9. Environment and climate change

brexit-fact-base-london — Photo by by-studio/Shutterstock

Most environmentalists, including Friends of the Earth and the Marine Conservation Society, agree that EU has had an overwhelmingly positive effect on environmental policy
ECJ and European Commission played key roles in enforcing environmental standards in UK
After Brexit, UK’s environment remains inextricably linked to the environment of Europe, so cooperation remains critical
Post-Brexit, UK has no formal role in the development of EU standards, so UK relies on informal influence
Many stakeholders were concerned that Brexit would diminish UK environmental protections and ambitions
There has been notable post-Brexit divergence in environmental and climate regulation:
- EU has strengthened its green regulation
- UK has either not followed the EU or has relaxed its rules