Westminster Bill aimed at binning remaining EU laws could derail NI’s Climate Action Plans because of its huge burden on Stormont workers, it is feared.
Ministers are being urged to step up against the environmental threat posed by the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.
The legislation will strip remaining EU-derived regulations from UK legislation by the end of 2023 to complete Brexit.
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Groups including RSPB NI, Friends of the Earth NI, Ulster Wildlife, Asthma UK & British Lung Foundation and the National Trust say it’s the single biggest modification of environmental law in NI in recent history.
They have written to Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris, Stormont ministers and Civil Service boss Dr Jayne Brady outlining their fears.
The NGOs said the “hasty legislative time line” creates a huge burden of work for Stormont officials, the NI Executive, Assembly and Committees and could derail other policies and work needed to develop Climate Action Plans.
They added: “The unnecessary risk of losing hundreds of essential standards and regulations is made all the more acute by the ongoing lack of functioning political institutions in Northern Ireland.”
The letter reads: “This puts at risk hundreds of laws that are crucial not only to conserving and restoring the natural environment, but to protecting public health and creating a sustainable economy.
“Northern Ireland is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with 11% of species at risk of extinction.”
Particular concerns include:
• Losing 570 pieces of retained EU environmental law including Habitats Regulations which protect species and where they live
• Westminster has not clarified how the REUL Bill will impact devolved areas or which NI laws will be impacted
• The “rushed” December 31, 2023 date creates an “unnecessary cliff-edge whereby vital standards and protections must be restated, replaced or fall away from domestic law and no longer apply”.
• Without specific action by Ministers to replace hundreds of laws there is a real and unacceptable risk environmental and public health laws that we, and society as a whole, have come to depend on will simply cease to exist after 2023
The groups added: “We would welcome clarification as to what assessment your respective departments have made as to the impact of this Bill on your areas of competency, and what engagement you have had with respective departments in Westminster.
“This Bill will create significant uncertainty for the natural environment and public health, and we would, therefore welcome the opportunity to meet with you and explore in greater detail the implications of the Bill.”
The letter was signed by RSPB Northern Ireland’s Joanne Sherwood; Asthma UK & British Lung Foundation head of devolved nations Joseph Carter; Brexit & Environment co-chair Dr Viviane Gravey; Friends of the Earth NI director James Orr; National Trust NI director Heather McLachlan; Northern Ireland Environment Link chief Craig McGuicken; Ulster Wildlife chief Jennifer Fulton; Woodland Trust NI director Ian McCurley.
It was sent to the NI Executive Office and ministers for DAERA, Infrastructure, Health, Communities, Justice, Economy, Education, Finance and Dr Jayne Brady on September 30.
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