This Bill, the first of its kind for over 20 years, will establish a new structure for managing the environment and will aim to strengthen environmental protections to reverse nature’s decline.

It sets out five important environmental principles in law: integration, prevention, precaution, rectification and ‘polluter pays’. These must function as important guiding principles for the government.

Support from all sides of the House is required to ensure the Bill is effective at helping to halt the loss of nature and sets our environment on a pathway to significant improvement. The Bill must chart a course away from toxic air, plastic pollution and wildlife losses and towards a brighter, greener future.

The Wildlife Trusts have been working with MPs from all political parties to make sure this Bill gives nature the support it deserves. We think the Environment Bill must be more ambitious to adequately respond to the climate and nature crisis. As part of the Greener UK coalition of environmental NGOs, we are urging MPs to make changes to the Bill that will allow it to deliver the radical nature protection we need. 

Below you can download the briefings The Wildlife Trusts have produced with Greener UK and Wildlife & Countryside Link - there is an intro to the Bill, as well as more detailed commentary on five priority amendments and most others that have been tabled. 

On Tuesday 26th January, the Environment Bill will be going to Report Stage in the House of Commons, where all MPs have the chance to support amendments and discuss the Bill.  For MPs who care about the planet, this is a key opportunity to turn words into actions.

We want people to give their local MP a nudge to support the Bill with amendments put forward by the Greener UK partnership. You can download a template letter for you to use to write to your MP in the links below.