The government’s Brexit White Paper (full title, ‘The United Kingdom’s exit from and new partnership with the European Union White Paper’) is short on detail and largely devoid of mentions of the environment, water or climate change. The government is also keeping its options open regarding the UK’s continued participation in the European internal energy market. There is confirmation of the UK’s commitment to climate action but little else of note.

Meanwhile, the Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee publishes its report which highlights key actions that will be needed to ensure environmental protections are not eroded as a result of Brexit.

Peers warn that the government is showing “worrying complacency” over the lack of any domestic enforcement mechanisms to ensure environmental laws are upheld after Britain leaves the EU, peers have warned today.

The Committee concluded that one of the key challenges in this area will be that of effectively maintaining environmental protection through the Great Repeal Bill, given the complex and extensive nature of environmental legislation. They also identified a risk of a vacuum once the European Commission and Court of Justice of the European Union no longer have a role in the oversight and enforcement of environment legislation, given the significant impact those institutions have had on the UK’s compliance in the past. The Committee noted that the UK may wish to coordinate environmental standards with the EU in the future, to both enable trade and ensure the effective protection of the natural environment. The Committee also concluded that the UK should explore diplomatic avenues to maintain its influence in climate negotiations post-Brexit.

The Guardian has reported that MEPs will bid to force the UK to meet environmental regulations after Brexit. According to the paper, a leaked European parliament document says exit deal would be voted down if UK failed to commit to EU air pollution ceilings. Britain would be forced to abide by key EU environmental regulations by a pan-European court as part of any Brexit deal, according to a leaked document detailing the negotiating red lines being drawn up by the European parliament.

Drafted by MEPs, the paper says the UK should not be allowed to damage the wider European environment after its withdrawal from the EU by unilaterally weakening its commitments to reducing pollution emissions and protecting wildlife.

Read the Green Alliance’s latest blog related to clean energy and climate post-Brexit. It focuses on four big issues that need to be ironed out in the negotiations and in domestic UK policy: trade, investment, influence and accountability.

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