Could Brexit Be Good for the Environment?

Not many people would argue against the fact that Britain’s exit from the EU is uncertain. People are worried about the economy, who will lead us into the change and the effect on immigration, not to mention whether or not Britain will actually leave.

Another point to add to the list is the environment. Instinctively, it would seem the being EU is good for the environment as they have several environmentally friendly laws and regulations. However, there might also be some ways that leaving the EU could benefit the environment in Britain.

EU laws

The EU has a set of laws, relating to things like air pollution, recycling, and energy usage, that its member countries have to adhere to. Leaving the EU would mean leaving these laws, right? It could be the opposite, in fact.

Currently, Britain are using compromised versions of these laws, or even blocking some of them, because of their position within the EU. Outside of the EU, if Britain were to secure a trade deal like that of Norway, Britain would have to adhere to the rules fully, with no say on changing them. This could mean stricter regulations in future, on things like fracking, without British politicians blocking them.

Common Agricultural Policy

The Common Agricultural Policy secures over £3 billion for UK landowners each year. The regulation isn’t actually strict enough to ensure this land is for farming though, which results in a lot of bare land that could otherwise provide habitats for wildlife. If the government doesn’t replace this funding upon leaving the EU, the landowners would be less incentivised to keep land bare, so it may result in more potential habitats.

Carbon trading

Similar to the EU regulations, the Emissions Trading System is an EU organisation set up to reduce carbon emissions. With the UK playing a big part, this organisation has failed. It’s possible that without the UK’s input, a proper plan for reduction will be introduced, and the UK – if it remains part of the single market – will still have to adhere to the reforms.

The EU is also a signatory of the International Conference on Harmonization, which publishes Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs). Despite leaving the EU, these GMPs will likely be another requirement of Britain’s single market involvement. GMP Environments Require Centrifugation that Supports Compliance looks at the effect of the regulations on manufacturers and the compliance required.