The UK Government has published draft environmental principles and governance provisions for the new Environment Bill, policy paper and consultation response

On 19 December 2018, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs presented the draft clauses on environmental principles and governance for its Environment (Principles and Governance) Bill to Parliament. This is required by section 16 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act) 2018.

The draft clauses provide for a statutory policy statement to explain how the government should apply the environmental principles required under section 16 of the 2018 Withdrawal Act in its policy making; a new statutory and independent environmental body, the Office for Environmental Protection, which will both advise the government and hold public authorities to account for breaches of environmental law following Brexit; and regular long-term environmental improvement plans. The government’s 25-year environment plan will be the first environmental improvement plan (EIP) and will be set on a statutory footing.