It's Back: The Environment Bill – Report Stage And Third Reading

For years, the UK's environmental law and policies were guided and monitored by the European Union. Brexit is the driver for redrawing the environmental framework after decades of being part of the EU, and the Environment Bill is the new legislation that redraws the rules after our departure from it. So where are we with the Bill, and are we headed for an ambitious and effective world-leading regime or a weakening of environmental protections?

The Environment Bill was first introduced into Parliament on 15 October 2019 – this means it has been more than 600 days since it was first introduced! It was then re-introduced in January 2020 following the general election. Slow progress was made throughout 2020 with a Public Bill Committee considering the Bill over several months. It returned to Parliament in January 2021, but the government quickly postponed consideration of it again, on the basis that the Bill would be unlikely to complete its passage in the Lords before