The first part of the Environment Bill was published before Christmas and embodies some key elements of how we will frame our environmental activities post Brexit. The speech below by Emma Howard Boyd rightly signals why this is important to everyone working in environmental sector. Read more commentary in the Guardian assessment of the Environment Bill
The Natural Laws of Brexit: The future for environmental principles and governance post EU Exit
Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency
To: Westminster Energy, Environment and Transport Forum, Thursday, 17 January 2019
Speech on the Environment Bill
“Good morning.
The tennis champion, Billie Jean King, said: “Pressure is a privilege”.
Standing in front of you today, beginning a 10 minute speech about what will happen with Brexit…
…I’m not sure that pressure always feels like a privilege.
But, I am lucky to represent the Environment Agency.
There, I see collaboration everyday as Government, NGOs, businesses, and local communities work together to enhance the natural environment, and manage the biggest political issue of our time: climate change.
Talking about that work – certainly is a privilege.
People react to pressure in different ways.
Around the world in 2019, we can see a kaleidoscope of human responses to political uncertainty.
Not all of it is as generous to our fellow citizens as we’d like – but pressure does strange things to people.
In these times, I would like environmentalists to set an example – by not rushing to judgement – on social media, or anywhere else – and working constructively with others to realise our shared, long term goals.
Like you – public servants are under pressure.
Despite a decade of austerity, my colleagues apply themselves with dedication and good humour. They create an organisation that is passionate about its purpose, and capable of much more besides.
In 2019, it is one of my priorities to make sure they are properly supported.
Their work to protect the country from the physical impacts of climate change protects people from severe weather, and makes the UK economy a safer place to invest in.
At the same time, our regulatory work provides ordinary people with a safeguard against unlawful business practices – (and, I am interested to read the details of the Labour Party’s report on regulation this week, to see how their proposals could help this work).
“Environmental principles and governance” may sound legalistic, but this is not an academic exercise.
The consultation on the first Environment Bill in 23 years received 176,746 responses.
We think there’s a lot to celebrate in it. We are ready to collaborate to turn the 25 Year Environment Plan’s ambitions into action.
We look forward to working with the Office for Environmental Protection, as we work with the Committee on Climate Change – which plays a similar role.
We recognise outstanding questions about its resource and ultimate powers, but we think the Office’s proposed approach – investigating complaints about environmental law and bringing about compliance through legal proceedings – could hold Government and public bodies to account effectively.
By putting the 25 Year Environment Plan on a statutory footing, the Bill takes a world-leading step forward for environmental law, just as the Climate Change Act did 10 years ago.
Environmental principles influence the substance of law and policy, and guide decision-makers about how to apply the law. Without them, deregulatory duties from other Departments could override environmental protections from Defra. The inclusion of principles – along with Environmental Improvement Plans – means we would like to see this Bill play a role in the long-term management of the environment, regardless of what happens in politics in the short-term.
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