Assurances in the Environmental Bill: Letter from the Broadway Initiative
After the UK's exit from the European Union was formally completed in 2020, a large amount of work began to create an environmental framework for the UK. In particular, the Environment Bill was a key part of the legislation working towards that goal, eventually becoming the Environment Act 2021.
The Broadway Initiative wrote this letter to the Government, highlighting seven assurances to help ensure that the Environment Bill would enable businesses and stakeholders to contribute to its ambitions:
- Define shared objectives for the environment
- Establish predictable processes for government to ensure appropriate policies are in place
- Include clear principles for incorporating the environment during policy development
- Provide for a unified spatial framework for achieving environmental objectives alongside other social and economic objectives
- Include clear and stable responsibilities for specified activities
- Provide for independent oversight of government progress and action
- Support a coherent approach at UK level
As the IES agreed with many of these recommendations, our Policy Team signed the letter in support. We also supported a letter from the Broadway Initiative on seizing opportunities through the Bill.
Has governance been delivered for the environment?
The implementation of environmental governance remains a key priority for environmental action across the UK.
In 2026, the IES launched a crucial report on reconnecting environmental targets with credible outcomes, including the legally-binding targets set under the Environment Act.
IES President Julie Hill MBE called for "a Golden Thread of Governance" to see environmental aspirations through to action. In that report, we set out seven recommendations for delivering environmental targets in practice:
- Start with clear, simple targets underpinned by a unifying vision
- Produce actionable and specific delivery plans
- Convene government, partners, and practitioners for delivery
- Provide sufficient resources to ensure delivery
- Use strong accountability frameworks at the programme or project level
- Monitor with a purpose and make better use of data
- Ensure monitoring and evaluation result in feedback to refine plans and delivery
If you want to support the work of the IES, you can become an affiliate, or if you’re a professional in the environmental sector working with science, consider joining the IES.
Header image credit: © Lois GoBe | adobe Stock
