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New environmental watchdog to get legal teeth after Brexit | New environmental watchdog to get legal teeth after Brexit |
(about 14 hours later) | |
Plans for a new green watchdog to protect the environment after Brexit have been outlined by the government. | Plans for a new green watchdog to protect the environment after Brexit have been outlined by the government. |
Ministers say the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) will be an independent statutory body to safeguard environmental standards. | Ministers say the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) will be an independent statutory body to safeguard environmental standards. |
It will have the power to take the government to court to enforce environmental law after Brexit. | It will have the power to take the government to court to enforce environmental law after Brexit. |
Green groups question its independence and doubt the structure will replicate the EU’s environmental protections. | Green groups question its independence and doubt the structure will replicate the EU’s environmental protections. |
Why is a new law needed? | Why is a new law needed? |
About 80% of the UK’s environmental laws have been forged in partnership with other nations in Europe. | About 80% of the UK’s environmental laws have been forged in partnership with other nations in Europe. |
Some Brexiteers see leaving the EU as an opportunity to dilute environmental standards to increase competitiveness, but the government has promised this will not happen. | Some Brexiteers see leaving the EU as an opportunity to dilute environmental standards to increase competitiveness, but the government has promised this will not happen. |
At the moment, if the UK breaks green laws – like over air pollution for instance - it gets taken to court by the EU. | At the moment, if the UK breaks green laws – like over air pollution for instance - it gets taken to court by the EU. |
Under the provisions of the draft Environment Bill, the new watchdog will have a similar legal power. It is a crucial decision after a long internal battle within government. | Under the provisions of the draft Environment Bill, the new watchdog will have a similar legal power. It is a crucial decision after a long internal battle within government. |
The bill also sets down in the UK some of the key principles of European law – like the polluter pays principle, which establishes who is responsible if the environment is harmed. | The bill also sets down in the UK some of the key principles of European law – like the polluter pays principle, which establishes who is responsible if the environment is harmed. |
The bill will get debated after Easter, after the scheduled Brexit date of 29 March. | The bill will get debated after Easter, after the scheduled Brexit date of 29 March. |
The government says European law will remain in place in the UK until the new environment bill is passed, and any law-breaking will be dealt with by the OEP when it opens for business. | The government says European law will remain in place in the UK until the new environment bill is passed, and any law-breaking will be dealt with by the OEP when it opens for business. |
“Our ambition is to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than that in which we found it," Environment Secretary Michael Gove said. | “Our ambition is to be the first generation to leave the environment in a better state than that in which we found it," Environment Secretary Michael Gove said. |
"We will keep building on our successes by enhancing our environmental standards and delivering a Green Brexit.” | "We will keep building on our successes by enhancing our environmental standards and delivering a Green Brexit.” |
There has been confusion over whether or not climate change will be included in the bill. | |
Environmentalists insist that it must be, and on Wednesday a government source said it would be included in the bill in the new year. | |
Later a spokesman said it would not be included. | |
More recently, a Department for the Environment spokesman said climate might or might not be in the bill, depending on the results of consultations in coming months. | |
How has it been received? | How has it been received? |
Friends of the Earth said the proposals had several loopholes. | Friends of the Earth said the proposals had several loopholes. |
The campaign group believes the environment department is nowhere near ready for a no-deal Brexit and fears there are not enough staff to enforce green laws. | |
Ben Halfpenny, from Greener UK, told BBC News: "There is a good level of ambition and broad scope. | Ben Halfpenny, from Greener UK, told BBC News: "There is a good level of ambition and broad scope. |
"But there are big questions over power and enforcement. If the secretary of state appoints the board and decides the budget we are really worried about that." |