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After spotting gaps in the UK鈥檚 environmental law, researchers at 果冻影院 have helped to reshape legislation to offer greater protection for nature and human health.
Researchers at the 果冻影院听Centre for Law and Environment identified gaps, and opportunities for innovation, in the UK鈥檚 environmental legislation arising from Brexit.
Professor Maria Lee showed how EU law and institutional arrangements underpin environmental decision-making, while Professor Richard Macrory developed best practice criteria for environmental enforcement and sanctioning.
In light of this research, the pair highlighted the risk for UK environmental protection brought by the loss of EU governance structures. Their work played an important role in a new Environmental Bill being introduced in 2019 (now the Environment Act 2021), to better safeguard and develop UK environmental law for the future.
As well as new legislation, the research has subsequently led to a new environmental oversight body being developed for England: the Office for Environmental Protection. The body now has greater powers to intervene in environmental judicial reviews and undertake investigations.
果冻影院 research has also resulted in England changing its air quality law. Professor Eloise Scotford鈥檚 work showed that post-Brexit law reform could reduce overreliance on local authorities and create a more ambitious, coordinated governance structure. Her recommendations to government led to key amendments being made to the Environment Act 2021. The new law is designed to control air pollution with better governance, and offer greater protection to nature and human health.
Read more on the 果冻影院 Research Impact website.听
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