Deputy First Minister says environment bill 'crucial' for Wales
The planned legislation would allow the government to set up an independent office to check how public bodies protect the environment
Last updated 3rd Jun 2025
A new law to protect biodiversity in Wales has been introduced.
The Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change, Huw Irranca-Davies said the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill, would ‘play a crucial role’ in safeguarding Wales' natural environment.
Key elements of the Bill include:
- Ensuring Welsh Ministers and Natural Resources Wales apply environmental principles and integrate environmental protection when making policy.
- Establishing the Office of Environmental Governance Wales to provide independent oversight of compliance, application and implementation of environmental law in Wales. Their role will include ensuring public authorities, such as Welsh Government, NRW and local authorities, are complying with and implementing the law.
- Enabling Welsh Ministers to set ambitious biodiversity targets that drive actions towards halting and reversing the decline in biodiversity. In particular, through increasing native species abundance, enhancing ecosystem resilience, and strengthening genetic diversity.
The Deputy First Minister said:
“I am thrilled to be introducing this Bill to the Senedd. It is crucial legislation that will empower us to address climate and nature emergencies, safeguard our environment from harm and ensure a sustainable future for Wales.
“Wales is facing unprecedented challenges in respect of climate change and biodiversity with severe weather events like floods, heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires significantly impacting our communities, our ecosystems and even our economy.
“With one in six species now at risk of extinction in Wales, it has never been more important to restore nature and preserve the natural environment for future generations.
“The urgency to act has never been greater...
and this Bill is an important step in strengthening our response and oversight of action in Wales.”
The bill is anticipated to include powers to establish an environmental governance body for Wales - which would hold the Welsh Government and other public authorities to account on environmental performance.
These powers are being proposed to address, what stakeholders refer to as, the ‘environmental governance gap’ following EU-exit.