Andy Fraser, Welsh Government, talking about the Environment Bill, CC targets & Carbon budgets

1. Environment (Wales) BillEnvironment (Wales) Bill
Legislation to sustainably manageLegislation to sustainably manage
Wales’ resourcesWales’ resources

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• Evidence shows that the
capacity of our natural
resources to continue to provide
the services on which we
depend is diminishing
Case for change
• Interventions and actions
needed to enable Wales to
grow sustainably, increase
resilience and manage
natural resources efficiently

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• Fresh legal framework toFresh legal framework to
manage Wales’manage Wales’
natural resources in anatural resources in a
joined-up and sustainable wayjoined-up and sustainable way
and support achievement ofand support achievement of
Well-being GoalsWell-being Goals
• Strong links to the WFG Act andStrong links to the WFG Act and
Planning Bill processes,Planning Bill processes,
principles and aimsprinciples and aims
• Bringing together or replacingBringing together or replacing
existing processes andexisting processes and
providing better evidence andproviding better evidence and
greater certaintygreater certainty
Our commitments

4. Environment (Wales) Bill
• A modern approach to managing ourA modern approach to managing our
natural resources in a proactive and joined-natural resources in a proactive and joined-
up wayup way in a way thatin a way that::
• isis compatible with and supports thecompatible with and supports the
principles of SDprinciples of SD for natural resourcefor natural resource
planning and management (andplanning and management (and
specifically the requirements of thespecifically the requirements of the
WFG Act)WFG Act)
• Enshrines the 12 principles of the UNEnshrines the 12 principles of the UN
CBDCBD
• Establish the legislative framework necessaryEstablish the legislative framework necessary
to tackleto tackle climate changeclimate change
• By goingBy going “beyond protection”, help to“beyond protection”, help to
secure Wales’ long-term well-being,secure Wales’ long-term well-being, so thatso that
it benefits from a prosperous economy, ait benefits from a prosperous economy, a
healthy and resilient environment andhealthy and resilient environment and
vibrant, cohesive communitiesvibrant, cohesive communities

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• Current environmental legislation framework isCurrent environmental legislation framework is reactive, issue-specific and canreactive, issue-specific and can
be inefficientbe inefficient..
• Creates a barrier to effective planningCreates a barrier to effective planning and limits ability to manage Wales’and limits ability to manage Wales’
natural resources in a sustainable way.natural resources in a sustainable way.
• Creation of NRW in 2013 major step forwardCreation of NRW in 2013 major step forward
• ButBut NRW remains bound by weaknesses in the existing legislative frameworkNRW remains bound by weaknesses in the existing legislative framework..
• Bill has beenBill has been designed to address these weaknesses by enabling integrateddesigned to address these weaknesses by enabling integrated
delivery, simplification and efficiencydelivery, simplification and efficiency..

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• Introduces a statutory framework for theIntroduces a statutory framework for the Sustainable Management ofSustainable Management of
Natural ResourcesNatural Resources
• Key aim of Part 1 of the Bill:Key aim of Part 1 of the Bill:
• ““to manage our natural resources in a way and at a rate that canto manage our natural resources in a way and at a rate that can
maintain and enhance the resilience of our ecosystems whilstmaintain and enhance the resilience of our ecosystems whilst
meeting the needs or present generations without compromisingmeeting the needs or present generations without compromising
the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”
• Includes definitions ofIncludes definitions of “natural resources”“natural resources” andand “sustainable“sustainable
management of natural resources”management of natural resources”

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• Natural Resources:Natural Resources:
• Includes (but is not limited to) –Includes (but is not limited to) –
• Animals, plants and other organisms;Animals, plants and other organisms;
• Air, water and soil;Air, water and soil;
• Minerals;Minerals;
• Geological features and processes;Geological features and processes;
• physiographical features;physiographical features;
• Climatic features and processesClimatic features and processes
• Sustainable Management of Natural Resources:Sustainable Management of Natural Resources:
• Using natural resources in a way and at a rate that…maintains andUsing natural resources in a way and at a rate that…maintains and
enhances the resilience of ecosystems and the benefits they provideenhances the resilience of ecosystems and the benefits they provide
and, in doing so, meet the needs of present generations of peopleand, in doing so, meet the needs of present generations of people
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirwithout compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
needs.needs.
Definitions

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State of
Natural
Resources
Report
(SoNaRR)
State of
Natural
Resources
Report
(SoNaRR)
Area
Statements
National
Natural
Resource
Policy
(NNRP)
National
Natural
Resource
Policy
(NNRP)
The priorities identified in the
National Policy will be delivered
at a local level through Area
Statements produced by NRW.
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.
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.
Sustainable management of natural resources

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State of Natural Resources Report (SoNaRR)State of Natural Resources Report (SoNaRR)
• NRW to lead on reporting on the status of Wales’ naturalNRW to lead on reporting on the status of Wales’ natural
resourcesresources
• To be published in line with Assembly electionsTo be published in line with Assembly elections
• NRW can ask public bodies to provide information to help itNRW can ask public bodies to provide information to help it
compile the reportcompile the report
• To be effective, this evidence base must inform other keyTo be effective, this evidence base must inform other key
documents, such as NNRP and Area Statementsdocuments, such as NNRP and Area Statements
Environment (Wales) Bill
Data and information to inform the Future Trends ReportData and information to inform the Future Trends Report
Content of SoNaRR will communicate the contribution the sustainableContent of SoNaRR will communicate the contribution the sustainable
management of natural resources will make to delivering the Well-management of natural resources will make to delivering the Well-
being goalsbeing goals..

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National Natural Resources Policy (NNRP)National Natural Resources Policy (NNRP)
•Drawing on SoNaRR, Welsh Ministers will set a clear policy forDrawing on SoNaRR, Welsh Ministers will set a clear policy for
the sustainable management of natural resourcesthe sustainable management of natural resources
•To include opportunities, challenges and priorities to optimiseTo include opportunities, challenges and priorities to optimise
national social, economic and environmental benefitsnational social, economic and environmental benefits
•NNRP to be reviewed every Government termNNRP to be reviewed every Government term
Environment (Wales) Bill
Well-being goals and Welsh Ministers Well-being objectives will informWell-being goals and Welsh Ministers Well-being objectives will inform
development of the NNRPdevelopment of the NNRP
May also be informed by other evidence, such as the Future Trends ReportMay also be informed by other evidence, such as the Future Trends Report

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Area StatementsArea Statements
•NRW must publishNRW must publish Area Statements to implement theArea Statements to implement the
priorities of NNRP at a local levelpriorities of NNRP at a local level
•Specify the priorities and opportunities for the sustainableSpecify the priorities and opportunities for the sustainable
management of natural resources within an area, and specifymanagement of natural resources within an area, and specify
how NRW proposes to address themhow NRW proposes to address them
•Includes direction making, information sharing and mutualIncludes direction making, information sharing and mutual
assistance provisionsassistance provisions
Environment (Wales) Bill
Contribute to and inform delivery of the Well-being objectives andContribute to and inform delivery of the Well-being objectives and
Well-being plans.Well-being plans.
This will enable the management of natural resources to feed intoThis will enable the management of natural resources to feed into
the preparation of Local Development Plans.the preparation of Local Development Plans.

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Environment Bill: other Part 1 provisionsEnvironment Bill: other Part 1 provisions
•Biodiversity and resilience of ecosystems dutyBiodiversity and resilience of ecosystems duty
• Refocuses s40 of NERC Act 2006Refocuses s40 of NERC Act 2006 for public authorities whofor public authorities who
carry out functions in Wales, so the requirements are in linecarry out functions in Wales, so the requirements are in line
with principles of SMNRwith principles of SMNR
• Sharpens requirement on public authorities:Sharpens requirement on public authorities:
• s40: “have regard”s40: “have regard”
• Env Bill: “Env Bill: “must seek to maintain and enhancemust seek to maintain and enhance””
• And in doing so promote ecosystem resilienceAnd in doing so promote ecosystem resilience
• Retains s42 (biodiversity lists) requirementsRetains s42 (biodiversity lists) requirements
• Public authorities must publish a compliance report (beforePublic authorities must publish a compliance report (before
end of 2019 and every third year thereafter)end of 2019 and every third year thereafter)
Environment (Wales) Bill

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• Statutory climate change target for 2050:Statutory climate change target for 2050:
• At least an 80% reduction in emissions against 1990 levelsAt least an 80% reduction in emissions against 1990 levels
• Framework for setting:Framework for setting:
• Interim targetsInterim targets
• Carbon BudgetsCarbon Budgets
Accelerate progress in tackling causes and consequences of climateAccelerate progress in tackling causes and consequences of climate
change, contributing to achievement of Well-being Goals.change, contributing to achievement of Well-being Goals.
Will also help to inform priorities in the National DevelopmentWill also help to inform priorities in the National Development
Framework, Strategic Development and Local Development Plans.Framework, Strategic Development and Local Development Plans.

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• Extends Welsh Ministers’ powers so that charges can be set forExtends Welsh Ministers’ powers so that charges can be set for
other types of carrier bags (eg ‘bags for life’) in addition toother types of carrier bags (eg ‘bags for life’) in addition to
current chargecurrent charge
• Bill also provides regulation making powers for requirementsBill also provides regulation making powers for requirements
on retailers to donate proceeds to good causes.on retailers to donate proceeds to good causes.
Help support delivery against Well-being goals and Local Authorities’Help support delivery against Well-being goals and Local Authorities’
delivery against Well-being Objectivesdelivery against Well-being Objectives

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• 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’Help support delivery against Well-being goals and Local Authorities’
delivery against Well-being Objectivesdelivery against Well-being Objectives

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• Fisheries for shellfish
• Marine Licensing
• Land Drainage
• Flood and Coastal Erosion Committee

18. Environment (Wales) BillEnvironment (Wales) Bill
www.wales.gov.uk/naturalresourcemanagementwww.wales.gov.uk/naturalresourcemanagement

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