October 2024
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This conference focused on the future for environmental protection in Wales, and the establishment and remit of a new environmental governance body for Wales.
Stakeholders and policymakers discussed key developments, including:
- next steps following the public consultation on the Welsh Government’s white paper Securing a Sustainable Future: Environmental Principles, Governance and Biodiversity targets for a Greener Wales
- the former First Minister announcing that an Environmental Principles and Biodiversity Bill will be introduced to the Senedd
With the Bill proposing the introduction of statutory duties for the protection and restoration of biodiversity, sessions in the agenda considered practicalities moving forward for embedding environmental principles into Welsh law and introducing a biodiversity targets framework, with the establishment of a domestic statutory environmental governance body and a proposed Strategic Nature Recovery Framework.
Delegates discussed the structure of the new body, including its oversight and compliance function, and the disciplinary tools and enforcement powers at its disposal. Areas for discussion included priorities for its monitoring and reporting functions, strengthening accountability and transparency mechanisms, and options for future legislative change.
Further sessions assessed wider strategies for tackling joint nature and climate emergencies, including setting statutory biodiversity targets, and changes that might be needed to improve the current functioning of environmental law. Areas for discussion included the practical way forward for embedding environmental principles into Welsh law, provision of support and clear guidance for key sectors in meeting these targets, and long-term priorities for nature recovery.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Karen Stothard, Head of International Biodiversity, Welsh Government; Matt Edwards, Legislative Policy Lead, Welsh Government; Dr Nerys Llewelyn Jones, Interim Environmental Protection Assessor for Wales; Dame Glenys Stacey, Chair, OEP; and Dr Victoria Jenkins, Associate Professor, Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law, Swansea University.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- policy: assessing proposals outlined in the white paper and the forthcoming Environmental Principles and Biodiversity Bill - embedding environmental principles into Welsh law
- implementation: priorities for a Strategic Nature Recovery Framework in Wales - putting in place an effective monitoring framework
- environmental governance:
- what can be learned for future policy and implementation from the work of the Interim Environmental Protection Assessor for Wales
- priorities for the new independent statutory body in Wales - assessing gaps in environmental governance - oversight and compliance functions
- priorities and next steps: strengthening environmental governance - implementation of statutory duties and targets - delivering upon climate and nature emergency objectives
- best practice: learning from processes in other jurisdictions, including a keynote session with OEP Chair Dame Glenys Stacey - establishing productive joint-working between environmental regulators in the UK
- environmental law: options for establishing new legislation to strengthen environmental governance and protections in Wales - approaches to disciplinary tools and enforcement powers
- biodiversity targets and statutory duties: assessing a proposed biodiversity target framework - who the targets will apply to and how they will be monitored - improving environmental outcomes
- Strategic Nature Recovery Framework: long-term vision for Biodiversity Net Gain - providing clarity for key sectors - tackling biodiversity loss and actions needed for restoration - species and habitats preservation - embedding conservation principles across decision-making at all levels
All delegates were able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. Those that attended include officials from the Welsh Government; NRW; PEDW; OEP; Defra; Ofwat; DESNZ; DfT; and The Scottish Government.
