Environment Minister, John Griffiths is ready to tell Governments from across the world about Wales’s efforts to put Sustainable Development right at the heart of decision making.

The Minister will shortly set off for the Rio+20 United Nations conference on Sustainable Development. The conference will see world leaders, along with thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, NGOs and others, coming together to consider how world wide poverty can be reduced and how the protection of the world’s environment can be ensured, despite an ever growing population.

Commenting on the Government’s decision to introduce mandatory GHG emissions reporting, the Environmental Industries Commission’s Executive Chair, Adrian Wilkes, said:

“Having called for its introduction for a number of years, EIC strongly welcomes the Government’s decision to introduce mandatory carbon reporting. As well as showing genuine and refreshing global leadership from the Government, it will also help the UK toward meeting its legally binding carbon reduction targets under the Climate Change Act; help businesses save money; and boost their reputation with consumers.

CIWEM’s Contaminated Land Network has expressed relief that Greg Clark MP has confirmed that the Government will not do away with the current, forward thinking and sustainable policy of building on brownfield sites before open greenfield land.

In the draft National Planning Policy Framework, currently being consulted on, the intention is to remove detailed planning guidance and withdraw and replace PPS23 (and its Annex 2) on Planning and Pollution Control by a short and focussed note. This direction aroused suspicion that the NPPF is a sop to the development lobby who can profit more from greenfield sites and to lawyers who will pounce on the lack of clarity for more appeals, challenges and inquiries.

Lord Justice Jackson has recommended a fixed costs regime to ensure the government fulfils its duty in environmental judicial review cases. These cases are often complex and a forum for expert witnesses propounding both sides of the argument.

The Ministry of Justice launched a consultation last year to ask how to comply with the UK’s international obligations as part of the UN Aarhus Convention. The multilateral agreement requires parties to guarantee access to justice and ensure the public can challenge decisions.