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Office for Environmental Protection: Difference between revisions
→Scrutinising Environmental Improvement Plans and targets
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The [[Office for Environmental Protection]] ([[OEP]]) was created in November 2021 under the [[Environment Act 2021]] with the mission of protecting and improving the environment by holding government and other public authorities to account. | The [[Office for Environmental Protection]] ([[OEP]]) was created in November 2021 under the [[Environment Act 2021]] with the mission of protecting and improving the environment by holding government and other public authorities to account. | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview<ref name="OEP">[https://www.theoep.org.uk/what-we-do/ OEP]</ref>== | ||
The [[Office for Environmental Protection]] ([[OEP]]) was created in November 2021 under the [[Environment Act 2021]] with the mission of protecting and improving the environment by holding government and other public authorities to account. | The [[Office for Environmental Protection]] ([[OEP]]) was created in November 2021 under the [[Environment Act 2021]] with the mission of protecting and improving the environment by holding government and other public authorities to account. | ||
The organisations and individuals they can hold account include: | |||
*government departments | |||
*government ministers | |||
*regulators | |||
*local authorities | |||
*some private bodies such as water companies (but only in respect of their public powers and duties) | |||
==OEP Remit<ref name="OEP" />== | |||
The [[Environment Act 2021]] sets out the [[OEP]]s powers and duties which are split into four types of activities. These are: | |||
===Scrutinising [[Environmental Improvement Plans]] and targets=== | |||
The OEP will monitor, critically assess and report on government's progress in improving the natural environment in line with their [[Environmental Improvement Plans]] ([[EIP|EIPs]]), goals and targets. | |||
As the Government has a duty to report its own assessment of progress annually and to review its plans periodically the [[OEP]] will hold government to account against these obligations, at whcih point it has a duty to respond to the [[OEP]] recommendations. This cycle of assessment and scrutiny underpins the delivery of the EIPs and targets in law. | |||
===Scrutinising Environmental Law=== | |||
The [[OEP]] have a duty to monitor the implentation of environmental law. They can decide to report on any such matter at any time. The reports must be published and presented to Parliament and/or the Northern Ireland Assembley. | |||
===Advising government of environmental law=== | |||
The [[OEP]] can give advice on any changes to environmental law proposed by government. This could be in response to: | |||
* draft legislation published by government, or | |||
* a white paper setting out proposals for future legislation | |||
Government may also ask them for advice regarding any other matter relating to the natural [[environment]]. | |||
===Enforcing against failures to comply with environmental law=== | |||
The [[OEP]] will use the powers and duties given to them under the [[Environment Act 2021]] to contribute to environmental protection and the imporvement of the natural [[environment]]. this includes the protection of people from the effects of himan activity on the environment. | |||
==References== | |||
<references /> | |||