Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill - Explanatory Memorandum

Sep 4, 2026

Explanatory Memorandum prepared for the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill, laid before Senedd Cymru. The memorandum sets out the legislative competence, purpose, intended effect, and consultation, and explains how the Bill strengthens responses to climate and nature emergencies. It describes environmental principles and an environmental objective, duties for Welsh Ministers, Natural Resources Wales and other authorities, and establishes the Office of Environmental Governance Wales with oversight of compliance with environmental law.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages298

Reading Time12 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

Part 1 – Explanatory Memorandum

1. Description

2. Legislative Competence

3. Purpose and intended effect of the legislation

4. Consultation

5. Power to make subordinate legislation

Part 2 – Regulatory Impact Assessment

6. Regulatory Impact Assessment summary

7. Options

8. Costs and benefits

9. Impact Assessments

10. Affordability Assessment

11. Post implementation review

Annexes

Annex 1 – Explanatory Notes

Annex 2 – Index of Standing Orders

Annex 3 – Schedule of Amendments

Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill Explanatory Memorandum incorporating the Regulatory Impact Assessment and Explanatory Notes June 2025 Explanatory Memorandum to the Environment ( Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets)(Wales) Bill This Explanatory Memorandum has been prepared by the Climate Change & Environmental Sustainability Directorate of the Welsh Government and is laid before Senedd Cymru. Member’s Declaration In my view the provisions of the Environment (Principles , Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill, introduced by me on the 02 June 2025 , would be within the legislative competence of Senedd Cymru. Huw Irranca Davies MS Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs Member of the Senedd in charge of the Bill 02 June 2025 Contents page GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMNS Part 1 – EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 1. Description Page 5 2. Legislative Competence Page 9 3. Purpose and intended effect of the legislation Page 10 4. Consultation Page 127 5. Power to make subordinate legislation Page 136 PART 2 – REGULATORY IMPACT ASSESSMENT 6. Regulatory Impact Assessment summary Page 143 7. Options Page 148 8. Costs and benefits Page 199 9. Impact Assessments Page 226 10.Affordability Assessment Page 239 11. Post implementation review Page 243 ANNEX 1 – Explanatory Notes Page 246 ANNEX 2 – Index of Standing Orders Page 281 ANNEX 3 – Schedule of Amendments Page 285 Glossary of Acronyms and Abbreviations 2016 Act Environment (Wales) Act 2016 Agriculture Act The Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023 AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty BAU Business As Usual CaDW CBA Cost Benefit Analysis CCEI Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee CJEU European Court of Justice COP15 Convention on Biological Diversity EIA Environmental Impact Assessment EC European Commission EMFF European Maritime Fisheries Fund EIR Environmental Information Regulations ESS Environmental Standards Scotland EU European Union FTE Full Time Equivalent FUW Farmers Union of Wales GBF Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework GDP Gross Domestic Product GDPR General Data Protection Regulations GoWA Government of Wales Act 2006 (amended by the Wales Act 2017) ICO Information Commissioner's Office IIA Integrated Impact Assessments IEPAW Interim Environmental Protection Assessor for Wales IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature JR Judicial Review JSII Justice System Impact Identification JNCC Joint Nature Conservation Committee KAS Knowledge and Analytical Services MoJ Ministry of Justice NRAP Nature Recovery Action Plan NNRP National Natural Resources Policy NPV Net Present Value NRW Natural Resources Wales OEGW Office of Environmental Governance Wales OfWat The Water Services Regulation Authority OEP Office for Environmental Protection PfG Programme for Government (commitment) RIA Regulatory Impact Assessment RSPB Royal Society for Protection of Birds SEA Strategic environmental assessment SLM Sustainable Land Management SMNR Sustainable Management of Natural Resources SoNaRR State of Natural Resources Report SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest TCA UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement TEU Treaty on European Union TFEU Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union UKBI UK Biodiversity Indicators UK United Kingdom UN United Nations WFG Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 WG Welsh Government WWF Worldwide Wildlife Fund (for nature) PART 1 – EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 1. Description 1.1. The Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets)(Wales) Bill (“the Bill”) supports the commitment in the Programme for Government to “work towards the establishment of an Environmental Governance Body, a statutory duty and targets to protect and restore biodiversity”. The impa

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill?

The Bill supports commitments in the Programme for Government and aims to strengthen responses to climate and nature emergencies by setting environmental principles, an environmental objective, and biodiversity target-setting arrangements.

Which bodies are required to apply environmental principles and integrate environmental protection?

The Welsh Ministers and Natural Resources Wales must apply the principles when making policy, and certain public authorities must integrate environmental protection when carrying out strategic environmental assessment.

What is the Office of Environmental Governance Wales responsible for?

The Bill establishes the Office of Environmental Governance Wales to provide independent strategic oversight and ensure public authorities comply with their duties under environmental law in Wales.

Sep 4, 2026

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