Thread by @ruthmchambers

The #EnvironmentBill is in @UKHouseofLords today for its 'second reading', when it will debated for several hours by Peers.

We'll be live tweeting and you can watch from 2.30pm at parliamentlive.tv/Lords

68 Peers are signed up to speak in this important debate on the #EnvironmentBill

You can see the line up here

lordswhips.org.uk/todays-lists

This is the first dedicated #EnvironmentBill for over 20 years

The stakes couldn't be higher therefore. But we’re still lacking the right building blocks to restore nature, air and water in the UK

Read our @GreenerUK_ @WCL_News briefing for more detail

greeneruk.org/sites/default/…

The debate is opened by @DefraGovUK minister @ZacGoldsmith who gives a run through of the #EnvironmentBill main provisions - no mean feat, given it runs to 141 clauses, 20 schedules and 262 pages.

bills.parliament.uk/publications/4…

Minister @ZacGoldsmith expects "strong and lively debate" on the #EnvironmentBill

He say that the government will shortly be tabling amendments shortly on:

a 2030 species recovery target
storm overflows
environmental principles in Scotland
amendments requested by @SeneddWales

.@LordWajidKhan opens the #EnvironmentBill debate for Labour, calling on the government to listen to and act on cross party calls to strengthen the bill.

He says, "There remains a lot of room to be more ambitious".

Now @kateparminter opens the Lib Dems' contributions calling for "significant strengthening" of the #EnvironmentBill if it is to be sufficiently transformative to tackle the environmental crisis. All govt depts must be caught by the bill. Ministerial powers need careful scrutiny.

The #EnvironmentBill is a "once in a generation chance to chart a better course for all flora & fauna that live on our crowded island" says crossbencher Lord Cameron of Dillington.

He says the OEP must be independent of Defra & calls for stronger action on water quality/sewage.

The Earl of Lindsay says the governance framework is a "critical component" part of the #EnvironmentBill - he cites a lack of alignment and coherence which must be resolved. Stronger, clearer action plans are needed to provide business confidence and certainty.

@oatesjonny says that the #EnvironmentBill framework to set environmental targets "falls short" and calls for interim targets to be legally binding.

He expect Peers to focus on the need for the enforcement framework to be strengthened.

Now @RosieBoycott adds her voice to those calling for more independence for the Office for Environmental Protection, a theme emerging strongly from the #EnvironmentBill debate so far.

She also cites concerns on river pollution and planning protections.

Bishop of Oxford @Steven_Croft says the #EnvironmentBill offers a moment for "extraordinary leadership"

He calls on govt to listen to the plea from every Peer who has spoken to strengthen the financial & political independence of the OEP so that it is "above party politics".

The Duke of Montrose highlights "the forest of Henry VIII powers" tucked away in the #EnvironmentBill which must be carefully examined to ensure they are properly prescribed and drafted.

.@youngb48 sets a high bar for the new 2030 species recovery target - it must be sufficiently ambitious.

Accepting sensible amendments would enable the #EnvironmentBill to progress quicker.

Expect more of this on Thurs whatson.parliament.uk/event/cal34810

.@lordtev welcomes the #EnvironmentBill to @UKHouseofLords at last but finds it lacking in urgency and is concerned by a lack of join up across government.

The OEP should not sit in @DefraGovUK and must be more independent.

The bill's silence on marine conservation is troubling

The Earl of Lytton welcomes several provisions including those to achieve 'net biodiversity gain' on development.

He wishes the #EnvironmentBill well but agrees with other Peers it needs "some amendment".

.@Baronessjenkin calls for an indicator on the circular economy & action on food waste

It's good to see interest in the important measures on resources & waste

She say "We must grasp the opportunity to be radical...our very survival as a species is at stake"

#EnvironmentBill

Lord Trees supported by @Vet_Policy says the #EnvironmentBill is a missed opportunity to take action on antimicrobial resistance given its important to environmental, human and animal health.

He also flags concerns on UK REACH.

who.int/health-topics/…

Now @GreenJennyJones adds her voice to the cross party calls for the #EnvironmentBill to be strengthened and for unfinished business from other legislation to be dealt with.

.@uxbridgewalrus welcomes the much anticipated #EnvironmentBill and would like to see more ambition on air, water soil quality.

He wants to see "genuine independent status" for the Office for Environmental Protection. 'Net gain' must cover major infrastructure projects.

Lord Whitty shares the concerns of other Peers on rumours that the government wants to rush the #EnvironmentBill through without improvement and proper debate.

He makes the case for the bill's enforcement framework to be strengthened.

.@RupertRedesdale calls the #EnvironmentBill "a cornucopia" whose core provisions on governance and principles must be strengthened. He's also concerned about the absence of heritage.

The Earl of Sandwich wants the #EnvironmentBill to include the @WHO guidelines on air pollution as a minimum legal aim, and also calls for stronger action to stop deforestation.

The Earl of Shrewsbury raises concerns about the growing crisis in river and water quality in the #EnvironmentBill debate and calls for more action on fly tipping and littering.

Crossbencher @bricksilk reiterates concerns on the power and the independence of the Office for Environmental Protection.

He says the new enforcement frameworks risks being less effective than before.

#EnvironmentBill

As per this @BinghamCentre note

binghamcentre.biicl.org/publications/e…

.@Dafydd_Wigley adds his voice to the growing cross party calls (five parties plus crossbenchers so far) for the independence and powers of the OEP to be strengthened.

He calls for the #EnvironmentBill to be significantly strengthened.

Lord Blencathra welcomes the high percentage of delegated powers to be decided by the affirmative procedure.

For more detail see the report of the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee on the #EnvironmentBill

committees.parliament.uk/publications/6…

More interest in the water clauses, this time from Lord Chidgey who calls for @EnvAgency to be given enough funding to do its job and aquifers to be protected from unsustainable abstraction.

Viscount Colville of Culross focuses his #EnvironmentBill comments on the resources & waste section.

He calls for the power to charge for single use plastics to be extended to cover all single use materials & for a more ambitious approach to the deposit return scheme.

The Earl of Caithness says we have have "failed miserably" to halt the decline in our natural environment.

The #EnvironmentBill is just one part of the policy jigsaw and must work alongside environmental land management.

It must do more to protect soils.

In his remarks, Lord Browne of Ladyton hits on one of the potential gaps in the #EnvironmentBill - how the environmental principles and environmental governance will apply across the UK, including on reserved matters.

Crossbencher Lord Krebs focuses his comments on the need for ambition on biodiversity given the dire state of the UK's nature and refers to the tide of legal opinion on the need to strengthen the Office for Environmental Protection.

rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb…

Baroness Eaton raises another emerging common theme from the #EnvironmentBill debate - the need to strengthen the #EnvironmentBill 'net gain' provisions and for the bill to work in harmony with farming and planning legislation.

.@Fox_Claire calls for "philosophical tensions" and balance to be part of debates on the #EnvironmentBill

.@SallyGreengross wants the interests of local government to be properly considered during discussions on the #EnvironmentBill and calls for stronger powers for @Ofwat

Good to hear Viscount Trenchard support the #EnvironmentBill powers to revoke or revise damaging water abstraction licenses and asks for clarity on how conservation covenants will work in practice.

Lord Addington adds voice to the calls for the OEP to be strengthened.

He would also like to see the #EnvironmentBill take a more enthusiastic approach to encouraging access to green spaces.

Lord Vaux of Harrowden wishes the #EnvironmentBill had more upfront detail on how its many powers would be taken forward. Plans and targets must be considered holistically to ensure they are fit for purpose and enjoy public support.

.@rosaltmann praises @ZacGoldsmith for his work on the #EnvironmentBill but is concerned about implementation. Progress must be secured in less than the 15 years proposed eg by binding interim targets. The OEP must not be a "toothless tiger" & water quality must be improved.

.@JeffRookerj focuses his comments on governance & adds his voice to the many Peers calling for the #EnvironmentBill to be strengthened through a more independent & powerful Office for Environmental Protection. He reminds the govt of its previous promises

gov.uk/government/spe…

Lord Carrington probes the government on why heritage issues have been excluded from the #EnvironmentBill and its target setting framework.

.@LilleyPeter describes the intertwined fates of human and environmental endeavour and for these to be pursued holistically through the #EnvironmentBill

Lord Smith of Finsbury welcomes the #EnvironmentBill & calls for 4 changes :

A more independent Office for Environmental Protection
A mandatory water efficiency on water using products
A change to building regs to promote water efficiency
Increasing public access to nature

Lord Framlingham wants the #EnvironmentBill to lead to more action on trees, including on tree nurseries and creating and caring for woodland.

.@Lord_Bilimoria cites the conclusions of the #Dasgupta review in his #EnvironmentBill remarks, expressing business support for the move to a circular economy and increased ambition on environmental improvements.

Lord Bradshaw flags the impact of off road motorised vehicle use in green lanes and in areas such as National Parks and wants the the government to consult on this.

#EnvironmentBill

.@natalieben says the #EnvironmentBill is urgently needed given the dire state of our nature, and lends her support for:

Environmental principles to apply universally
'Net gain' to cover major infrastructure
Stronger enforcement on green laws
Action on antimicrobial resistance

Lord Faulkner of Worcester welcomes the principle of the #EnvironmentBill and makes a case for heritage railways to continue powering steam trains by coal. As he said, this has been an extraordinarily wide debate.

Lord Harries of Pentregarth shares my favour Gerard Manley Hopkins wildness quote in the #EnvironmentBill debate.

He says a concern for the environment is also a concern for those who suffer especially the poor & a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach.

Baroness Redfern calls for more restriction on heather burning in blanket bogs.

#EnvironmentBill

The Bishop of Salisbury gives his valedictory speech on the #EnvironmentBill - his bishop colleagues will work in subsequent stages to improve the bill.

It matters "a great deal" that we bottom out the role of the OEP and how targets will be set.

Change is needed urgently.

His speech is definitely one to re-read and re-quote.

We need a legislative framework to help us to do the right thing.

Thanks to Bishop Nick for all of his championing of environmental and social issues in @UKHouseofLords

.@AnneCMcIntosh focuses her #EnvironmentBill comments on farming and the marine environment.

She endorses @bricksilk comments on the OEP needing to be properly independent and empowered.

The Clause 24 guidance smacks of "micro managing".

The Duke of Wellington laments the terrible state of river quality

Outside the EU we are free to set our own standards so why not commit to good ecological status for all rivers?

The tenor of the debate suggests the govt amendments are not going to be ambitious enough for Peers

Lord Cormack proposes heritage should be included within the scope of the #EnvironmentBill and urges decisive action to address the decline in nature.

He is also concerned about the potential impact of planning reforms.

.@MRitchieSD welcomes the #EnvironmentBill She thanks @RSPBNI for its briefing and calls for the Northern Ireland aspects to be "toughened up".

She supports binding interim targets and stronger independence and powers for the OEP & urges clarity on next steps for the OEP in NI

.@IanDuncanHMG welcomes the #EnvironmentBill & calls for clarity on three issues:

Independence for the OEP
Territorial co-operation between the new governance systems
The deficiencies in the enforcement framework

.@sheehanshas argues that Parliament must be allowed a say on the vitally important biodiversity metric.

She echoes others' concerns on OEP independence and enforcement framework and calls for more ambition on deforestation.

Lord Berkeley adds his voice to the calls from across the House for improvements to the #Environmentbill to make the Office for Environmental Protection the independent, effective oversight body we need.

Delivering the bill will also need sufficient resources.

The #EnvironmentBill debate is in the final furlong - four more backbench speeches with closing remarks from the frontbenches and the Minister still to come.

We've been going since 2.30pm. It's been a wide ranging & rich debate with many recurring and very resonant messages.

The Earl of Devon welcomes the "long term holistic" approach of the #EnvironmentBill and calls for clarity on how its measures such as local nature recovery strategies will work smoothly alongside other policy levers like environmental land management schemes.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach delivers the final comments from the backbenches in this epic #EnvironmentBill debate.

"This bill is about our lives & our relationship with the planet that sustains us".

He is in "little doubt the bill will receive considerable discussion in the House"

My mistake, Lord Sheikh is the final backbencher to speak as he had some IT glitches earlier.

He welcomes the #EnvironmentBill and says we must set a lead for other nations to follow.

Now for the final trio of frontbench speeches.

First up, Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville for @LibDemLords

The #EnvironmentBill could see the UK lead the world on restoring nature

But the devil will be in the detail. Environmental principles must be applied in full

She refers to the calls from across the House on strengthening the independence and powers of the Office for Environmental Protection and calls for more ambition across the bill - to halt nature's decline, to improve air and water quality and boost resource efficiency.

Now @WhitchurchGirl closes the #EnvironmentBill debate for @LabourLordsUK

While there is much to be commended, the gaps and the fudges remain all too prevalent.

She wants the UK to be able to present a compelling world leading offer this year, but the bill is not there yet.

Labour will work through the bill clause by clause to give it the scrutiny it needs and will take "as long as it needs to get the bill right" (a very welcome assurance).

She refers to the "almost universal clamour" for the role of the OEP to be strengthened & properly resourced.

.@WhitchurchGirl says the public health crisis on air quality must be addressed in the bill.

Labour wants to create a positive legal direction for nature (ie not just halting decline) and wants to create a historic piece of legislation.

Finally, Minister @ZacGoldsmith tries valiantly to respond to the many points raised in the #EnvironmentBill debate:

- Dasgupta sets a new direction of travel. The bill is neither a silver bullet or the end of the story
- the bill is destined to work alongside other measures

The Minister continues his summing up:

- water quality is a hugely important issue which the govt has recognised through new amendments
- surprising that water efficiency didn't come more
- restoring chalk streams is a government priority

On putting the WHO amendment on the face of the #EnvironmentBill the Minister suggests the government is yet to be convinced on this.

Disappointingly (a) no appetite to improve the targets framework in the bill (b) thinking does not seem to have developed since Commons stages.

The minister recognises the many contributions from Peers on the independence and powers of the OEP. The govt believes the bill is strong enough already.

Given the strength of feeling from Peers, this is definitely unfinished business for the #EnvironmentBill

On biodiversity net gain, the government is exploring how this might apply to major infrastructure. Sounds like one to keep a close eye on.

The minister will write to Peers on points he didn't have time to cover.

Huge thanks to everyone who spoke.