Friday 24 June 2016

What will leaving the EU mean for environmental protection in the UK?

Last night the people of the UK voted to leave the European Union.

I had voted to remain in the EU as I feel that European legislation has been on balance very important in protecting UK nature and wildlife. You can read my earlier blogpost about this here.

It will take at least two years of negotiations I think before the UK will actually leave the EU. In that time, environmentalists need to ensure that the EU laws that protect our environment become enshrined in UK law. It is of course early days and we don't know how things will pan out, but many politicians in the Conservative government have seen the EU laws that protect the environment as red tape that they would happily get rid of. So it means that we may have a fight on our hands to make sure that those laws aren't lost. Greenpeace and many other environmental organisations will be acting to try to ensure a safe future for our environment.

Here are some articles on the topic:

UK's Out vote is a red alert for the environment (Guardian newspaper).

Scottish Environment Link reaction to EU Referendum result

Brexit - fight on to save environment and climate progress (Friends of the Earth Scotland).

We Must Now avoid a rush to the bottom (Green Alliance).

Brexit: Putting nature in the firing line (Friends of the Earth)

Take part in discussions on the aftermath of the referendum on the Greenpeace UK Facebook page.

9 comments:

sage said...

This has been an interesting day with all the news from the UK. That's for the insights on the vote's implication on the environment

RG said...

Your posts will be a valuable record of the possibilities and actualities as it moves forward. I hope all goes well. Preservation and respect of a healthy and meaningful environment for all creatures should not need to be a political issue so much.

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Juliet,

Interesting times - and I was wondering what your thoughts would have been.
I guess a lot listened to Boris, and followed him.
Have a good weekend
hugs
Carolyn

Anonymous said...

It's all very disconcerting!

Optimistic Existentialist said...

I am really nervous about the possible unforeseen ramifications of this decision...

eileeninmd said...

I hope all goes well! Could be some scary times ahead. Happy weekend!

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

A farming minister said there would be a need for removal of legislation for a while to enable various "reforms" to be put there.

Bill said...

As of Monday, some voter's remorse seems to be setting in, especially as the emptiness of many promises made by pro-leave politicians is becoming clear.

I hope my fellow Americans don't base their votes later this year on empty promises and general demagoguery. As the American-based, British-born comic John Oliver has just pointed out, you don't get a f**king do-over.

Crafty Green Poet said...

Hi Simon, exactly its those sorts of reforms that are so worrying, though the Common Agricultural POlicy could be improved to help the environment, I doubt those are the types of reforms that the minister was thinking of....

Bill - over 1 million people have publicly said they regret voting to leave the EU....Hope things go better for you in your general election....