Transcript Andy Fraser

Environment (Wales) Bill
Legislation to sustainably manage
Wales’ resources
Case for change
• Evidence shows that the
capacity of our natural resources
to continue to provide the
services on which we depend is
diminishing
• Interventions and actions
needed to enable Wales to
grow sustainably, increase
resilience and manage
natural resources efficiently
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Our commitments
•
Fresh legal framework to
manage Wales’
natural resources in a joined-up
and sustainable way and
support achievement of Wellbeing Goals
•
Strong links to the WFG Act and
Planning Bill processes,
principles and aims
•
Bringing together or replacing
existing processes and
providing better evidence and
greater certainty
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Environment (Wales) Bill
• A modern approach to managing our natural
resources in a proactive and joined-up way
in a way that:
• is compatible with and supports the
principles of SD for natural resource
planning and management (and
specifically the requirements of the
WFG Act)
• Enshrines the 12 principles of the UN
CBD
• Establish the legislative framework necessary
to tackle climate change
• By going “beyond protection”, help to secure
Wales’ long-term well-being, so that it
benefits from a prosperous economy, a
healthy and resilient environment and
vibrant, cohesive communities
Addresses fundamental weaknesses in the current statutory
framework
Modern legislation for managing Wales’ natural resources that is
equally focused on opportunities and challenges
Key measures to tackle climate change
Powers to enhance the current carrier bag charging scheme
Improving Wales’ waste management processes
Removes unnecessary complexity, simplifies processes and plans
and improves the regulatory framework
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Addresses fundamental weaknesses in the current statutory
framework
•
Current environmental legislation framework is reactive, issuespecific and can be inefficient.
•
Creates a barrier to effective planning and limits ability to manage
Wales’ natural resources in a sustainable way.
•
Creation of NRW in 2013 major step forward
•
But NRW remains bound by weaknesses in the existing legislative
framework.
•
Bill has been designed to address these weaknesses by enabling
integrated delivery, simplification and efficiency.
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Modern legislation for managing Wales’ natural resources that is
equally focused on opportunities and challenges
• Introduces a statutory framework for the Sustainable Management of
Natural Resources
• Key aim of Part 1 of the Bill:
•
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“to manage our natural resources in a way and at a rate that can
maintain and enhance the resilience of our ecosystems whilst
meeting the needs or present generations without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”
Includes definitions of “natural resources” and “sustainable
management of natural resources”
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Definitions
•
Natural Resources:
• Includes (but is not limited to) –
• Animals, plants and other organisms;
• Air, water and soil;
• Minerals;
• Geological features and processes;
• physiographical features;
• Climatic features and processes
•
Sustainable Management of Natural Resources:
• Using natural resources in a way and at a rate that…maintains
and enhances the resilience of ecosystems and the benefits they
provide and, in doing so, meet the needs of present generations
of people without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their needs.
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Sustainable management of natural resources
State of
Natural
Resources
Report
(SoNaRR)
The priorities identified in the
National Policy will be delivered
at a local level through Area
Statements produced by NRW.
Area
Statements
The State of Natural Resources
Report (SoNaRR), produced by
NRW, will report on the status of
Wales’ natural resources and track
the progress being made towards
achieving the sustainable
management of natural resources.
It will also serve as an essential
evidence base to underpin the
NNRP.
National
Natural
Resource
Policy
(NNRP)
The National Natural Resource Policy will set out the priorities for the sustainable
management of natural resources at a national level. It will outline how the sustainable
management of Wales’ natural resources will provide benefits to society and the economy
as well as the environment, supporting the goals outlined in the Wellbeing of Future
Generations (Wales) Act.
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Environment (Wales) Bill
State of Natural Resources Report (SoNaRR)
• NRW to lead on reporting on the status of Wales’ natural
resources
• To be published in line with Assembly elections
• NRW can ask public bodies to provide information to help it
compile the report
• To be effective, this evidence base must inform other key
documents, such as NNRP and Area Statements
Data and information to inform the Future Trends Report
Content of SoNaRR will communicate the contribution the sustainable
management of natural resources will make to delivering the Well-being
goals.
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Environment (Wales) Bill
National Natural Resources Policy (NNRP)
• Drawing on SoNaRR, Welsh Ministers will set a clear policy
for the sustainable management of natural resources
• To include opportunities, challenges and priorities to
optimise national social, economic and environmental
benefits
• NNRP to be reviewed every Government term
Well-being goals and Welsh Ministers Well-being objectives will inform
development of the NNRP
May also be informed by other evidence, such as the Future Trends Report
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Environment (Wales) Bill
Area Statements
• NRW must publish Area Statements to implement the
priorities of NNRP at a local level
• Specify the priorities and opportunities for the sustainable
management of natural resources within an area, and
specify how NRW proposes to address them
• Includes direction making, information sharing and mutual
assistance provisions
Contribute to and inform delivery of the Well-being objectives and
Well-being plans.
This will enable the management of natural resources to feed into
the preparation of Local Development Plans.
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Environment (Wales) Bill
Environment Bill: other Part 1 provisions
• Biodiversity and resilience of ecosystems duty
• Refocuses s40 of NERC Act 2006 for public authorities who
carry out functions in Wales, so the requirements are in line
with principles of SMNR
• Sharpens requirement on public authorities:
• s40: “have regard”
• Env Bill: “must seek to maintain and enhance”
• And in doing so promote ecosystem resilience
• Retains s42 (biodiversity lists) requirements
• Public authorities must publish a compliance report (before
end of 2019 and every third year thereafter)
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Key measures to tackle climate change
•
Statutory climate change target for 2050:
• At least an 80% reduction in emissions against 1990 levels
•
Framework for setting:
• Interim targets
• Carbon Budgets
Accelerate progress in tackling causes and consequences of climate
change, contributing to achievement of Well-being Goals.
Will also help to inform priorities in the National Development
Framework, Strategic Development and Local Development Plans.
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Powers to enhance the current carrier bag charging scheme
• Extends Welsh Ministers’ powers so that charges can be set for
other types of carrier bags (eg ‘bags for life’) in addition to
current charge
• Bill also provides regulation making powers for requirements
on retailers to donate proceeds to good causes.
Help support delivery against Well-being goals and Local Authorities’
delivery against Well-being Objectives
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Improving Wales’ waste management processes
•
New powers to increase the quality of materials available for
recycling to ensure the materials that can be recycled aren’t
wasted
•
Provisions to ban the disposal of food waste to sewers by
businesses and the public sector
Help support delivery against Well-being goals and Local Authorities’
delivery against Well-being Objectives
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Removes unnecessary complexity, simplifies processes
and plans and improves the regulatory framework
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Fisheries for shellfish
• Marine Licensing
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Land Drainage
• Flood and Coastal Erosion Committee
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Environment (Wales) Bill
www.wales.gov.uk/naturalresourcemanagement
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