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News Release from: The Environment Agency | Subject: Response To CBI Report UK Environmental Regulation
Edited by the Buildingtalk Editorial
Team on 08 July 2004
Response To CBI Report UK Environmental
Regulation
Regulation delivers for the environment and business says Agency Environment Agency's response to CBI report 'UK environmental regulation'.
The Environment Agency today questioned claims by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) that environmental regulation is a burden that constrains competitiveness and impacts inward investment to the UK Speaking about the CBI's report 'UK environmental regulation', the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency Barbara Young said: "The assertion that regulation is making the UK a less attractive place to invest is simply not true
This article was originally published on Buildingtalk on 25 Nov 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
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It is not borne out by any evidence in the report and is completely at odds with the findings of numerous institutions, including the OECD and World Bank, which rate UK regulation amongst the least burdensome and offering least barriers to competition of any regime.
The report is based on perception with little sound underpinning data or relevant international comparisons." "Environmental regulation has been crucial in raising the environmental performance of British industry, which has meant better air and water quality and a cleaner environment for us all.
"The Environment Agency is probably the most modern regulator in Europe.
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We have radically overhauled the established and traditional 'inspect and enforce' approach in the last few years, and instead we look in a much smarter way at businesses on a risk basis.
This means that companies which demonstrate good performance and low environmental risk are now beginning to benefit from a lighter touch and lower regulatory fees.
In time, more companies will feel the effect of this incentive approach.
The CBI has supported this substantial change and I am disappointed they make no reference to that, or to the partnership approach that has enabled it to come about.
"There is still a big gap between the best and the rest, however, and the Agency has a duty to the public to make sure that poor environmental performers and repeat offenders are kept under scrutiny through regular inspection and enforcement." "Good regulation can be good for business.
Ambitious environmental targets are good for driving innovation and there is plenty of evidence to suggest a strong link between good environmental performance and good economic performance.
Companies operating at best practice level generally tend to be more successful and, in lean times, when multinationals face choices between plant closures in different countries, those which have made the investment in best practice will be the most likely to survive.
Shareholders and customers too are becoming much more alert to the wider agenda of corporate and social responsibility.
"As the CBI itself acknowledges, many UK companies face the cost of continued investment in environmental improvement to catch up and compete with the best in Europe.
You cannot lay the blame for that at the door of regulation." The Environment Agency will be publishing the first ever assessment of environmental disclosures made by FTSE all-share companies and its annual assessment of the environmental performance of businesses in England and Wales later this month.
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