Part 6: Environmental outcomes reports Safeguards, devolution and exemptions Section 156: Safeguards: non-regression, international obligations and public engagement Effect
Subsection (1) constrains the use of the regulation making powers to require that the appropriate authority must be satisfied that any regulations do not reduce the overall level of environmental protection provided by existing environmental law at the time the Act is passed.
	Subsection (2) is an additional constraint that ensures regulations cannot contain provisions that are inconsistent with the implementation of the UK’s international obligations relating to the assessment of the environmental impact of relevant plans and relevant consents.
	Subsection (3) sets a commitment to ensuring adequate public engagement in the process of preparing an Environmental Outcomes Report. This will ensure the public are informed of any relevant consents / plans and have the opportunity to engage in the process, in line with the requirements of the Aarhus Convention on Matters of Public Participation in Decision Making.
	Subsection (4) provides definitions of "adequate public engagement" and "environmental law" to support the understanding of these constraints.