Innovations in Environmental Governance: The Significance of the British Office for Environmental Protection

Abstract

The British Office for Environmental Protection was established in 2021 following the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union. It is the most recent of just a handful of independent environmental watchdog bodies established in global jurisdictions to date, and has a broad range of powers. These include the evaluation of government policy, advice to government on new environmental law, reviewing the implementation of environmental law, and enforcement powers against government and other public bodies for breaches of environmental duties. The need for such bodies in the environmental field is important, and the Office for Environmental Protection may provide a useful model for other countries.