A new independent body could be created to oversee how environmental law is implemented in Wales, bringing the country in line with the rest of the UK.
The Office of Environmental Governance Wales will be tasked with making sure public authorities, such as the Welsh government, Natural Resources Wales and councils are complying with the law.
But campaigners say the legislation, which must first be approved by the Senedd, doesn’t go far enough.
England and Northern Ireland have been covered by the Office for Environmental Protection since 2021.
The Scottish government set up Environmental Standards Scotland in the same year, leaving Wales as the only UK nation without a similar body.
The Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill has been laid before the Senedd on Monday.
The bill is also set to enable Welsh government ministers to set “ambitious biodiversity targets”.
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Deputy first minister Huw Irranca-Davies said the bill was “crucial legislation that will empower us to address climate and nature emergencies”.
“With one in six species now at risk of extinction in Wales, it has never been more important to restore nature and preserve the natural environment for future generations,” he added.
The RSPB has said the bill is a “good start” but that it would like to see the government “go even further”.
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Annie Smith, RSPB Cymru’s head of nature policy and casework, said the bill “must drive the urgent actions needed to clean up the environment and restore nature in Wales”.
“Having declared a nature emergency, this Senedd must ensure its legacy includes a strong response for nature,” she added.
