In the report, the NCC welcomes the 25 YEP and has provided advice on how best to meet its ten goals. Our single most important recommendation is that the 25-year plan must be placed on a meaningful statutory basis in the forthcoming Environment Bill
promised for this year. Without a credible statutory underpinning, the 25 YEP may end up as yet another interesting document on the shelf. The Plan /as it currently stands has no official status. The NCC also recommends among other things;
- a lead body should be designated, and given responsibility for overseeing the delivery of the Plan and its ten goals;
- Three principles should drive the implementation of the 25 YEP: 1.public money for public goods; 2. the polluter pays; and 3. net environmental gain;
- All government departments should be required to adhere to these three principles in the development and implementation of any policy relating to use of or impact on natural capital;
- detailed and enforceable milestones need to be established for the 25 YEP; and
- Proposals in the current metrics consultation fall short of what is required,with insufficient emphasis on the role of natural capital assets in achieving the ten goals in the 25 YEP.