MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet
Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs: I am very pleased
to introduce the Environment (Principles, Governance and
Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill and its supporting
documentation to the Senedd today.
Our duty and commitment to the environment is clear and
unwavering. This pivotal piece of legislation reflects this
commitment and responds to the pressing climate and nature
emergencies.
This Bill establishes a robust framework for environmental
governance in Wales, grounded in internationally recognised
environmental principles. These principles are the principle of
prevention, the precautionary principle, rectification at source,
and the polluter pays principle. The Welsh Ministers and NRW will
be required to apply these principles when making policy which
affects the environment. This is further supported by a duty to
integrate environmental protection into the making of such
policies. To improve the cohesion of this new approach across the
public sector, certain public authorities who are undertaking
strategic environmental assessment will also be subject to a duty
to apply the principles and integrate environmental protection.
By establishing these principles into Welsh law, environmental
protection is embedded across all areas of policy-making and
decisions subject to strategic environmental assessment.
The establishment of the Office of Environmental Governance
Wales, (“the OEGW”) is a key component of the Bill is This
statutory body will provide strategic oversight of environmental
law, including addressing any non-compliance by certain public
authorities. It will also ensure environmental law is effective
and fit for purpose by monitoring, reporting, and enforcing
environmental law compliance. Enforcement will be escalatory,
reflecting the need to work collaboratively with public
authorities to reduce environmental harm.
The Bill recognises the alarming decline of biodiversity and
seeks to halt and reverse this trend. The Bill introduces a
target setting framework which includes requirements to evaluate,
monitor and report on progress. The Welsh Ministers will be
required to prepare detailed plans outlining the actions they
intend to take to achieve the targets, ensuring transparency and
accountability. Regular evaluation reports will assess the impact
and effectiveness of policies, providing a basis for
continuous improvement.
Welsh Ministers will be required to lay draft regulations before
the Senedd which set targets that focus on reducing the risk of
extinction of native species; the effective management of
ecosystems; reducing pollution; and the quality of evidence to
inform decisions relating to biodiversity, access to that
evidence and its use and application.
In setting targets, the Welsh Ministers must be satisfied that
meeting the targets will contribute to halting and reversing the
decline in biodiversity, in particular through increasing the
abundance of native species, enhancing the resilience of
ecosystems or increasing genetic diversity.
The Bill also requires the Welsh Ministers to take steps to
promote awareness in Wales of the importance of biodiversity and
the threats it faces. Encouraging positive change will be
essential for the success of our environmental objectives.
The Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets)
(Wales) Bill represents a significant step forward in our
endeavour to protect and enhance the environment and is a
testament to our commitment to safeguarding the environment for
current and future generations. I urge all Members to support
this Bill, ensuring that we continue to act decisively to protect
the well-being of our nation and our planet.
A copy of the Bill and its supporting documentation is available
here. I will be making
a legislative statement in Plenary on 03 June 2025. I look
forward to working with Members of the Senedd during their
consideration of the Environment (Principles, Governance and
Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill in the months ahead.
