(30 October 2019) A letter signed by 23 experts in environmental law and published in the Telepgraph draws attention to the defective UK Environment Bill. Signatories complain that former Government’s promises on ensuring high environmental standards are maintained post EU departure have not yet been delivered. The Bill does not provide any commitment to non-regression of existing standards and does not enshrine environmental principles into law. The legislative framework allegedly allows for a set of standards to be repealed (such as air and water quality) and gives the executive questionably significant control over choosing which standards will be set over compliance.
The Environment Bill passed its second reading but dropped with the dissolution of Parliament. All major parties plan to bring back the Bill post-election.
The letter signed by the 23 experts