Brexit: environment and climate change

The EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee of the House of Lords EU Select Committee published this report in February 2017 which highlighted key actions that will be needed to ensure environmental protections are not eroded as a result of Brexit.

Background
The EU is the source of the majority of environmental legislation in the UK, and the UK's work to combat climate change is mostly conducted in conjunction with the EU. As a result, the UK's withdrawal from the EU will have a significant impact on environment and climate change policies in the UK and the means by which they are enacted. Furthermore, the UK's environment will remain inextricably linked to that of Europe after Brexit, so the UK and EU will continue to be affected by one another’s climate and environment policies.

Key findings
The Committee concluded that one of the key challenges in this area will be that of effectively maintaining environmental protection through the Great Repeal Bill, given the complex and extensive nature of environmental legislation. They also identified a risk of a vacuum once the European Commission and Court of Justice of the European Union no longer have a role in the oversight and enforcement of environment legislation, given the significant impact those institutions have had on the UK's compliance in the past.

The Committee noted that the UK may wish to coordinate environmental standards with the EU in the future, to both enable trade and ensure the effective protection of the natural environment. The Committee also concluded that the UK should explore diplomatic avenues to maintain its influence in climate negotiations post-Brexit.

Key areas considered include:

+ The Great Repeal Bill and its implications for environment legislation
+ How environment law will be enforced after Brexit
+ The extent to which the UK’s trading relationship with the EU will affect its environmental standards
+ The need to align and co-ordinate policy to manage the shared European environment effectively
+ The means by which the UK can preserve its role as a global leader on climate change action
+ The resources that will be required to maintain environment protection after Brexit
+ The implications of devolution for environment and climate change policy

See also a related report published in February 2017 from Caroline Lucas, Green Party MP called Exiting the EU, Not the Environment (see related url hyperlink below).

UK: Parliament: Parliamentary Business: Committees: News, 14.02.17: Brexit: environment and climate change report published http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/eu-energy-environment-subcommittee/news-parliament-2015/brexit-env-cc-rpt/

BBC News, 14.02.17: Brexit: Environmental standards could be eroded warn peers http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38959996

The Guardian, 13.02.17: UK unprepared for exiting Europe's green legislation, says Lucas https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/13/uk-unprepared-for-exiting-europes-green-legislation-says-mp

Caroline Lucas, MP: Report, February 2017: Exiting the EU, Not the Environment https://www.carolinelucas.com/sites/carolinelucas.com/files/Safe%20Guarding%20Environment%20after%20Brexit_0.pdf

ESO: Background information: The Future of the Natural Environment after the EU Referendum http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-future-of-the-natural-environment-after-the-eu-referendum/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

EurActiv, 14.02.17: A cocktail of risks: Brexit a ‘danger’ to environmental laws, Greens warn http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/a-cocktail-of-risks-brexit-a-danger-to-environmental-laws-greens-warn/

Deutsche Welle, 11.05.17: Will Brexit be bad for biodiversity in Britain? http://p.dw.com/p/2cl42

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