How badly have meddling peers wrecked Theresa May’s Brexit bill and can she overturn their changes? - The Sun
Brexit: Lords defeats government to back EU environmental standards after withdrawal | The Independent
Peers to rebel over ‘toothless’ post-Brexit green watchdog | Environment | The Guardian
UK plans for post-Brexit environmental watchdog criticised - European Scientist
But its not just interfering peers who are voicing concerns:
UN warns of ‘dirty Brexit’ risks – POLITICO
Brexit could wreck green agenda, says UN | Environment | The Guardian
UN urges UK to deliver green Brexit amid fears environmental protections will be abandoned | The Independent
UN urges UK to fulfil promise of a ‘green Brexit’ - European Scientist
As reported in the Express:
United Nations WARNS UK to implement GREEN BREXIT or face DAMAGED international reputation
THE UK faces damaging its international reputation following its departure from the EU if it fails to deliver a "green" Brexit and maintain the EU’s strong environmental protections, the United Nations has warned.
MAGNUSFRODERBERG/PARLIAMENT
Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the UN’s environment programme, has called on Environment Secretary Michael Gove to honour his promises to deliver a “green Brexit” and ensure the environment is not unduly threatened by the UK’s departure from the EU.
Concerns were raised after environmental campaigners warned earlier this month that the environment will have less protection following Brexit under plans unveiled by the UK Government.
Speaking to the Observer, Mr Solheim said: “It is incredibly important that the UK keeps the environmental standards it has had under the European Union. Michael Gove promised that would happen - that there would be no reduction of standards of any sort. He even added that any change would be to better standards.
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“There was a strong commitment to that from the Government." However the EU official sent a warning, stating: “Some of the opponents of the Government had doubts about such statements, but that is the stated position from the Government and it is a very good one.
“Any dilution and the UK reputation would be damaged. People in Government need to make sure that does not happen. We need to make sure they have those standards or improve them, or meet the ones under the European Union."
PARLIAMENT
Campaigners have expressed their concerns that the proposed post-Brexit environmental watchdog will not have sufficient powers to take the Government to court over environmental breaches. They described the Government’s proposals as “toothless” and have warned that the current proposals would leave the UK with weaker environmental protections.
Mr Gove has previously pushed for all powers currently controlled by the European Commission regarding environmental standards to be transferred to the new environmental watchdog, but the Treasury reportedly resisted this plan as it could hamper future development and growth.
Mary Creagh, Labour’s Chair of the Commons Environmental Audit Committee, stated that the new watchdog required “enforcement powers, not advisory notices”.
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John Sauven, Executive Director of Greenpeace UK, also commented on the issue, saying: “Michael Gove promised a green Brexit, but as things stand his toothless watchdog would leave us with a weaker enforcement agency than Trump’s America.
“This intervention from the UN environment chief is a sign of growing concern and shows the world is watching. Nobody voted for a dirty Brexit that leaves our beaches, water and air quality worse off.”
However Mr Gove has previously insisted the UK’s departure from the EU would not put the environment at any greater risk. He said: “We will not weaken environmental protections when we leave the EU.
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“A new environmental principles and governance bill will ensure core environmental principles remain central to government policy and decision-making. This will help us to deliver a green Brexit and the vision set out in our 25-year environment plan. But we will only achieve our aims by also creating a strong and objective voice that champions and enforces environmental standards.
“That’s why our bill will also create an independent and statutory watchdog. This will hold governments to account for delivering their commitments to the natural world.
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