EU environmental policy deeply flawed
Environmental Policy
Labour Leave believes that the Labour Party needs to advocate reforms of the European Union that best suit the United Kingdom. If these reforms cannot be achieved then we believe the Labour Party should be prepared to campaign to leave the EU.
The challenge of climate change affects all nations around the world. The only way to tackle the threat of global warming is through global cooperation. There is no reason why the United Kingdom could not continue to co-operate with the European Union on environmental policies whilst being outside of the EU. Outside of the constraints of the European Union, the United Kingdom could pursue even more rigorous environmental policies that are currently in place. The United Kingdom could ensure even stronger measures are followed enabling the UK government to combat climate change more effectively than it does as a member of the EU.
The Labour Party has long been a champion of combating Climate Change. The last Labour government led the world championing environmentalism and was very successful in delivering change nationally and internationally.
The EU claims to be a global leader in combating climate change. While efforts have been made by the EU in this regard the evidence suggests the EU is far from being a global leader. In fact, by ignoring UK advice and objections, EU environmental policy has been flawed, cost jobs and not helped the environment.
Reforms we need. The renegotiation provides an opportunity to fundamentally examine our relationship with the European Union. While areas such as migration, taxation and democracy receive considerable attention, areas such as environmental policy are often not as prominent in the debate. So what environmental reforms could Labour advocate?
1) Labour should seek an affirmation that the European Union will genuinely work with other international bodies and states to reduce carbon emissions. While emissions in Europe have reduced, thus far, the European Union has not been effective in encouraging partners in driving down global emissions.
2) As a member of the United Nations, the United Kingdom is actively involved in the UNFCCC playing a global role in combating climate change.
If reforms cannot be achieved then the Labour Party needs to examine whether or not our existing relationship with the European Union is appropriate. Could better environmental policies be pursued outside the European Union?
The UK outside the European Union
• Outside of the European Union the United Kingdom would remain a member of all key international environmental bodies, including the Council of Europe, United Nations, World Trade Organisation, International Maritime Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
• The UK could continue to take part in the EU’s environmental programmes. The European Commission has arrangements for working with third countries to tackle climate change and the UK could operate under that partnership arrangement. The UK as a member of the Council of Europe would be free to enter into dialogue with the EU on areas of common environmental interest. One area where continued cooperation would be very likely is under the EU Emissions Trading System.
• Outside of the European Union, the United Kingdom would be free to remove any environmental policies that may place unnecessary burdens on business and the public sector. This will enable British governments to combat climate change whilst ensuring local businesses don’t close down and create unemployment. Alternatively the UK would be free to introduce extra environmental regulations to further restrict damage to the environment.
• The government’s Review of Competences stated, “There are now few aspects of the environment within the member states which are not the subject of EU controls.” Outside the EU, the British government would regain control over environmental competences.
Leaving the European Union would not mean that vast swathes of environmental legislation would be repealed and environmental protections would be diminished. There is no political appetite in the UK for such radical changes to existing legislation and existing policy. The main political parties are committed to combating the threat of climate change and in tackling carbon emissions.
The EU claims to be a global leader in combating climate change. But, is this assessment really accurate?
The European Union and its Green credentials
• At the 2009 Copenhagen Summit the EU failed to agree a common line that satisfied all member states. This was in part due to EU expansion which included member states who were unconvinced of the arguments for constraining emissions. As a consequence, the EU as a whole ended up being side-lined during the negotiations.
• The EU has failed to encourage other countries to reduce carbon emissions. Carbon emissions in other parts of the world have actually increased including the EU’s main trading partners.
• In 2013, Canada blocked the EU’s entry as an observer on the Artic Council following the EU’s campaign against the seal trade. In contrast, the UK is active in discussions over the Artic including cooperation in polar research.
Conclusion
The United Kingdom has often led the world in combating climate change. The last Labour government was particularly successful in this endeavour. The consensus in British politics means that the climate change agenda will be prevalent for many years to come.
If we cannot achieve a significant renegotiation which changes our relationship to secure a better deal, then the Labour Party should be prepared to campaign to leave. The UK outside of the EU will not result in reduced environmental protections; on the contrary they could be enhanced.
There is no reason why environmental policy cannot be determined at the national level in cooperation with the EU and other governments across the world. Under a reformed relationship or outside of the EU, the UK would be better placed to protect the environment. Future Labour governments could embark on radical programmes of environmental reforms that would ensure the UK remains competitive, outward looking and conscious of the need to protect the environment.
John Mills (Campaign Secretary) and Brendan Chilton (Director)