An independent body for environmental standards in England will be set up after the UK leaves the EU under plans unveiled by environment secretary Michael Gove.
The move comes amid fears that environmental laws will be watered-down following Brexit, with the new body intended to improve transparency and hold the government to account.
“We will deliver a green Brexit, where standards are not only maintained but enhanced,” Gove said. “We are setting out our plans to ensure the powerful are held to account.”
A consultation on the specific powers and scope of the new body will be launched early next year, while it will also explore how environmental laws will be enforced after leaving the EU.
The European Commission currently monitors targets, scrutinises new legislation and takes action against illegal behaviour, while a series of key ‘environmental principles’ are presently only set out in EU treaties.
Ministers will examine how this will change as part of the consultation, and determine whether Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland wish to take a different or similar approach.
“We will consult as widely as possible on these proposals to ensure we get this important decision right for future generations,” Gove added.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it wants to hear from as many people and organisations as possible – from businesses, NGOs, the farming sector, civil society, and elsewhere.
Image credit: shutterstock
