Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Climate Change – in the Senedd at 1:52 pm on 6 October 2021.
Minister, I'd like to ask you firstly about environmental governance. Environmental Standards Scotland has commenced its statutory role as an independent environmental governance body. Scotland has also put in place core environmental principles, with associated duties and guidance, and the Westminster Environment Bill is expected to pass this autumn with the office for environmental protection set to provide independent oversight in England and Northern Ireland. There's a pattern emerging everywhere else. Welsh stakeholders recommended equivalent actions for Wales in spring 2020, yet we still don't have a firm commitment to a time frame for legislation, leaving Wales with this indefinite governance gap. Citizens' access to justice for breaches of environmental law have been diminished and the environment is being less well protected. So, Minister, will you commit firmly please to bringing forward the promised legislation on environmental governance and principles in the second year of this Senedd?