The Environment (Principles, Governance, and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill (the Bill) is due to be introduced to the Senedd this summer. It is expected to:
- introduce a framework to protect and restore nature, including biodiversity targets;
- introduce overarching environmental principles to underpin future policy decision-making; and
- establish a permanent environmental governance body to ensure public authorities uphold environmental law.
This briefing explores statutory biodiversity targets and the proposed new biodiversity framework, as well as environmental principles, ahead of the Bill’s introduction. It looks at what we know so far from the Bill’s White Paper proposals and provides a comparative analysis, to learn lessons from other UK countries on these matters.
Establishment of an environmental governance body, the third element of the Bill, is the subject of a separate Senedd Research briefing.
Article by Dr Matthew Sutton and Dr Katy Orford, Senedd Research, Welsh Parliament
