whether and how a general duty of care can achieve its purpose without unintended consequences
- how to ensure that robust evidence is available to inform the policymaking process
- supporting all UK nations to help determine where common frameworks are mutually beneficial.
A copy of the Blueprint and assurances can be found here.