Environment Act 2021 (Chapter 30).

Country/Territory: United Kingdom
Document type: Legislation
Date: 2021
Source: FAO, FAOLEX
Long title: An Act to make provision about targets, plans and policies for improving the natural environment; for statements and reports about environmental protection; for the Office for Environmental Protection; about waste and resource efficiency; about air quality; for the recall of products that fail to meet environmental standards; about water; about nature and biodiversity; for conservation covenants; about the regulation of chemicals; and for connected purposes.

Subject: Air & atmosphere, Environment gen., Forestry, Water, Wild species & ecosystems, Waste & hazardous substances
Keyword: Air quality/air pollution Emissions Environmental planning Environmental standards Governance Policy/planning Pollution control Standards Protection of environment Framework law Environmental audit EIA Monitoring Data collection/reporting Research Forest management/forest conservation Forestry protection measures Protection forest Risk assessment/management Organic waste Packaging/labelling Polluter pays principle Transport/storage Transboundary movement of waste Waste management Waste prevention Subsidy/incentive Drainage/land reclamation Effluent waste water/discharge Water quality standards Freshwater resources management Water shortage/drought Priorities Freshwater pollution Water abstraction Basic legislation Ecosystem preservation Biodiversity Endangered species Protected area Protection of habitats Protection of species Traceability/product tracing
Geographical area: Atlantic Ocean Islands, Europe, Europe and Central Asia, North Atlantic, North Sea, North-East Atlantic, Northern Europe

Abstract: The Environment Act 2021 ("the Act") is organised in 8 Parts and 21 Schedules. Part 1 provides a legal framework for environmental governance; it sets out a discipline for improving the natural environment and establishes the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), a new, statutory and independent environmental body, having as its principal objective to contribute to environmental protection and the improvement of the natural environment, with functions of scrutiny, advice and enforcement. Part 1 regulates environmental targets (sections 1-7), for instance it allows the Secretary of State to set, by regulations, long-term targets in respect of any matter which relates to the natural environment, or people’s enjoyment of the natural environment; it specifies that this power must be exercised in respect of at least one matter within each priority area (air quality; water; biodiversity; resource efficiency and waste reduction) and requires the government to meet long-term targets, and to prepare remedial plans where long-term targets are not met. It also requires the government to set and meet an air quality target for fine particulate matter in ambient air and a target relating to the abundance of species. It also establishes the process by which a long-term target is set and amended. Moreover Part 1 requires the government to have, and maintain, an Environmental Improvement Plan (sections 8-15), a plan to significantly improve the natural environment, which sets out the steps the government intends to take to improve the natural environment and the interim targets towards meeting the long-term targets. The Part continues providing powers to the Secretary of the State to exercise environmental monitoring functions (section 16); requiring the Secretary of the State to prepare a “policy statement on environmental principles” explaining how the environmental principles specified under the Act are to be interpreted and proportionately applied by Ministers of the Crown when making policy (sections 17-19); requiring the government to publish a report on the impact of all new environmental primary legislation (section 20); and requiring the government to undertake a report on developments in “International environmental protection legislation” intended as legislation of countries and territories outside the United Kingdom, and international organisations, that is mainly concerned with environmental protection.
Full text: English
Website: www.legislation.gov.uk

References - Legislation

Amends

Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (2006 Chapter 16).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2006

Keyword: Agricultural development, Biodiversity, Protection of environment, Pesticides, Environmental planning, Cultural heritage, Hazardous substances, Policy/planning, Inland waters, Institution, Ecosystem preservation, Management/conservation, Birds, Alien species, National parks, Protected area

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Waste Management Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 (S.R. No. 493 of 2003).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2003

Keyword: Farming, Agricultural development, Waste management, Waste disposal, Pollution control, Authorization/permit, Freshwater pollution, Groundwater

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Climate Change Act 2008 (Chapter 27 of 2008).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2008 (2016)

Keyword: Climate change, Institution, Air quality/air pollution, Emissions, Environmental standards, Basic legislation, Pollution control, Standards, Protection of environment, Energy conservation/energy production, Policy/planning, Waste domestic sources, Waste management

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Planning Act 2008 (Cap. 29).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2008

Keyword: Land-use planning, Environmental planning, Institution, EIA, Expropriation, Basic legislation, Policy/planning, Waste management, Waterworks, Effluent waste water/discharge, Pollution control, Freshwater pollution

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (1990 Chapter 8).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 1990 (2017)

Keyword: Environmental planning, Policy/planning, Forestry protection measures, Forest management/forest conservation, Land-use planning, Institution, Expropriation, Enforcement/compliance, Offences/penalties, Soil rehabilitation, Protected area, National parks

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Water Act 2003 (Chapter 37).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2003 (2015)

Keyword: Basic legislation, Water supply, Freshwater resources management, Institution, Inland waters, Irrigation, Freshwater pollution, Flood, Water shortage/drought, Waterworks, Water abstraction, Authorization/permit, Access-to-information, Pollution control

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Transfrontier Shipment of Waste Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 1711 of 2007).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2007

Keyword: Pollution control, Waste management, Transboundary movement of waste, Waste disposal, Authorization/permit, Transport/storage, Offences/penalties

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Groundwater Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (S.I. No. 254 of 2009).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2009

Keyword: Pollution control, Freshwater pollution, Groundwater, Data collection/reporting, Effluent waste water/discharge, Institution, Authorization/permit, Hazardous substances, Offences/penalties

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Land Drainage Act 1991 (Chapter 59).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 1991 (2017)

Keyword: Basic legislation, Drainage/land reclamation, Freshwater resources management, Institution, Inland waters, Waterworks, Flood, Water charges

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (S.I. No. 2778, N.I. 9 of 1997).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 1997

Keyword: Soil pollution/quality, Authorization/permit, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Data collection/reporting, Registration, Waste management, Waste disposal

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Chapter 69).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 1981 (2020)

Keyword: Framework law, Management/conservation, Protected area, National parks, Birds, Hunting/capture, Endangered species, Protection of species

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Water Industry Act 1999 (Chapter 9).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 1999 (2002)

Keyword: Basic legislation, Water supply, Sewerage, Institution, Water charges, Industrial water use, Data collection/reporting

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999 (Chapter 24).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 1999 (2020)

Keyword: Pollution control, Institution, Waste management, Waste disposal

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Forestry Act 1967 (Chapter 10).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 1967 (2019)

Keyword: Basic legislation, Forest management/forest conservation, Forestry protection measures, Institution, Timber extraction/logging, Authorization/permit, Public forest, Private forest, Contract/agreement, Afforestation/reforestation, Special fund, Land tenure, Expropriation

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Environment Act 1995 (Chapter 25).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 1995 (2021)

Keyword: Air quality/air pollution, Environmental standards, Pollution control, Standards, Protection of environment, Framework law, Basic legislation, Institution, Environmental planning, EIA, Offences/penalties, Cultural heritage, Policy/planning, Marine fisheries, Soil pollution/quality, Certification, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Soil rehabilitation, Waste management, Flood, Drainage/land reclamation, Freshwater pollution, Sustainable use, Protected area, National parks

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

REACH Enforcement Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 2852 of 2008).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2008

Keyword: Hazardous substances, Data collection/reporting, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Enforcement/compliance

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Environmental Protection Act 1990 (Chapter 43).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 1990 (2019)

Keyword: Framework law, Institution, Environmental planning, Education, Policy/planning, Soil pollution/quality, Waste management, Waste disposal

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Water Resources Act 1991 (Chapter 57).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 1991 (2018)

Keyword: Tax/levy, Basic legislation, Institution, Inland waters, Navigation, Irrigation, Freshwater pollution, Flood, Water shortage/drought, Freshwater resources management, River basin institution, Waterworks, Water abstraction, Authorization/permit, Access-to-information, Pollution control

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Clean Air Act 1993 (Chapter 11).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 1993 (2018)

Keyword: Basic legislation, Air quality/air pollution, Access-to-information, Monitoring, Emissions, Environmental standards, Pollution control, Standards, Protection of environment

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Water Act 2014 (Chapter 21).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2014 (2018)

Keyword: Ecosystem preservation, Hazards, Coastal zone management, Framework law, Basic legislation, Freshwater resources management, Institution, Inland waters, Water supply, Sewerage, Authorization/permit, Water abstraction, Water quality standards, Water shortage/drought, Flood, Drainage/land reclamation, Freshwater pollution, Effluent waste water/discharge, Governance, Water rights, Waterworks, Monitoring, Enforcement/compliance, Offences/penalties, Pollution control

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Environment (Wales) Act 2016 (2016 anaw 3).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2016

Keyword: Air quality/air pollution, Emissions, Environmental standards, Pollution control, Standards, Protection of environment, Framework law, Institution, Ecosystem preservation, Environmental planning, Climate change, Coastal zone management, Enforcement/compliance, Offences/penalties, Policy/planning, Fishery management and conservation, Marine fisheries, Crustaceans, Aquatic animals, Soil pollution/quality, Waste management, Waste disposal, Freshwater resources management, Sustainable development, Flood, Hazards, Sewerage, Biodiversity, Protection of habitats

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. No. 81 of 2017).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2017

Keyword: Marine pollution, EIA, Crustaceans, Stock enhancement/repopulation, Fishery management and conservation, Aquatic animals, Inland waters, Freshwater pollution, Sustainable development, Sustainable use, Classification/declassification, Standards, Monitoring, Environmental planning, Water abstraction, Water conservation zone, Water quality standards, Groundwater, Pollution control, Policy/planning, Ecosystem preservation, Protection of habitats

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 (2017, Chapter 20).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2017

Keyword: Land-use planning, Expropriation, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Public participation, Local government

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 1012 of 2017).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2017

Keyword: Coastal zone management, EIA, Sustainable development, Expropriation, Sustainable use, Waterworks, Freshwater resources management, Biodiversity, Management/conservation, Protected area, Birds, Protection of habitats, Ecosystem preservation, Marine protected areas, Protection of species, Enforcement/compliance, Offences/penalties

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Equality Act 2010 (Chapter 15).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2010 (2022)

Keyword: Equity, Gender, Governance, Social protection, Human rights, Economic/social/cultural rights, Institution, Offences/penalties, Dispute settlement, Breastfeeding/infant food, Nutrition, Ownership, Lease

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

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