Defra sets out green principles for policymaking

Defra has published the final version of its environmental principles policy statement, to which ministers will have to have “due regard” when making policy.

The statement set out that policymakers should apply the following five environmental principles to support environmental protection and enhancement:

• the integration principle;

• the prevention principle;

• the rectification at source principle;

• the polluter pays principle; and

• the precautionary principle

Defra said: “This approach will ensure that nature and the environment are proactively designed into the policymaking process.”