17 Feb 2017

Brexit: environment and climate change

 

The key points raised in the report are broadly in line with AIC thinking and expectations:
  • To maintain existing policy stability during the Brexit process and to identify how to fill, any process or enforcement gaps linked to EU institutions for which there is no equivalent UK process – Chemicals regulations and emissions trading schemes are a case in point, offering an opportunity for positive change
  • To continue to cooperate with the EU – on the understanding that the UK is leaving the EU not Europe. Air quality for example will remain a shared issue as it is inter-related with other environmental concerns
  • The need for the UK to be able to comply with EU environmental standards or equivalents for trading purposes and to ensure competitiveness
  • To ensure that environmental protection does not diminish as a result or leaving the EU.”

Although, there is no explicit mention of discussions that Ministers of separate Government administrations need to have to prevent single issue policy making prevailing post Brexit, AIC is informed that BEIS Ministers do acknowledgement that there are potential benefits from future alignment of industrial, farming and environment policy.