The Welsh government has done it again, creating yet another environmental quango in its drive toward net zero, a target they are aiming to achieve by 2030.
The Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill was recently passed by the Senedd. The legislation establishes a new framework for environmental protection and creates the Office of Environmental Governance Wales, an independent watchdog tasked with holding public authorities to account on environmental law.
That includes scrutinising the Welsh Government itself, Natural Resources Wales and local councils.
Ministers will also be empowered and required to set legally binding biodiversity targets aimed at halting and reversing species decline, increasing native wildlife and strengthening ecosystems.
This quango will undoubtedly be used as a tool to force the government and other quangos into ramming climate controls down the throats of taxpayers without any thought to the cost or damage to the economy and economic growth.
At a time when families are still grappling with rising bills and one of the highest tax burdens in decades, the last thing Wales needs is another layer of government bureaucracy.
There are serious concerns that this new body will be used to pressure public authorities into pushing forward costly net zero and climate policies without proper consideration of the economic impact or the strain on taxpayers.
.
