February 2022
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
This conference discussed the next steps for environmental standards and regulation in the UK and priorities for the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP).
We were delighted to be able to include keynote sessions with: Dame Glenys Stacey, Chair, Office for Environmental Protection; Sir James Bevan, Chief Executive, Environment Agency; Alan Law, Deputy Chief Executive, Natural England; and Debbie Stockwell, Joint Head of 25 Year Environment Plan Policy Team, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Delegates considered priorities for the interim operation of the Office as well as next steps for implementing its full powers and responsibilities. The agenda also looked at how best to ensure the OEP’s independence and authority as an arms-length body, and what is needed for it to effectively hold the Government to account.
This was a timely opportunity to consider broader priorities for environmental standards. Delegates considered the policy landscape following the Royal Assent of the Environment Bill, reflect on what is needed to set the foundations for long-term governance and targets, and assess progress with the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan.
Further sessions brought out sector perspectives on fair standards for environmental protections and what is needed for the effective design of regulations to encourage sustainable industry behaviour - as well as how the OEP can best work with other regulators and arms-length bodies to coordinate regulatory action.
The discussion brought together stakeholders with key policy officials who attended from BEIS; the Cabinet Office; the CCC; DAERA, NI; Defra; DLUHC; the DfT; the DWI; the Environment Agency; the Government Legal Department; HM Revenue & Customs; the NAO; the NIEA; the ORR; Ofwat; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government - as well as parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons.
