IEMA’s Chief Executive Officer Sarah Mukherjee responds to Environment Bill Delay

The Government’s announcement of a delay to the passage through Parliament of the Environment Bill, while understandable, is a significant cause for concern. The Bill is urgently needed to put in place an effective governance framework to enhance environmental protection and reverse nature’s decline.

Commenting on the delay, IEMA’s CEO, Sarah Mukherjee, said:

“At a time when the Government seeks to claim world leadership on green issues ahead of hosting the UN Conference on Climate Change (CoP26) and the G7 world leaders summit, it is disappointing that the Bill’s passage will be paused until the next Parliamentary session. Whilst we acknowledge the reasons for the delay, it is vital that Government uses the additional time to engage with stakeholders on improving the Bill and that the work needed to set long-term legally binding targets, establish the new Office for Environmental Protection and put environmental principles at the heart of policy-making continues apace. In the year when the UK is co-host of crucial international climate change talks, it is vital that the Bill completes its passage through Parliament before the summit begins in November.”