The UK is falling behind the European Union on environmental protections, with experts warning that ministers are using Brexit to weaken crucial laws despite Labour’s pledge not to dilute standards.
A joint analysis by The Guardian and the Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) found that while the EU has advanced 28 new or revised environmental laws since Brexit, the UK has failed to adopt them — and in some cases has actively rolled back protections.
Environmental Loopholes Widen Since Brexit
The report highlighted that Keir Starmer’s government has yet to close loopholes in environmental law and has chosen to delete some EU-derived protections. Among the areas of concern are:
• Protected habitats – The new planning and infrastructure bill overrides the EU’s habitats directive, allowing developers to pay into a general fund instead of replacing lost habitats.
• Water quality – The EU is strengthening laws to tackle chemical and microplastic pollution, while the UK lags behind.
• Air pollution – EU legislation is tightening emissions standards, but the UK has removed some EU-derived rules.
• Recycling and circular economy – The EU is enforcing tougher product design standards, raising fears the UK could become a dumping ground for hard-to-recycle goods.
UK Regresses Despite Promises
The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP), set up after Brexit, has warned that rolling back EU protections for habitats puts species such as red squirrels, nightingales, and dormice at risk. Critics argue this directly contradicts Labour’s 2024 manifesto promise to build homes “without weakening environmental protections.”
Michael Nicholson, head of UK policy at the IEEP, said: “It is one thing deciding not to keep pace with the EU in strengthening laws, but quite another to actively go backwards and remove protections we inherited from EU membership.”
Limited Bright Spots in UK Policy
The UK has made some progress, including banning sand eel fishing to protect puffins and designating more marine protected areas than the EU. The government has also tied farming subsidies to protecting nature. However, these improvements are overshadowed by broader rollbacks.
Environmental groups, including Wildlife and Countryside Link, argue the UK should be leading, not trailing. Chief executive Richard Benwell said: “Aligning with the EU on banning toxic chemicals would save time, money, and wildlife. In other areas, the UK could put a bold slant on EU ideas to lead the way.”
Political Debate Over Environmental Direction
Green MP Ellie Chowns accused both Brexit and Labour’s government of creating a “race to the bottom” on regulation. She argued: “We could have clean rivers, breathable air, and consumer products designed to last. This is a political choice — and the government has made the wrong one.”
Meanwhile, the EU itself has slowed some environmental laws amid farmer protests and political pushback, but experts warn the UK risks ceding global leadership on environmental protections.
