The Environment Bill would establish a new environmental governance system, including the setting of long-term targets and the creation of an Office for Environmental Protection. It also includes measures on improving air quality, waste management and recycling, water management, biodiversity and conservation covenants. The bill is due to have it second reading in the House of Lords on 7 June 2021, having been carried over from the last session.
Environment Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages (377KB PDF)
On 7 June 2021, the second reading of the Environment Bill is scheduled to take place in the House of Lords. The bill is a wide-ranging piece of legislation, comprised of a range of different thematic elements. The first part of the bill is focused on environmental governance. It would allow the Government to set long-term targets for the natural environment and includes the creation of an Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) to hold the government to account on environmental law and its environmental improvement plan now that the UK has left the European Union.
The bill also provides for measures directed at specific areas of environmental policy. They include provisions on improving air quality; waste management and recycling; water management; protecting natural habitats and biodiversity; and for so-called conservation covenants.
The bill has completed its passage through the House of Commons. During debate on its provisions, Labour welcomed the bill but described it as lacking in the necessary ambition and insufficient to address the urgent need presented by the climate crisis and other critical environmental issues. As a result, Labour (and other opposition parties) tabled a range of amendments during committee and report stage, although all were unsuccessful.
Government amendments and new clauses were accepted at both stages. A number of these amendments were minor and technical in nature. Others were more substantial and are discussed in the body of this briefing. For example, concerning issues such as introducing greater clarity on the role of the Office for Environmental Protection and its relationship with the existing Committee on Climate Change.
The Government has also announced that it will seek to move further amendments in the House of Lords. They include measures aimed to reduce the harms caused by storm overflows and to introduce a legally binding target on species abundance.
Environment Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages (377KB PDF)
The Nature’s Rights Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill sponsored by Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green Party). The bill would recognise nature as a legal subject, granting it specific rights for protection and restoration. The bill would set out a legal framework for how this would operate, including an integrated rights framework and mechanisms for how nature’s rights would be implemented and enforced.
![Nature’s Rights Bill [HL]: HL Bill 7 of 2026–27](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Environment-568x426.png)
The Railways Bill would implement parts of the government’s plan to nationalise the railways, which was a manifesto commitment. It would create Great British Railways, a new publicly owned body that would be a “directing mind” for the railways, bringing “track and train together”. It would also give new powers to the Passengers’ Council and require the government to publish a long-term strategy for rail, among other things.
Concerns about abuse and intimidation towards elected representatives have increased in recent years. The Jo Cox Civility Commission made a number of recommendations in a 2024 report to address this because of concerns that this activity would dissuade people from standing in elections and encourage existing representatives to stand down. The government has instigated a number of policies to tackle the abuse and intimidation of elected representatives.
