Greener UK has set out four “green benchmarks” for judging any proposal for Brexit and the policies that stem from it, whether from the UK government or from other interests within the UK.
The UK Government has said environmental protections will not be weakened after Brexit, as have the devolved administrations. It also says Brexit offers an opportunity to set a global standardwhen it comes to the environment.
Greener UK says that to make this reality, the government must not only plug all the green gaps that Brexit opens up, but make significant improvements to the domestic environmental policy framework.
“We will work hard to ensure that, whatever outcome is reached at the end of the Brexit process, it moves us towards a greener UK. We call on politicians of all parties and people from all walks of life to do the same.”
It has already published multiple briefings setting out what must be done during the process of exiting the EU to ensure a greener UK. This most recent paper brings together that body of work, providing a consolidated framework for judging any proposal for Brexit and the policies that stem from it, whether from the UK government or from other interests within the UK.
The four green benchmarks are:
- Higher environmental standards in all four countries of the UK, consistent with the devolution settlements, with proper resourcing, and no potential for backsliding.
- Effective systems of enforcement of environmental law, fulfilling people’s rights to environmental information, public participation, access to justice and substantive remedies.
- Mechanisms for effective co-operation on the environment and environmental policy, including energy and climate change, both with the EU and within the UK.
- Trade policy that promotes high environmental standards, minimises the UK’s global environmental footprint and is responsive to engagement by civil society.
“We know that environmental policy does not happen in a vacuum,” the paper states. “Green progress is especially difficult during periods of economic crisis, or when the public feels disempowered, or when the grain of international geopolitics goes against co-operation. But we also know that the environment is the foundation of all economies, communities and nations. And it is in crisis.
“We will work hard to ensure that, whatever outcome is reached at the end of the Brexit process, it moves us towards a greener UK. We call on politicians of all parties and people from all walks of life to do the same.”
Greener UK is a group of 13 major environmental organisations, with a combined public membership of 7.9m – including National Trust, Green Alliance, WWF and Greenpeace.