Published today (10 March), the consultation will run until 2 June, and asks for responses to the five environmental principles and their application to the work of all government departments.
Environment secretary, George Eustice, said: “We want to embed the environment in the design, development and delivery of the Government’s work.
“Our environmental principles are essential, and will ensure that ministers across Whitehall are guided to not just protect the environment, but tackle problems at their origin. This will deliver our pledge to leave the environment in a better state for future generations.”
Polluter pays
One of the five principles set out in the draft statement is the polluter pays principle, which means that the costs of pollution should be “borne by those causing it”, rather than the person who “suffers the effects” of resulting environmental damage.
The principle is applicable where there is evidence or potential for environmental harm or a negative environmental impact.
“We want to embed the environment in the design, development and delivery of the Government’s work”
The draft policy statement said that policy makers should consider how the allocation of responsibility for the pollution causes the most environmental benefit.
It added that in order to address a change in behaviour, it may be more effective to charge the consumer for a product which is associated with environmental harm.
An example of this is the plastic bag charge, which Defra said has “successfully incentivised changes in consumer behaviour and a reduction in consumption”.
However, the policy statement said that it does not create an obligation on ministers to create a tax in response to the principle.
‘Prevent, reduce, or mitigate’
The statement outlined four other principles, that would require policy-makers to actively look for opportunities to “embed environmental protection”, and how they should aim to “prevent, reduce or mitigate harm” to the environment.
It also included the rectification at source principle, which means that if damage to the environment cannot be prevented, “it should be tackled at its origin”.
It also outlined the precautionary principle, which states that where there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, a lack of scientific certainty “shall not be used as a reason for postponing measures”.
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