Environmental issues have not really taken much prominence in the Brexit debate yet they represent some of the EU’s greatest successes. Thanks to the EU we have changed from being known as The Dirty Man of Europe in the 70s and 80s to having a better and more protected environment. With the support of and finding from the EU we now have:
- Cleaner inland waterways
- 124 Blue Flag beaches
- Increased recycling
- Protected natural habitats
- Investment in renewable energy
- Eco-Schools programme
- Bee protection by banning neonicotinoid insecticides which threaten entire bee populations.
 |
| The River Chess near Chorleywood, Hertfordshire - a clean and healthy river. |
However, outside of the EU the Government would be able to bring in controversial technologies such as GM food and fracking and would not be tied to high EU environmental standards. It has already indicated a reluctance to prevent overfishing by not setting limits on how many fish can be caught, which greatly increases the risk of the collapse of fish populations. Whn considering the need for new trade deals is is believed that the US has stated that any trade deals with the UK would be subject to allowing the importing of chlorinated US factory farmed chicken. Whilst there is debate about how true this statement is, what can be certain is that should we create trade deals with the US, our shelves could be filled with products with lower environmental standards.
