Legal & Regulatory News

UK Environment Bill receives Royal Assent to become Environment Act 2021

On 9 November 2021, the Environment Bill received the Royal Assent and the Environment Act 2021 (the Act) was passed. The Act establishes new legally binding environmental targets, together with the formation of an independent Office for Environmental Protection which will enforce these targets by holding the UK Government and public bodies to account with regards to their environmental obligations.

The Act is intended to drive improvements across a broad spectrum of environmental issues, including air and water quality, waste management and recycling, and nature and biodiversity. The Act is also intended to halt the decline in species by 2030 by requiring that new developments improve or create habitats to support nature and, in addition, will tackle deforestation overseas through the inclusion of a package of measures designed to ensure that greater resilience, traceability and sustainability are built into the UK’s supply chains.

Click here to access the press release.

Click here to read the Act.