Red tape must not stop green growth, boss warns

HAVING GOOD regulations in place is “essential” when it comes to protecting people and nature and tackling climate change, Environment Agency boss Sir James Bevan warns.

But, in a speech to the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry today, the agency’s chief executive will call for the scrapping of some EU rules and “thoughtful” reform of others to make sure they are focusing on delivering for the environment.

He is set to warn of the need to “get regulation right” to help build back better with a green recovery from the pandemic, and to address the climate emergency.

Sir James is expected to say: “Let me be clear that I am against red tape, if by red tape we mean regulation for its own sake, or bad regulation. But regulation – good regulation – is essential. Good regulation protects people and the environment from harm.

“Good regulation creates a level playing field for business, allowing well-run companies to thrive and stopping those who don’t want to play by the rules from undercutting them.”

Sir James is set to call for the repeal of the EU Floods Directive, saying the elements it requires of member states, such as to carry out assessments, create maps and develop flood risk management plans, are all things the Environment Agency was already doing and will continue to do.

The Water Framework Directive has delivered significant improvements in water quality in the past 20 years, the chief executive believes, but could be reformed to shift focus away from indicators that do not make much difference to improving water.

But he will highlight the EU’s Bathing Water Directive as an example of regulation to retain, saying it has helped improve the water quality on beaches and bathing spots around the country.

Sir James is expected to add: “To secure a green recovery we need to move with levels of energy and speed that we have not needed for generations – we need to build better, faster and greener, and we must ensure that red tape doesn’t stop green growth.

“The biggest of all threats we face – to our environment, our economy, our future – is the climate emergency.”