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(1/6) THREAD The #EnviromentBill is back before its Commons Committee today, with water clauses in the spotlight. How can the Bill secure clean and abundant water for wildlife, plants and people?
(2/6) Overall the Bill sets out welcome changes to water management, enabling more strategic thinking to protect our water environment and greater consideration of how water management can contribute towards wider environmental targets
(3/6) BUT 1 clause is a real concern. Clause 81 provides a license for Gov to weaken standards for the chemical status of our waters via secondary legislation. 0% of our waters are in good health – we must strengthen standards, not weaken them!
https://www.wcl.org.uk/not-one-river-in-england-in-good-health.asp
https://www.wcl.org.uk/not-one-river-in-england-in-good-health.asp
(4/6) We urge the Committee to back amendment 135, which would legally require the SoS to have regard to stakeholder input on water standards, ensuring that targets and standards are only altered in line with scientific advice and following appropriate stakeholder consultation.
(5/6) It would also be helpful for Bill Minister @pow_rebecca to put an assurance of non-regression of environmental standards on the record
(6/6) You can read our & @GreenerUK_'s full briefing on the water clauses here. Thank you to everyone involved in producing the briefing!
https://www.wcl.org.uk/docs/Greener_UK_and_Link_briefing_Environment_Bill_Committee_water_clauses.pdf
https://www.wcl.org.uk/docs/Greener_UK_and_Link_briefing_Environment_Bill_Committee_water_clauses.pdf
