The risks of Brexit to our environmental policy are very clear and a further six viewpoints reinforce this (see below), however, in a vote that looks too close to call the need to encourage voting is also very important, especially in the younger voters. Register to vote – details here.

1.  EU membership positive for UK environment Environmental Audit Committee

Environmental Audit committee 19 April 2016  EU membership has been a crucial factor in shaping UK environmental policy on air and water pollution, and biodiversity, according to the Environmental Audit Committee’s report on EU and UK Environmental Policy. The Committee heard that EU environmental policy development has been a two-way street. On the one hand, EU membership has given the UK a platform to pursue its environmental objectives internationally, and influence the strategic, long-term direction of policy. On the other hand, EU membership has ensured that environmental action in the UK has been taken on a faster timetable, and more thoroughly than would otherwise have been the case. To read the report click here

2.  The EU Referendum and the UK Environment: An Expert Review.

Independent study credits EU membership with helping to drive “marked improvement in environmental quality in the UK” The risk to the green economy and environmental policies of leaving the EU has again been highlighted with the release of a major new report from independent think tank The UK in a Changing Europe. The group, which has no official stance on the EU referendum, today published its 60,000-word report, entitled The EU Referendum and the UK Environment: An Expert Review. The report draws on input from 14 academics and covers how the EU has shaped a wide range of UK environmental policies, from fisheries management to agriculture and climate policy to wildlife protection and land use.  It also attempts to explore the implications for the UK environment of three scenarios: remaining in a reformed EU, the ‘Norwegian Option’ where the UK leaves the EU but remains in the European Economic Area (EEA), and the ‘Free Trade Option’ where the UK leaves the EU and negotiates separate trade agreements with a host of different partners.

To read more click here

3.  The think tanks Green Alliance and E3G have published a briefing paper exploring the impact of Brexit on energy and climate change. The paper highlights risks covering access to the EU energy market, access to European export markets for clean technologies, and influence at international climate negotiations.

4.  Fishermen have mixed views on Brexit – this piece covers a range of different views from the perspective of different fisheries leaders. As elsewhere there are a range of views.

5.  Lord Deben Threat to climate change action

6.  Tony Juniper: The importance of Europe to UK environmental policy