The Environment Bill will be introduced in the upcoming parliamentary year, the Queen announced in a speech delivered at the House of Lords on 11 May. The Bill is expected to be introduced before the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26.
The benefits of the Bill would be far-reaching and include:
- Setting up a new, independent body that will hold all public authorities to account on environmental law;
- Improving air quality by fighting air pollution; and
- Restoring and enhancing nature and biodiversity, with thriving plants, wildlife and habitats.
Alexander Rhodes, Head of Mishcon Purpose, said: "The commitment to introduce the much delayed Environment Bill is welcome, as is the Government's pledge to include new provisions to tackle sewage pollution and to introduce an animal welfare bill. A vigorous discourse is needed into how these provisions will work with the streamlining in the proposed Planning Bill and how these will impact businesses looking for certainty, as well as the government's environmental targets, including on emissions reduction."
At Mishcon de Reya, we take our commitment to sustainability seriously. Our climate change strategy, launched in January 2021, details our approach to becoming a net zero carbon business, this year and every year, actively working to achieve the most ambitious aim of the Paris Agreement, to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
We also explore the biggest issues surrounding climate change and environmental, social and governance matters in our Mishcon Academy Digital Sessions. Alexander Rhodes recently spoke with John E Scanlon AO, former Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and Jo Rickards, Head of the White Collar Crime & Investigations Group. To explore other upcoming conversations on sustainability and the environment, visit our Mishcon Academy site.