Membership of the European Union has been essential for environmental protection. After all, the impacts of climate change, pollution and resource depletion don\u2019t politely stop at national borders. If we are to tackle these problems effectively, we need a robust cross-border response.<\/p>\n
From wildlife protections to energy efficiency, marine conservation to air pollution \u2013 the EU has been at the forefront of measures to keep our environment clean and healthy.<\/p>\n
The UK\u2019s decision to leave the EU has led to a period of profound uncertainty for the environment. It poses, what Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas has termed, a\u00a0\u201ccocktail of risks\u201d to the UK\u2019s environment<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n After Brexit, there will be a much greater chance of legislative change in the UK that will threaten our hard-won environmental standards. We need to ensure that the UK\u2019s environmental laws remain far-reaching and properly enforced. It\u2019s crucial that the Government continues to provide funding for green projects. Moreover, there must be reassurance that trading standards will be upheld. In their rush to secure new trade agreements, we need to know that ministers won\u2019t water down regulations relating to the dangers of GMOs, pesticides, food safety and animal welfare.<\/p>\n It\u2019s critical that our hard-won environmental protections are not chipped away.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why the Green Party is calling for a\u00a0\u2018Green Guarantee\u2019<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to ensure that current levels of environmental protection and funding are maintained and strengthened. We are also calling for a new Environmental Act to be put in place before the UK leaves the EU, and \u2013 importantly \u2013 for the UK to remain a member of key European agencies such as the European Environment Agency and the European Chemicals Agency.<\/p>\n Read more about the Green Party\u2019s priorities for Brexit and the environment in Caroline Lucas\u2019 report\u00a0Exiting the EU, not the environment<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Membership of the European Union has been essential for environmental protection. After all, the impacts of climate change, pollution and resource depletion don\u2019t politely stop at national borders. If we are to tackle these problems effectively, we need a robust cross-border response. From wildlife protections to energy efficiency, marine conservation to air pollution \u2013 the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1559,"parent":6424,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n