Environmental commitments from UK Government

In today’s press release, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has suggested that the UK Government will announce legally binding environmental commitments. Supported by the Environment Bill, the Government’s announcement will “drive significant and lasting environmental improvements” in four priority areas. These priority areas include:

• Air Quality – exploring options to reduce public exposure to fine particulate matter. Airborne particulate matter can penetrate deeply into respiratory systems and significantly impact health.
  
• Water – improving water quality and reducing water demand in the agriculture and wastewater industry is also on the agenda.
• Resource Efficiency & Waste Reduction – developing methods to increase resource productivity and reduce the volume of residual waste generated
  
• Biodiversity – investigating solutions to restore and create wildlife-rich and biodiverse habitats on both land and at sea.

Build back greener

Following the Prime Minister’s challenge to “build back greener”, Defra emphasises that these major environmental commitments will ensure that today’s Government “continues to deliver a truly green recovery”. Through the use of robust and evidence-led processes, Defra intends to work with the Office for Environmental Protection and implement these environmental outcomes in a strong and meaningful manner. Expanding upon the intention, Environment Secretary George Eustice stated:

“The targets we set under our landmark Environment Bill will be the driving force behind our bold action to protect and enhance our natural world – guaranteeing real and lasting progress on some of the biggest environmental issues facing us today. I hope these targets will provide some much-needed certainty to businesses and society, as we work together to build back better and greener.”

Once the Government defines its environmental commitments, stakeholders within the waste and resource industry will have an opportunity to respond through a public consultation in 2022. Contact us or call on 01480 462232 to discuss these environmental commitments further with the team at Wiser Environment and better understand how to maintain compliance.