There has been coverage in the Telegraph, The Guardian, Edie and BBC Farming Today of the Environment Bill as it returns to Parliament today (26 May) for Report Stage and Third Reading in the House of Commons.
The Environment Bill will clean up the country’s air, restore natural habitats and increase biodiversity. The Government has proposed a number of amendments, which include a new legally binding target on species abundance for 2030 to boost biodiversity, protect peatlands and create new woodlands.
The Telegraph includes comments from Environment Minister Rebecca Pow as part of an interview highlighting the significant role farmers will play to meet the targets.
Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said:
As we build back greener from the pandemic, it is vital that we address the twin challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss and protect and improve the environment for future generations.
The Environment Bill will ensure we deliver the most ambitious environmental programme of any country on earth, which is why it is essential that we complete its passage into law as soon as possible.
The Bill will refocus the Habitats Regulation to conserve and enhance biodiversity, with the Government set to publish a Green Paper on those reforms later this year. An amendment is also being brought forward to reduce harm from storm overflows to our rivers, waterways and coastlines.
Work on implementing Environment Bill measures has continued at pace. The Government has already begun developing legally binding environmental targets and launched consultations on the deposit return schemes for drinks containers, extended producer responsibility for packaging, and consistent recycling collections which will transform the way we deal with our rubbish.
Dame Glenys Stacey has been appointed as Chair of the new, independent Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) which is being created to hold the Government and public bodies to account for their environmental credentials.
A draft Principles Policy Statement has also been published by the Government which puts protecting the environment at the heart of future policy.
The legislation builds on the Government’s decisive action to protect the environment as set out in our 25 Year Environment Plan.
3 comments
Comment by Peter Hunt posted on
Does “restoring natural habitats and increasing biodiversity” and “legally binding target on species” include cleaning up our rivers and eliminating pollution by sewage releases? Are fresh water fish included in the target species?
Comment by John W. Baxter posted on
The damage caused by the lack of treatment capacity and pumping capacity at waste water treatment works has had the knock on effects detrimental to our waterways and beaches for many years and must be tackled not just by monitoring combined sewer overflows but by managing the storm flows retention capacities and treatment capacities better.
It is time we stopped discharging non or poorly treated waste water to pristine spring fed water courses like Costa Beck whenever it rains because proper treatment capacity is unavailable.john Baxter
Comment by Robert Nichols posted on
Agenda 21/25/30 New World Order is it going to plan