{{Short description|Non-departmental public body in the UK}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox government agency | name = Office for Environmental Protection | type = Non-departmental public body | logo = OfficeForEnvironmentalProtection.png | logo_size = | logo_caption = | logo_alt = | image = | image_size = | image_caption = | image_alt = | formed = {{Start date|2021|11|17|df=y}} | preceding1 = | agency_type = | jurisdiction = Government of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland Executive | status = Active | headquarters = Worcester, England | coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LATITUDE|LONGITUDE|type:landmark_region:US|display=inline,title}} --> | motto = | employees = 74 (2023) | budget = £12.1million (2022-23) | minister_type = | minister1_name = | minister1_pfo = | minister2_name = | minister2_pfo = | deputyminister_type = | deputyminister1_name = | deputyminister1_pfo = | chief1_name = Julie Hill | chief1_position = Interim Chair | chief2_name = Natalie Prosser | chief2_position = Chief Executive | parent_department = DEFRA, DAERA | parent_agency = | parent_agency_type = <!-- defaults to |type if left blank --> | website ={{URL|https://www.theoep.org.uk/}} | agency_id = | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | map_alt = | footnotes = <ref name="oepaccounts2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.theoep.org.uk/sites/default/files/reports-files/E02975091_HC%20377_OEP%20ARA%2022-23_Web%20Accessible.pdf|title=Annual Report and Accounts for the year to 31st March 2023|format=PDF|work=Office for Environmental Protection|date=14 December 2023|access-date=15 February 2024}}</ref> | embed = }} The '''Office for Environmental Protection''' (OEP) is a public oversight body for environmental protection in England and Northern Ireland<ref name="oepaccounts2023"/> "to provide independent oversight of the government's environmental progress". It was created as a statutory body by the Environment Act 2021.
The OEP was launched as an interim body in July 2021.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interim OEP launched|date=1 July 2021|url=https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/interim-oep-launched/|author=letsrecycle.com}}</ref><ref name="Carnegie" /> The first chair is Glenys Stacey, who has called delays in the passage of the bill "extremely disappointing".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000syp4|author=BBC|title=Costing The Earth: The New Environmental Sheriff in Town|date=10 March 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deframedia.blog.gov.uk/2021/01/26/environment-bills-next-steps/|author=Defra press office|title=Environment Bill – next steps|date=26 January 2021}}</ref> Its first chief executive is Natalie Prosser and its headquarters are in Worcester. Concerns have been raised about potential lack of powers, independence, funding and about freedom of information.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jun/30/alarm-over-plans-to-shield-post-brexit-environment-watchdog-from-scrutiny|date=30 June 2021|author=Sandra Laville|work=The Guardian|title=Alarm over plans to shield post-Brexit environment watchdog from scrutiny}}</ref><ref name="Carnegie">{{cite web|title='Not yet fit for purpose': Interim Office for Environmental Protection launches, but fears remain over post-Brexit plans|author= Jo Carnegie|date=1 July 2021|website=BusinessGreen|url=https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4033793/fit-purpose-interim-office-environmental-protection-launches-fears-remain-post-brexit-plans}}</ref> The OEP is intended to replace the environmental protection functions of the EU, but a report by the Bingham Centre for the Rule of Law expressed concerns that the bill as of June 2021 would provide no equivalent legal remedy for breaches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/environment-watchdog-oep-lords-defra-b1874858.html|author=Harry Cockburn|title=Post-Brexit environmental watchdog must 'have teeth' and be independent from government, Lords warn|website=Independent.co.uk |date=11 June 2020}}</ref> The OEP was formally legally constituted on 17 November 2021,<ref name="oepaccounts2023"/> and was given an environmental governance role in England in January 2022,<ref name="oepaccounts2023"/> and in Northern Ireland in February 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theoep.org.uk/news/oep-take-environmental-governance-role-northern-ireland|title=OEP take a environmental governance role in Northern Ireland|date=23 March 2022}}</ref>
==See also== *Environmental Standards Scotland - the equivalent body in Scotland
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Defra (United Kingdom)}}
Category:Conservation in England Category:Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Category:Non-departmental public bodies of the United Kingdom government
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