Post-election agenda on environmental justice takes shape

An "environmental justice" Bill has emerged as a strong contender for inclusion in Labour's general election manifesto. So far, Ministers appear keen to use it only to introduce a range of flexible sentencing options - among which a system of financial civil penalties is the front-runner - and possibly to involve communities in environmental prosecutions. But other potential reforms, including an environmental tribunal and changes to the "loser pays" rule in judicial review, seem still to be on the back-burner.