Rachael Davidson writes for Edie.net on the role of the Office for Environmental Protection (OEP)
The UK's Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) just recently released its latest report assessing progress on nature conservation and restoration, planning and environmental law.
The OEP is a relatively new public body charged with protecting and improving the environment by holding government and other public authorities to account. The OEP was introduced by the Environment Act 2021 to fill the regulatory gap following Brexit. The European Commission has oversight of the application and adherence to environmental law across the EU, however, post-Brexit, the UK needed its own domestic mechanism to maintain accountability for environmental protection and ensure compliance with environmental laws - hence the OEP's creation.
In light of the launch of the new report, Rachael Davidson, Senior Associate in our Real Estate & Disputes team, writes an article for Edie.net outlining the OEP's purpose and key focus areas, and how sustainability professionals might interact / work with the public body.
Rachael explains:
The OEP is a central piece of the UK’s environmental governance framework in the post-Brexit era. Its activity in responding to complaints, undertaking investigations and intervening in high profile environmental cases go some way to dispel criticism it is toothless or not independent.
"For sustainability professionals, the OEP is a key ally in advocating for strong environmental governance. By monitoring its work and engaging with its reports, professionals can gain insights into regulatory trends, highlight gaps in enforcement, and collaborate on solutions to complex environmental challenges.
Read the full article in Edie.net here.
