New post-Brexit environmental governance arrangements are taking shape across the UK. The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) - covering England and Northern Ireland too - has been legally formed following the passing of the Environment Act, with the parts of the legislation giving it its legal powers and functions taking effect in January 2022. Meanwhile, another post-Brexit green watchdog has been established north of the border, with Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) launching in October 2021. In Wales, an interim environmental protection assessor has been appointed while the Welsh government develops a permanent environmental governance oversight body.

In this ENDS Report webinar, we examine these emerging green governance arrangements with a range of informed speakers. We discuss what’s happened so far, the early priorities for the UK’s new green watchdogs, and what environmental professionals can expect to come, including...

* the enforcement powers available to the new regulators and how environmental rule-breaking will be dealt with
* the first complaints to be considered by the new watchdogs and how they will be investigated
* the role of the new regulators in scrutinising environmental law and advising ministers on proposed changes to green rules
* the degree of independence the new environmental watchdogs can expect from their political masters
* the practical implications of the establishment of the new regulators for environmental practitioners