Environmental Principles
In May 2022 the Government published the Draft Environmental Principles Policy Statement[1] to ensure that environmental principles are used consistently across government to guide policymaking whilst supporting innovation and economic growth. The purpose of these principles which were introduced within the Environment Act 2021 is to guide Ministers and policy-makers towards opportunities to prevent environmental damage and enhance the environment, where relevant and appropriate[1].
The five Principles[1] are:
- An integration principle
- A prevention principle
- A rectification at source principle
- The polluter pays principle
- The precautionary Principle