The IES has added its support to a letter calling for urgent consultation with experts on recently announced amendments to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill, which may have prevented the environmental regression associated with changes to nutrient neutrality requirements.
On Wednesday 6th September, the Environmental Policy Forum (EPF) sent a letter to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, supporting the position of the Office for Environmental Protection and other commentators who raised concerns that the amendments will amount to environmental regression.
Strong environmental governance is essential to effective environmental protection, as the IES outlined in its recent report on regression and governance. To secure those effective protections, the Government should heed the advice of independent advisors like the OEP, as well as the strong evidence provided by environmental scientists. In signing the EPF's letter, the IES hopes to demonstrate that the position of the OEP is backed by evidence from the front lines of policy implementation.
Key concerns raised by the Environmental Policy Forum
- "A regression in law: The proposed amendments threaten objectives for water quality and the condition of protected wildlife sites, which amount to a regression in law"
- "The proposed amendments reflect incoherent policy, as they undermine the delivery of various welcome government commitments and announcements"
- "The proposed amendments have been tabled despite insufficient consultation with the experts – those with the knowledge and experience of delivering the current nutrient neutrality requirements"
Find out more
- Read the letter sent by the Environmental Policy Forum;
- Get the latest policy resources from the IES;
- Sign up for our upcoming training on how to engage with environmental policy;
- Support the IES by becoming an Affiliate, or find out more about joining the IES.
