Office for Environmental Protection
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) was created in November 2021 under the Environment Act 2021 with the mission of protecting and improving the environment by holding government and other public authorities to account.
Overview[1]
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) was created in November 2021 under the Environment Act 2021 with the mission of protecting and improving the environment by holding government and other public authorities to account.
The organisations and individuals they can hold account include:
- government departments
- government ministers
- regulators
- local authorities
- some private bodies such as water companies (but only in respect of their public powers and duties)
OEP Remit[1]
The Environment Act 2021 sets out the OEPs powers and duties which are split into four types of activities. These are:
Scrutinising Environmental Improvement Plans and targets
The OEP will monitor, critically assess and report on government's progress in improving the natural environment in line with their Environmental Improvement Plans (EIPs), goals and targets.
As the Government has a duty to report its own assessment of progress annually and to review its plans periodically the OEP will hold government to account against these obligations, at whcih point it has a duty to respond to the OEP recommendations. This cycle of assessment and scrutiny underpins the delivery of the EIPs and targets in law.
Scrutinising Environmental Law
The OEP have a duty to monitor the implentation of environmental law. They can decide to report on any such matter at any time. The reports must be published and presented to Parliament and/or the Northern Ireland Assembley.
Advising government of environmental law
The OEP can give advice on any changes to environmental law proposed by government. This could be in response to:
- draft legislation published by government, or
- a white paper setting out proposals for future legislation
Government may also ask them for advice regarding any other matter relating to the natural environment.
Enforcing against failures to comply with environmental law
The OEP will use the powers and duties given to them under the Environment Act 2021 to contribute to environmental protection and the imporvement of the natural environment. this includes the protection of people from the effects of himan activity on the environment.