Senedd Cymru | Welsh Parliament
Pwyllgor Newid Hinsawdd, yr Amgylchedd a Seilwaith | Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee
Bil yr Amgylchedd (Ansawdd Aer a Seinweddau) (Cymru) | The Environment (Air Quality and Soundscapes) (Wales) Bill
Ymateb gan | Evidence from Acoustics Group of the Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering at University College London - OFFICIAL ORGANISATION,
The proposed duty on Welsh Ministers to promote awareness of air pollution is a significant step towards encouraging individuals and businesses to adopt cleaner practices and reduce their impact on the environment. This will not only improve air quality but also reduce carbon emissions, which is crucial for achieving Wales' net-zero targets.
Additionally, the proposed national soundscape strategy is a unique and innovative component of the Bill. It recognizes the impact of noise pollution on human health and well-being and aims to manage and mitigate it. This is an important step forward in environmental regulation, as soundscape quality has not been extensively considered in a regulatory framework before.
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The national soundscape strategy is a positive and pioneering development that recognizes the importance of managing soundscape quality in Wales. It will facilitate a more integrated approach to environmental management and promote public awareness of the issue, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable future for Wales.
Specifically, for Section 22, subsection (1), the Bill states that “The Welsh Ministers must prepare and publish a strategy containing their policies with respect to the assessment and management of soundscapes in Wales.” – it may be worth considering if the scope could be slightly extended to cover the “assessment, management AND design of soundscapes in Wales”.
For subsection (2), the Bill states that “The strategy must include policies for assessing and reducing levels of noise pollution.” – it may be worth again extending the scope of the provisions to include not only reducing levels of noise pollution, BUT ALSO promoting positive and supportive soundscape for individuals and communities.
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