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Natural resource management and Climate Change21st November 2013

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What is the aim of the Bill?

•To provide a modern statutory framework for the sustainable management of natural resources by legislating for a more joined-up and proactive process.

•To put in place the governance to ensure we use and manage Wales’ natural resources in a way which will deliver lasting economic and social benefits as well as environmental.

•To deliver better outcomes for Wales by helping to strip away unnecessary complexity and simplifying processes

Environment Bill

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How will this aim be achieved?Proposals in the White Paper are organised under 4 main themes:

•Theme 1 will join-up the existing statutory frameworks for natural resource planning and management in Wales.

•Theme 2 will ensure NRW has the legislative tools to help enable them to implement integrated natural resource management.

•Theme 3 will take actions to ensure Wales’ natural resources are used to best effect and reduce waste.

•Theme 4 will simplify, streamline and clarify the law for a number of existing environmental regulatory regimes.

Environment Bill

National Natural Resources Policy

Long-Term National Outcomes

State of Natural Resources Report

Area Based Natural Resource Planning(Area based approach, and Area Statements)

Permitting, Licensing, Regulation

Marine Spatial Plan

National Development Framework?

Regional Planning Strategies

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Delivery P

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Town & Country Planning Development

Management

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Natio

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NB

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Glastir

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Strateg

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RB

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Integrated Coastal Zone management

Marine Licensing

The emerging policy landscape in Wales

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Proposal: National Natural Resource Policy Environment Bill

• This proposal is to ensure that the key opportunities, trends and priorities for the sustainable management of natural resources are clearly set out on a national basis.

• It will form the direction of travel for all natural resource policy in Wales, including the social and economic impacts on, and opportunities from, natural resources.

• It will be owned, agreed and published by Welsh Ministers.

• It must consider the impacts of climate change on the management of natural resources, and the role that natural resources can play to help mitigate and adapt to those effects

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Proposal: NRW - Area-based approachEnvironment Bill

• The intention is to place a duty on NRW to develop and implement an area-based approach for the sustainable management of natural resources

• This means providing a clear communication of the priorities, objectives and collective actions required within a given area for the sustainable management of natural resources.

• It will provide clarity for stakeholders and other delivery bodies in relation to where opportunities, risks and challenges for the management of natural resources exist.

• It must consider the impacts of climate change on the management of natural resources, and the role that natural resources can play to help mitigate and adapt to those effects

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Proposal: Natural Resource Management – Duties on other bodies

Environment Bill

• The intention is to unify planning and priority setting processes for natural resource management

• There is proposed duty on other public bodies to cooperate, share information, jointly plan and jointly report on the management of natural resources (…including climate change!)

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We would welcome input on:Environment Bill

• Is embedding climate change adaptation planning into natural resource management the right approach to implementing our Natural Environment SAP?

• What specific issues (UK climate projections, national risk assessment) must be taken into account if we are to fulfil that requirement?

• Are NRW the appropriate body to be leading on the planning and priority setting for natural environment adaptation planning?

• What other tools, techniques and requirements on others may we need to consider ?

• What specifically would need to be included on the face of the bill or as statutory guidance to ensure the action we want happens?

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Options for delivery

• “On the face of the Bill” – this gives absolute certainty, but can be restrictive in terms of providing flexibility

• Details included in a Schedule – this is no different from the above except the detail is set out in a separate part of the legislation

• WM given powers to issue Orders / Directions – this means that the process can be clearly set out in secondary legislation. Easier to update, but NRW / other bodies must follow orders.

• WM given powers to issue Guidance – this is similar to the above, but NRW / other bodies can choose to ignore guidance

• Process to be set out in writing and approved by Welsh Ministers – this allows NRW / other bodies to design the process, but is still rigid in that it must then follow the process as approved

• Nothing specified – this gives most flexibility, but least clarity around what it is expected to do.

Environment Bill