Greener UK risk tracker highlights green policies at high risk of being weakened

The environment is threatened by the prospect of no deal; delays to and inadequacies in key laws such as the Environment Bill; and weakening of protections through the secondary legislation (‘Henry VIII’) process established by the EU Withdrawal Act.

Greener UK’s chair, Shaun Spiers, also one of Sustain's Council of Trustees, said:

“This is a strange time for environmental politics. On the one hand, candidates seeking to become Conservative Party leader and our next Prime Minister are queuing up to support ambitious targets for carbon reduction. On the other, some of them claim to be relaxed about the prospect of a no deal Brexit.
 
“We need to be clear that leaving the EU on 31 October without a deal carries great risks for the environment. It will make it much harder to protect and restore nature, clean up our air and tackle climate change. It will also undermine the scope for future environmental co-operation with the EU. At a time when politicians are at last recognising the severity of the climate and environmental crisis, it is deeply concerning that they are willing to take this risk.
 
“Theresa May leaves office with the legacy of a historic commitment that the UK will stop contributing to climate change by 2050 at the latest. The government has also promised an ambitious environment bill and vitally important legislation on farming, fisheries and international trade. We need to hear from the leadership candidates whether they will prioritise environmental recovery in the UK; how they will ensure that future trade deals do not undermine their green promises; and how environmental progress is compatible with their vision for Brexit.”

Greener UK has published a new briefing for MPs on the implications of different EU-UK relationship options, outlining the risks of each against our green benchmarks for Brexit. A no-deal Brexit poses the greatest environmental risk, while remaining in the EU or a ‘Norway-plus’ agreement would be the least risky options.
 
The briefing sets out how the UK can reduce the environmental risks of Brexit by:

• maintaining a strong environmental partnership with the EU;
• improving the political declaration (in the event of Brexit);
• making the Environment Bill fit for purpose; and
• establishing a transparent trade policy, anchored in primary legislation, which safeguards the environment.