The Environment Act 2021 is the most wide-reaching and significant new environmental Statute for many years. In this book, the full text of the Act is reproduced, accompanied by commentary and a section-by-section analysis written by 2 of the UK's leading experts in environmental law. The book comments on and analyses the main provisions of the Act, including:- A requirement on government to establish long-term environmental targets and environmental improvement plans;- Legal recognition for the first time in national law of a number of core environmental principles, including the precautionary principle and the polluter pays principle;- The establishment of a new independent statutory body, the Office for Environmental Protection;- Substantial provisions on waste including producer responsibility and resource efficiency; - Provisions on water resource management, water abstraction and drainage and sewerage; - Strengthening of controls on air quality; and- New provisions concerning the protection of nature and biodiversity, including the creation of conservation covenants. This comprehensive and practical guide to the new legislation will be of significant value to anyone involved in environmental law in both the private and public sector, in particular practitioners and those advising on the impact and ambit of environmental law.

Written by 2 leading experts in environmental law

Part 1Environmental governanceChapter 1Improving the natural environmentEnvironmental targetsEnvironmental monitoringPolicy statement on environmental principlesEnvironmental protection: statements and reportsChapter 2The Office for Environmental ProtectionThe Office for Environmental ProtectionThe OEP's scrutiny and advice functionsThe OEP's enforcement functionsArrangement of Sections and SchedulesInformationChapter 3Interpretation of Part 1Part 2Environmental governance: Northern IrelandPart 3Waste and resource efficiencyProducer responsibilityResource efficiencyManaging wasteArrangement of Sections and SchedulesWaste enforcement and regulationPart 4Air quality and environmental recallAir qualityEnvironmental recall of motor vehicles etcPart 5WaterPlans and proposalsStorm overflowsRegulation of water and sewerage undertakersAbstractionWater qualityLand drainagePart 6Nature and biodiversityBiodiversity gain in planningBiodiversity objective and reportingArrangement of Sections and SchedulesLocal nature recovery strategiesConservationHabitats RegulationsTree felling and plantingUse of forest risk commodities in commercial activityPart 7Conservation covenantsCreation of conservation covenantEffect of conservation covenantArrangement of Sections and SchedulesBreach and enforcementDischarge and modificationReplacement etc of responsible bodyMiscellaneousSupplementaryPart 8Miscellaneous and general provisionsRegulation of chemicalsConcurrent functions in WalesGeneral provisionsArrangement of Sections and Schedules