Environmental protection

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on environmental protection. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

Date	Description
23.07.2013	CAP Reform 2014-2020: Reaching Agreement
	Political agreement was reached on the major elements of the reform of the Common Agriculural Policy for 2014-2020 on 26 June 2013. This note sets out the main elements of the agreement with stakeholder comment. Some issues are still being discussed at European level following overall EU budget agreements and the flexibility of the reform deal means that key implmenentation decisions are to follow in the UK.
11.07.2013	Shale gas and fracking
	The recent rapid development of unconventional gas resources (notably shale gas) in North America has transformed the world gas-market outlook. This note looks at the situation in the UK, covering resource estimates and economic potential, the regulatory regime, environmental considerations and current policy on fracking and shale gas.
28.06.2013	Flood insurance
	This note outlines issues relating to flood insurance within the UK.
06.06.2013	Septic tanks: new regulations
	Septic tanks within groundwater source protection zone 1 had to be registered or have an environmental permit by 2012. All other septic tanks may have to be registered depending on the outcome of the consultation by DEFRA due to be announced in 2013.
15.05.2013	The Water Bill
	The Government plans to introduce a Water Bill in this parliamentary session. It will probably focus on increasing competition in the water sector, and it will also aim to deliver other objectives including the provision of flood insurance, the better management of water supplies and more sustainable water abstraction.

Research Papers

Date	Description
12.03.2013	Energy Bill: Committee Stage Report
	This paper complements Library Research Paper 12/79 on the Energy Bill 2012-13. It covers the Bill's Second Reading and Committee Stages. The Bill seeks to implement electricity market reform and introduces 'contracts for difference' to support all forms of low carbon generation, including nuclear. Government amendments made during Committee Stage related to cheaper energy tariffs and setting a decarbonisation target.
13.12.2012	Energy Bill
	The Energy Bill [Bill 100 of 2012-13] seeks to implement 'electricity market reform' and through this achieve 'secure, clean and affordable' electricity supplies. The Bill was introduced to the Commons on 29 November 2012 and will have its Second Reading debate on 19 December 2012. A draft Bill was subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee.
30.10.2012	Antarctic Bill
	This Private Member's Bill makes provision for expeditions in Antarctica to have contingency plans to deal with environmental emergencies.
10.11.2010	Sustainable Livestock Bill. Bill 5 of 2010-11 Public Bodies (Sustainable Food) Bill. Bill 12 of 2010-11
	The Sustainable Livestock Bill aims to reduce the environmental impacts of livestock production in the UK. It also aims to amend the way agricultural subsidies are used to make them more environmentally friendly. It includes a duty to give consideration to supporting sustainable practices and consumption through public procurement of livestock produce. The Public Bodies (Sustainable Food) Bill would create a duty on the Secretary of State to prepare a Code for Sustainable Food to promote the procurement of healthy and sustainable food by public bodies. This could be made compulsory if uptake was not extensive enough.
16.06.2009	Marine and Coastal Access Bill [HL]
	The Bill covers a broad range of marine issues and would: (1) set up a new Marine Management Organisation (MMO) under which many of the existing, diverse areas of marine regulation would be centralised; (2) streamline the existing marine licensing system and provide powers to create a joined up marine planning policy; (3) introduce new measures to reform fisheries management; (4) provide a framework for establishing marine conservation zones; and, (5) enable the creation of a route around the English coast.

Select Committee Reports

Date	Description
14.09.2011	The impact of UK overseas aid on environmental protection and climate change adaptation and mitigation....
	Government response. Environmental Audit Select Committee; Department for International Development report [Commons]
13.07.2011	Green Investment Bank.
	Government response. Environmental Audit Select Committee; Treasury report [Commons]
13.07.2011	Joint Nature Conservation Committee and JNCC Support Co.
	Joint Nature Conservation Committee report [Commons]
22.06.2011	The impact of UK overseas aid on environmental protection and climate change adaptation and mitigation....
	Environmental Audit Select Committee report [Commons]
18.05.2011	Embedding sustainable development: the Government's response.
	Government response. Environmental Audit Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

Date	Description
19.07.2011	EVERY CHILD OUTDOORS CAMPAIGN
	That this House recognises the importance of children having regular contact with the natural environment; congratulates the RSPB for its Every Child Outdoors research, which highlights ...
16.06.2011	NEW GENERATION BIOFUELS
	That this House acknowledges that advanced biofuel technologies could play a vital role in reducing carbon emissions, providing energy security for the UK, managing waste and creating ...
14.06.2011	POLICY ON BIOFUELS AND THEIR EFFECTS
	That this House welcomes the recent announcements from the Government regarding biofuels, but continues to have concerns over the negative impacts of current biofuels on people, food ...
24.05.2011	LEGISLATION ON ILLEGAL TIMBER
	That this House is dismayed that, despite the statement on page 17 of the Coalition Agreement that `We will introduce measures to make the import or possession of illegal timber a criminal ...
20.01.2011	DISCARD OF MARKETABLE FISH
	That this House congratulates Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Channel 4 for highlighting the wasteful discarding of marketable fish at sea; commends the Scottish fishing industry for ...

Lords Library Notes

Date	Description
28.01.2013	Antarctic Bill (HL Bill 76 of 2012-13)
	The Antarctic Bill would implement Annex VI (the 'Liability Annex') to the Antarctic Treaty's Environmental Protocol and sets out measures to reduce risks of environmental emergencies in Antarctica. It would also make a number of changes to the Antarctic Act 1994 to give additional protection to the Antarctic environment. This Library Note provides background information in advance of the Bill's second reading in the House of Lords on 1 February 2013.
08.01.2010	Debate on 14th January: The Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change. LLN 2010/001
	Debate on 14th January: The Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change. This Library Note aims to provide background reading for the debate to be held on Thursday 14th January: 'To call attention to the outcome of the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change' The UN Conference on Climate Change took place in Copenhagen from 7th-19th December 2009. This Note explains the significance of the Conference in the context of previous international agreements on climate change, sets out the major disagreements that marred the negotiating process in Copenhagen and summarises the key elements contained in the final Copenhagen Accord. It considers analysis of the Accord's achievements and shortcomings, and summarises the reactions of key nations and interest groups.

POST Papers

Date	Description
23.07.2013	Invasive Alien Plant Species
	Some alien plant species can become invasive and have detrimental ecological, social and economic effects. This POSTnote summarises debate over the risks posed by such plant species and the policy frameworks and measures for addressing these risks.
06.06.2013	Environmental Impact of Tidal Barrages
	A tidal energy barrage across the Severn Estuary could produce up to 5% of the UK's electricity demand. It would help meet renewable energy targets but would have significant environmental impacts. This POSTnote summarises evidence on environmental impacts associated with the operation of tidal energy barrages and the effectiveness of compensatory measures.
05.02.2013	Biodiversity & Planning Decisions
	Built developments and mineral extraction can bring social benefits. However, if developments decrease biodiversity there could be a net loss of human well-being. Planning policy is devolved and this POSTnote sets out how the information on impacts of proposed developments on biodiversity is given to planners in England. It also summarises approaches to enhance biodiversity and avoid, mitigate and compensate for negative impacts.
18.01.2013	Biodiversity in UK Overseas Territories
	The UK Overseas Territories (UKOTs) support a diverse variety of habitats ranging from ice fields and rocky islands to coral reef atolls and tropical forests. This POSTnote summarises the challenges to conservation management and halting biodiversity loss in UKOTs, as required under international agreements.
21.12.2012	Plant-made Pharmaceuticals
	The use of genetically modified (GM) plants to produce pharmaceutical drugs and vaccines is an emerging technology that offers a low-cost, large-scale alternative to current methods. This POSTnote looks at recent advances in, and the benefits of, the technology, and analyses the associated biosafety and regulatory issues.
17.09.2012	Water Resource Resilience
	The availability of water resources is fundamental for society and economic activities. This POSTnote describes the reasons for uncertainties in water resource availability for future supply and demand and possible responses to managing these risks in the medium term.