#EnvironmentBill Report Stage starts with @pow_rebecca explaining the Bill's delay - saying Govt "remains committed to getting this Bill on the statute books" and promises Royal Assent by Autumn. Watch here: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/736cbd87-af24-491f-bfc9-8ed2cda5b324
First amendment up is NC1 from @CarolineLucas - an essential change which would strengthen the environmental principles by requiring public authorities to apply them rather than to just have “due regard” #EnvironmentBill
OEP UPDATE! @pow_rebecca announces that the new Office for Environmental Protection will be located in Worcester #EnvironmentBill
Anger from @LukePollard on hearing this news as it was announced in Oct 2019 that it would be located in Bristol - "the South West has been robbed of a regulator" #EnvironmentBill https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-introduces-ground-breaking-environment-bill
"Bee health is non-negotiable" says @LukePollard on Govt's recent decision to authorise a neonicotinoid pesticide. Labour have tabled an amendment requiring greater scrutiny of exemptions granted to banned pesticides. Sign @WildlifeTrusts petition here: https://action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/74049/data/1
"We are destroying our natural world at an alarming rate" says @hilarybennmp introducing NC5. This crucial amendment would put an ambitious, binding new ‘State of Nature’ target on the face of the Bill - committing to reversing the decline of nature by 2030 #EnvironmentBill
Chair of the @CommonsEAC @Dunne4Ludlow argues for greater independence for the Office for Environmental Protection - raises concerns that it will not have sufficient budget to recruit staff required #EnvironmentBill
Very important amendment raised by @timloughton - ensuring that interim environmental targets are binding. Highlighting previously missed targets, he argues this would guarantee contentious incremental improvement and bring the #EnvironmentBill in line with the Climate Change Act
Former @DefraGovUK Secretary Theresa Villiers warns that Gov't determination to 'Build, Build, Build' could compromise its environmental ambition - but offers strong support for the #EnvironmentBill, which could be a "historic turning point"
Amendment 28 introduced by @RichardGrahamUK, who highlights the vital role access to green space has on people's health and wellbeing. This amendment would require the government to include steps to improve enjoyment of the natural environment in Environmental Improvement Plans
@BarryGardiner speaks in support of amendments on environmental principles and a new 'State of Nature' target. Also raises concerns that the OEP will be more of a 'lapdog' than a watchdog #EnvironmentBill
The OEP's lack of power and independence coming under regular criticism in MPs' remarks.

"OEP only has the power to shame the Government" - this will be ineffective for "a Government that knows no shame" @timfarron cheekily remarks
. @Debbie_abrahams with a David Attenborough namedrop! She highlights the number of constituents that have contacted her about the state of the environment, particularly schoolchildren, shows how concerned people are #EnvironmentBill
"In the most deprived areas of England, people tend to have the poorest health and significantly less green space than wealthier areas" says @KeeleyMP - argues that the Government should set targets for access to nature to address this inequality #EnvironmentBill
The #EnvironmentBill offers a vision for a post-pandemic future says @alexsobel

If we pass the amendment for a new 'State of Nature' target (NC5), it "will give our wildlife threatened with extinction a much better chance of survival" he says.
Remarks from @IoWBobSeely and Richard Fuller MP focus on ensuing housebuilding and the Government's Planning White Paper does not threaten our environmental and climate commitments #EnvironmentBill
. @jessicamordenmp rightly warns that the Government's recent emergency authorisation of neonicotinoids could set a precedent for Ministers to strike out other hard-won protections - "we must not allow this to happen!" #EnvironmentBill
A call for ambition from @_RobbieMoore - the Government must ensure the OEP has the "teeth and weight to take action" and the #EnvironmentBill must be pushed forward at pace
If the Government has the power to tell the OEP how to do its job, it won't be able to do its job effectively at all says @MGreenwoodWW calling to delete Clause 24, which gives the Secretary of State the power to issue guidance on the OEP’s enforcement function #EnvironmentBill
The fact that over 50,000 people have signed
@WildlifeTrusts petition to overturn the decision to allow bee-killing pesticides shows the strength of feeling on the issue says @MGreenwoodWW

You can make that number even bigger by signing here: https://action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/74049/data/1
NC5 - the State of Nature target - "would set the equivalent of a net zero target for tackling the decline in nature" says @KerryMP, arguing we need these protections in law to guard against bad decisions such as the recent authorisation of damaging pesticides #EnvironmentBill
Common theme emerging of MPs speaking about concerns raised with them from their constituents - particularly young people - on environmental issues. @LizTwistMP says that she was 'flooded with representations' from constituents on the neonics decision
If we are to have further delay, could we please use the time to improve the Bill a bit better than we have done so far urges @amcarmichaelMP

Here are a few suggestions on how the Government might do that: https://greeneruk.org/sites/default/files/download/2021-01/Greener_UK_Link_summary_briefing_for_Environment_Bill_Report_stage.pdf
"The decline of bees will have a disastrous impact on food security.. with 13 bee species already extinct" says @rach_hopkins - who also highlights the 50,000+ people who have signed @WildlifeTrusts petition.

Add you name here: https://action.wildlifetrusts.org/page/74049/data/1
Minister @pow_rebecca now closing the debate for the Government. Rejects amendment NC1 on environmental principles saying it would place a "major burden on Gov't and public authorities"
On NC5 - the binding 'State of Nature' target to reverse nature's decline by 2030 - @pow_rebecca says Government's current target setting process will "contribute" to global 2030 goals set under the Convention for Biological Diversity - so why not put this in the Bill? 🤔🤔🤔
. @pow_rebecca argues against making interim targets legally binding - saying 'environmental improvement can be unpredictable'.

The targets can be flexible to overcome this, but by making them legally binding it will ensure the necessary action is taken now
And finally - we come to the bees 🐝

@pow_rebecca argues that the authorisation requires 'strict protection for bees and pollinators'.

Worryingly, the mitigation includes the use of yet more herbicides to control flowering 'weeds'.

Read our briefing: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2021-01/MP%20briefing%20-%20neonicotinoid.pdf
You can follow @ElliotCJ.
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