Help shape new environmental laws

A public consultation is running until 7 August

Businesses and individuals on the Isle of Man are being urged to have their say on potential new environmental laws.

A public consultation is running until 7 August which looks at the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture's proposed Environmental Protection Bill.

Topics being explored include updated standards for landfill management, tighter controls on hazardous substances, and clearer obligations for offshore developers.

DEFA says it'll 'set clear, internationally recognised protection standards', 'control industrial waste, emissions and pollution on land and at sea', 'establish strong safeguards for future offshore energy projects' and 'make polluters pay for the damage they cause'.

Minister Clare Barber says: "This consultation marks a vital step in updating our environmental laws and we are particularly keen to hear from businesses, who have a key role to play.

"Our current legislation is more than 30 years old and no longer provides the tools needed to manage today’s environmental risks. 

"The proposed changes would help us keep pace with global standards while safeguarding our natural environment and quality of life."

If approved by Tynwald, the Bill would give DEFA the powers to introduce modern secondary regulations and ensure compliance with key treaties such as the OSPAR Convention, London Protocol, and others that protect the environment.

It would also set out updated standards for landfill management, tighter controls on hazardous substances, and clearer obligations for offshore developers—including requirements to submit decommissioning plans from the outset.

The consultation runs until 7 August you can find it HERE.