Shaping the future: Setting the Environmental Objectives for the Environment Bill

IEMA is working as part of the Broadway Initiative to develop environmental governance proposals for when the UK leaves the EU.

Environment secretary Michael Gove was the keynote speaker at our recent Broadway Initiative 'Shaping the future: Setting the Environmental Objectives for the Environment Bill' event at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London.

“Gove spelled out his desire for the UK to better EU standards“

Addressing a packed room full of sustainability professionals, Gove spelled out his desire for the UK to better EU environmental standards. By showing leadership, as it did with the Climate Change Act, Gove said the UK could “ensure others look to us for the innovations that increase productivity and safeguard the environment“.

He also touched on the importance of performance metrics, moving agriculture up the value chain, and investing in new technological advances in battery storage and transport.

Those present were invited to put questions to the MP, who did his best to allay fears around a post-Brexit environmental watchdog having sufficient legal powers.

He also responded to concerns about the bureaucracy of local land management schemes, saying they must be “simple, but sensitive to specific needs“, and talked about the need for cross-party support.

A series of workshops then took place, with participants sharing what they expect to see in the Environment Bill and what should happen next. Generally, there was support for high-level objectives in the Bill, and agreement that the government of the day must be responsible for any specific targets set.

Feedback from the event will be sent to key members of the Cabinet, and IEMA will continue to engage with government departments to muster support for the recommendations it puts forward.

Image credit: Getty Images