The Welsh Government have announced the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill with Huw Irranca Davies, the Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, saying that the Bill would ‘play a crucial role in safeguarding Wales’ natural environment.
The Bill includes measures that will:
- Ensuring Welsh Ministers and Natural Resources Wales apply environmental principles and integrate environmental protection when making policy.
- Establishing the Office of Environmental Governance Wales to provide independent oversight of compliance, application and implementation of environmental law in Wales. Their role will include ensuring public authorities, such as Welsh Government, NRW and local authorities, are complying with and implementing the law.
- Enabling Welsh Ministers to set ambitious biodiversity targets that drive actions towards halting and reversing the decline in biodiversity. In particular, through increasing native species abundance, enhancing ecosystem resilience, and strengthening genetic diversity.
In a statement the Deputy First Minister said:
“I am thrilled to be introducing this Bill to the Senedd today. It is crucial legislation that will empower us to address climate and nature emergencies, safeguard our environment from harm and ensure a sustainable future for Wales.
Wales is facing unprecedented challenges in respect of climate change and biodiversity with severe weather events like floods, heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires significantly impacting our communities, our ecosystems and even our economy.
With one in six species now at risk of extinction in Wales, it has never been more important to restore nature and preserve the natural environment for future generations.
The urgency to act has never been greater, and this Bill is an important step in strengthening our response and oversight of action in Wales.”
The Bil has been welcomed by some environmental groups, including RSPB Cymru. Annie Smith, Head of Policy and Casework for RSPB Cymru said:
“We are delighted that the ‘Nature Positive’ Bill has finally been laid in Y Senedd. We live in one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Once common species, like Curlew, are on the brink, and only a fraction of our protected areas for nature are in good condition. This Bill must drive the urgent actions needed to clean up the environment and restore nature in Wales”.
Yet there is still room to improve according to Smith:
“The Bill makes a good start, but we would like to see it go even further. As it is coming right at the end of the Senedd term, it will place the tools to drive change in the hands of the next Welsh Government and Senedd and it must leave no room for doubt over the urgency of stepping up action to reverse biodiversity loss. Having declared a nature emergency, this Senedd must ensure its legacy includes a strong response for nature”.
You can find more information on the Bil, by following this link to the Senedd Cymru website.
