IEMA has developed 18 key policy asks that we are urging the newly elected UK government to prioritise immediately.
These asks cross a range of areas from the circular economy and impact assessment through to environmental governance. If delivered, these asks would collectively ensure that the right policy frameworks and enablers are in place so that the UK is able to meet its long-term climate and wider environmental targets.
Among the 18 policy asks, IEMA urges the new government, in partnership with industry, to:
• Design and implement a robust plan to protect 30% of the land and the sea for nature’s recovery by 2030 (30by30).
• Develop a national circular strategy to ensure materials and products needed for our transition to a net-zero economy are reused, remanufactured and recycled.
• Develop a clear investment and deployment roadmap for onshore wind, as recommended by the Skidmore Review, and establish a speedier regime for good projects to connect to the grid.
• Create a national environmental assessment unit to enhance environmental impact assessment delivery, and to support the shift to environmental outcomes reports that began under the previous government.
Meeting our climate and environmental targets is an economy-wide challenge, and not one for sustainability professionals and organisations alone. It is a necessity that all job roles help contribute to delivering greener outcomes.
IEMA is, therefore, also urging the new government to prioritise investment and concentrate policy development on the green skills and jobs agenda.
Specifically, to:
• Ensure the delivery of a green jobs plan that sets out how investment in green jobs and skills will be channelled across different economic sectors so that we have a workforce that can deliver the green economy of the future.
• Build on the work of the Green Jobs Delivery Group and establish a permanent cross-government body that takes a strategic approach to delivering green skills and jobs growth in the economy that is tied to our long-term environmental goals.
• Support the development and utilisation of IEMA’s Green Careers Hub to help all workers understand where they fit into the green economy of the future.
IEMA will be working closely with the new government over the coming weeks and months to highlight our key policy asks and to ensure that the sustainability agenda is at the heart of the national policy agenda.
Visit www.bit.ly/IEMA-asks
