Legislating for change: giving the green light

• The forthcoming Environment Bill comes at a critical time for the UK, when the gaps in environmental policy—previously driven by the EU—must be closed.
• The devolution settlement adds an additional layer of complexity in the development of a new environmental governance framework.

The forthcoming Environment Bill comes at an important time as the UK prepares to leave the EU: in effect, it is being viewed as an environmental constitution. The Bill will be substantial and include important aspects of environmental principle and governance, as well as legislating in areas which have significant public interest such as air quality and plastic waste. Parliamentary arithmetic suggests that the passage of the Bill will offer plenty of opportunities for amendment, not just from the opposition but also from the government, given that only part of the Bill has been subjected to pre-legislative scrutiny. A high level of scrutiny will be welcomed if it