Government must seize the opportunity to establish a 'new environmental constitution', urges professional body
Government must seize the opportunity to " "put sustainability at the heart of our economic model" with the forthcoming Environment Act, leading sustainability professionals have said today.
The Environment Act must provide a long-term framework and policy certainty to enable both the public and private sectors to confidently invest in a sustainable economy, professional body IEMA said in a new report.
The paper, drawn up by IEMA alongside FSB, Water UK, the Wildlife Trusts, and the Broadway Initiative, sets out the 'assurances' that must underpin the government's approach in the new bill.
The legislation is intended to establish a domestic legal framework for environmental protection following Brexit.
The paper emphasises the need to establish shared environmental objectives, providing a basis for businesses to plan and invest and helping avoid stranded assets. It advocates for a 'non-regression requirement' in relation to environmental outcomes, and a participatory process with business and civil society to set targets within two years which define these objectives in more detail.
Accountability is seen as crucial, with the report calling for independent oversight of public sector progress towards meeting environmental objectives and enforcing the law. This will require provision for receiving complaints and for enforcing non-compliance, via an independent body accountable to parliament.
The report also calls for the government to ensure policy and regulation is long-term, planned and collaborative, guaranteeing predictability and shared responsibility across government departments. It suggests requiring the government to produce an Environmental Improvement Plan every five years to clarify milestones, targets and objectives.
"It is vital that the UK sets long-term objectives for protecting and improving the environment as we leave the EU," said Martin Baxter, chief policy advisor at the IEMA. " The Environment Act is a one-off chance to create a coherent framework to put sustainability at the heart of our economic model and enable all parts of society to plan, invest and collaborate to substantially improve the environment on which we and future generations depend."
The publication of today's paper follows an intervention from the group in November, when it launched a 'blueprint' for the legislation.
But with Prime Minister Theresa May having announced plans to resign her leadership of the Conservative party on Friday, the status of any pending legislation is now in doubt.
However, the environment seems likely to feature prominently in any leadership contest. Likely leadership contendors including Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Rory Stewart are all expected to make environmental issues a cornerstone of their campaigns.