Policy and strategy

Environment (Wales) Act 2016

An overview of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016, its passage through the Senedd and subordinate legislation.

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First published:
3 January 2024
Last updated:

Contents

Overview

The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 (‘the Act’) includes provision for:

  • planning and managing Wales’ natural resources at a national and local level
  • providing Natural Resources Wales (NRW) with a general purpose linked to statutory ‘principles of sustainable management of natural resources’ defined within the Bill
  • enhancing the powers available to NRW to undertake land management agreements and experimental schemes
  • providing a requirement for public authorities to maintain and enhance biodiversity
  • creating a statutory framework for action on climate change including targets for reducing emissions of greenhouse gasses
  • reforming the law on charges for carrier bags
  • providing powers to Welsh Ministers in relation to waste recycling (including the separate collection of waste) and food waste treatment
  • making provision about several and regulated orders for fisheries for shellfish
  • fees for marine licences
  • establishing a Flood and Coastal Erosion Committee
  • changes to the law on land drainage and byelaws made by NRW

The Explanatory Notes to the Act provide detailed commentary on the various provisions.

Read the full Act:

Coming into force

Part 8 of the Act came into force on 21 March 2016, which is the day the Act received Royal Assent, in accordance with section 88(1).

Parts 1, 2 and 5, and sections 82, 84, 85 and 86 came into force at the end of the period of two months beginning with the day on which this Act received Royal Assent. The remaining provisions of this Act come into force on a day appointed by the Welsh Ministers in an order made by statutory instrument, in accordance with section 88(3): 

Darllenwch adran 88 o'r Ddeddf ar on legislation.gov.uk.

The following orders have been made:

Subordinate legislation made under the Act

TitleCitation number (statutory instruments only)Made dateComing into force dateSupporting documents
The Carbon Accounting (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 on legislation.gov.uk2025 No. 1270 (W. 205)3 December 20255 December 20252025 No. 1270 (W. 205): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Climate Change (Net Welsh Emissions Account Credit Limit) (Wales) Regulations 2025 on legislation.gov.uk2025 No. 1269 (W. 204)3 December 20255 December 20252025 No. 1269 (W. 204): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Climate Change (Carbon Budget) (Wales) Regulations 2025 on legislation.gov.uk2025 No. 1268 (W. 203)3 December 20255 December 20252025 No. 1268 (W. 203): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 (Public Authorities subject to the Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems Duty) Regulations 2021 on legislation.gov.uk2021 No. 1350 (W. 349)1 December 20213 December 20212021 No. 1350 (W. 349): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 (Amendment of 2050 Emissions Target) Regulations 2021 on legislation.gov.uk2021 No. 333 (W. 88)17 March 202119 March 20212021 No. 333 (W. 88): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Climate Change (Carbon 
Budgets) (Wales) (Amendment) 
Regulations 2021 on legislation.gov.uk		2021 No. 332 (W. 87)17 March 202119 March 20212021 No. 332 (W. 87): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Climate Change (Net Welsh Emissions Account Credit Limit) (Wales) Regulations 2022 on legislation.gov.uk2021 No. 334 (W. 89)17 March 202119 March 20212021 No. 334 (W. 89): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Climate Change (Interim Emissions Targets) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 on legislation.gov.uk2021 No. 338 (W. 92)17 March 202119 March 20212021 No. 338 (W. 92): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Climate Change (Carbon Budgets) (Wales) Regulations 2018 on legislation.gov.uk2018 No. 1303 (W. 257)5 December 20186 December 20182018 No. 1303 (W. 257): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Climate Change (Interim Emissions Targets) (Wales) Regulations 2018 on legislation.gov.uk2018 No. 1304 (W. 258)5 December 20186 December 20182018 No. 1304 (W. 258): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Climate Change (Net Welsh Emissions Account Credit Limit) (Wales) Regulations 2018 on legislation.gov.uk2018 No. 1305 (W. 259)5 December 20186 December 20182018 No. 1305 (W. 259): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Climate Change (International Aviation and International Shipping) (Wales) Regulations 2018 on legislation.gov.uk2018 No. 1302 (W. 256)5 December 20186 December 20182018 No. 1302 (W. 256): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales
The Carbon Accounting (Wales) Regulations 2019 on legislation.gov.uk2018 No. 1301 (W. 255)5 December 20186 December 20182018 No. 1301 (W. 255): Explanatory Memorandum on senedd.wales

Consideration of the legislation by the Senedd

The Bill was introduced by Carl Sargeant AM, who was the Minister for Natural Resources at the time, on 11 May 2015, and was passed on 2 February 2016.

More information about the Bill and its passage through the Senedd on senedd.wales 

The Explanatory Memorandum that was prepared by the Welsh Government (as revised at Stage 2). 

The Act received Royal Assent on 21 March 2016.

First published

3 January 2024

Last updated

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