Government’s 25 Year Plan for the Environment: Government Response Published  

The Environmental Audit Committee publishes the Government’s response to its report ‘The Government’s 25 Year Plan for the Environment’.

• Read the Government Response: The Government’s 25 Year Plan for the Environment
• Read the Government Response: The Government’s 25 Year Plan for the Environment (PDF 246KB)
• Inquiry: 25-Year Environment Plan 

There is no confirmation on whether the body will hold all public bodies to account, whether climate change will be in its remit or how it will exact enforcement. The Environmental Audit Committee will be closely monitoring the details in the proposed draft legislation and forthcoming policy statement.

Key points

The Government’s response:

• Does not commit to replace the one third of EU environmental legislation (air, waste, water, chemicals) that cannot be copied and pasted into UK law through the EU (Withdrawal Act).
• Commits to produce annual progress reports on the 25 Year Plan and to report on changes in a comprehensive suite of environmental indicators and metrics that are currently under development.
• Agrees with the Committee’s recommendation to undertake an audit of the main existing environmental targets that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Makes clear that no devolved administration has agreed to the proposal of a UK wide body to replace the role of the European Commission and European Environment Agency.
• Commits to bring forward draft clauses on the oversight and scrutiny functions of the body this Autumn
• Suggests that it is preparing to make sure a new statutory body is in place “as soon as is practically achievable” in the event of a no deal exit. 

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