Key Facts

• The UK banned cosmetic testing on animals in 1997 and extended it to ingredients in 1998.
• Since 2006, more than 2.6 million animals have been used in chemical tests across the EU, including the UK.
• Anderson's constituents sent over 200 letters regarding animal welfare issues.
• The proposed clause allows the OEP to impose fines on public authorities.
• Penalties must be distributed to the NHS and local authorities for pollution reduction measures.
• The Clean Air regime allowed EU Commission to levy fines on infracting countries and local authorities.
• The UK has never been fined by the European Union for an environmental infraction.
• The OEP’s enforcement framework aims to resolve cases more robustly, quickly, and effectively without relying on fines.
• The new clause would give the OEP powers that even the European Commission does not have.
• New clause requires public authorities to follow OEP recommendations.
• Recommendations cover environmental improvement plans, targets, and implementation of environmental law.
• Government must respond to OEP reports and be held accountable by Parliament.
• Clause 26 enables the OEP to assess environmental law implementation.
• Clause 22 creates a duty on the OEP to act transparently.
• Clause 38 requires public statements from the OEP when carrying out enforcement activities.
• Alan Whitehead is discussing New Clause 14 of the Environment Bill.
• The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) is an independent body that can set up its own communications register if it chooses to do so.
• Rebecca Pow argues that making this a legal obligation would be inappropriate and unnecessary.
• The Environment Act 2020 sets relevant environmental targets.
• Section 2A of the Water Industry Act 1991 already includes duties related to environmental considerations for Ofwat and the Secretary of State.
• Clause 4 in the Bill requires periodic reviews every five years to ensure environmental improvement plans are met.
• The new clause has support from both Labour and Conservative MPs.
• Water companies are currently regulated by Ofwat, focusing on preventing drought risks rather than flood risks.
• Trials of flood management are underway in areas like Thirlmere in Cumbria and the upper Don valley.
• Reservoirs need to be managed differently for flood versus drought risk, requiring infrastructure to move water between reservoirs.
• The amount of homes at risk of flooding has more than doubled since 2013, reaching approximately 85,000 homes.
• Storms Cara, Dennis, and Jorge demonstrated the reality of climate change with devastating consequences for communities in Wales, Shrewsbury, and other small towns along the River Severn.
• The new clause aims to enhance the Environment Agency's powers and reputation, which has been undermined by significant cuts to its finances and abilities.
• The Gorpley reservoir partnership is cited as an example of effective collaboration between water bodies.
• Anderson seeks to introduce new legislation allowing better response to changes in water use due to COVID-19, such as fewer people working in city centers.
• Anderson emphasizes the need for balance between flood mitigation and water security.
• New clause 16 was tabled by Ruth Jones and her colleagues.
• Clause 50 and schedule 7 allow for regulations on resource efficiency requirements.
• Clause 47 and schedule 4 include producer responsibility powers to prevent product or material waste.
• The new clauses aim to establish targets for UK land under forest or woodland cover at 19% by 2050.
• England's target is set at 14.5% of land under woodland or forest cover by the same year.
• Interim targets require an additional 80,000 hectares of land to be covered by forests in each five-year period up to 2030 and 10,000 hectares thereafter.
• There are about 17.6 million hectares of productive agricultural land in the UK.
• The Prime Minister announced 30,000 hectares for tree planting annually.
• Roughly 5 million hectares of marginal land in England could be afforested without impinging on productive agricultural land.
• Total new tree planting in 2019-20 was only 2,330 hectares, significantly below the target.
• The DEFRA press release mentions a figure of 30,000 hectares of trees across the UK by 2025 but does not specify if it is an annual or cumulative target.
• To meet the Committee on Climate Change targets, approximately 50,000 to 60,000 hectares need to be planted annually.
• The Woodland Trust supports new clause 19.
• There were almost 3,000 submissions to the Government’s consultation from Woodland Trust supporters.
• Norway's Forestry Act was updated in 2005 to promote sustainable forest management and comply with environmental values and carbon storage.
• In 1920, Norwegian forests consisted of approximately 300 million cubic metres of standing timber; today, it is expected to exceed 1 billion cubic metres.
• The Government aims to increase planting across the UK to 30,000 hectares per year by 2025.
• A £640 million nature for climate fund has been announced.
• Forestry is devolved and thus not covered under a single legislative target in the Bill.
• The government is undertaking a review of trees.
• New clause 17 proposes setting out targets for increasing tree planting.
• New clause 19 suggests creating a statutory tree strategy.
• New Clause 18 aims to ensure all levels of government play their part in achieving environmental targets.
• New Clause 20 was discussed but not passed, aiming for a 'state of nature' target.
• The Bill already provides powers and responsibilities for local authorities regarding air quality.
• The next Conference of the Parties (COP15) is delayed until late spring 2022 in Kunming, China.
• New clause 20 aims to require the Secretary of State to set a target to reverse nature's decline before COP15 and as soon as possible afterwards.
• A Nature for Climate Fund of £640 million is being developed.
• UK is committed to protecting at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030.
• 32 countries have joined the UK's global ocean alliance supporting the target.
• The UK was instrumental in crafting the leaders’ pledge for nature, launched on 28 October.
• A new strategy for nature in England will outline how to implement CBD’s new global targets domestically and meet 25-year environmental goals.
• New clause 22 requires public authorities to apply environmental principles in section 16.
• Environmental principles include integration, prevention, precaution, rectification and polluter pays.
• Greener UK raised concerns that the Bill does not provide an adequate route for ensuring these principles fully function.
• The Government already implements strategic environmental policies through frameworks like the national planning policy framework (NPPF).
• The proposal would place a legal duty on Ministers to have due regard to the policy statement.
• The amendment would extend the scope of the principles duty beyond policy making, covering all functions administered by public authorities.