Hertfordshire Environmental Forum - Quality of Life Monitoring

Legislation

World Initiatives

Earth Summit II +5 -A special session of the United Nations General Assembly to review and appraise the implementation of Agenda 21 was held on 23-27 June 1997 in New York. +5 denotes 5 years on from the Rio Earth Summit in 1992.

The outcomes were:

Mr Blairs commitment to Local Agenda 21 by the year 2000
that environmental issues must be considered in all government decision making
the reiteration of the governments commitment to an integrated transport policy.

Kyoto - The World Summit on Climate Change was held in December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, to seek agreement on CO2 emission reductions across the globe. The result of the talks was an agreement of a 15% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2010.

European Initiatives

Agenda 2000+ : Strengthening and enlarging the European Union (E.U.) puts forward the commissions proposals for the development of the E.U. and the policy beyond the turn of the century, the impact of the enlargement and the future financial framework of the E.U. beyond 2000..

European Spatial Development Perspective - This document is a joint product of fifteen EC member states and the Directorate General XVI (Regional Policy and Cohesion) of the EC. It is the latest step towards a vision of spatial development in Europe.

EC Directive on Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control - This came into force on 30 October 1997 and must be implemented by member states by 1999. It aims to prevent or minimise pollution of air, land and water by industrial processes.

UK Initiatives

Environment Act 1995 - This provided the framework for the establishment of the Environment Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. It combined the former National Rivers Authority, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution and the waste regulation authorities.

Road Traffic Reduction Act 1997 - Requires local authorities to produce current and future traffic flow figures and to develop traffic reduction targets. The aim is to encourage less reliance on the car and a more sustainable transport strategy, so reducing harmful exhaust emissions. This was initially inspired by Friends of the Earth.

National Air Quality Strategy - This was published on 12 March 1997. The Government are committed to controlling and reducing eight main health threatening pollutants in the UK by 2005. These are nitrogen dioxide, particles, ozone, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, benzene and 1,3 butadiene. Local Authorities should monitor levels of pollution and act if 'safe limits', as set by expert panels on air quality, are breached. Final regulations are due in 1998.

Local Air Quality Management

this is in accordance with Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 and involves the designation of "Air Quality Management Areas" (AQMAs) as part of a wide review and assessment of air quality. As well as identifying AQMAs - local authorities are also obliged to develop a Local Air Quality Strategy.

10 Point Water Action Plan - From June 1997 the Government required water companies to focus priorities away from for example, building new water facilities, such as reservoirs, towards encouraging more efficient use of existing water resources.

Hedgerow Regulation June 1997 - This legislation is part of the 1995 Environment Act but has been delayed. The aim of this legislation is to protect hedges of particular ecological and historical importance by requiring a system of prior notification before removal. The legislation is once more under review to try to increase its powers of enforcement. These amendments should be completed in 1998.

Landfill Tax - As from October 1996 all waste disposed of in landfill sites is subject to a tax, collected by HM Customs and Excise. The tax levy is £7 per tonne for general waste and £2 per tonne for inert waste.

For further information contact:

Linnea Godfrey at Hertfordshire County Council on (01992) 556292