Since leaving the EU in 2021, Britain’s environmental protections have been in freefall. While the EU has tightened laws on wildlife, water, and air, the UK has steadily dismantled them — in some cases, tearing EU rules from the statute book entirely.
When Labour came to power last year, many hoped for a reset. Instead, Keir Starmer’s government has accelerated the rollback, cutting protections faster than the Conservatives ever did. The result? Britain is slipping behind Europe in cleaning its air and water, protecting species like the red squirrel, phasing out dangerous chemicals, and making consumer goods more sustainable.
The reasons are structural. The EU’s regulatory machinery is among the best in the world — highly funded, deeply expert, and forward-thinking. Its regulators ban toxic dyes that are still legal in the UK and are pioneering new methods to tackle pollution. On water treatment, for example, Europe is moving beyond tertiary systems and adopting quaternary treatment — technology designed to strip out microplastics, “forever chemicals,” and other toxic pollutants. Crucially, polluting industries will be forced to foot the bill.
Meanwhile, Britain — at the bottom of Europe’s league table for bathing water quality — remains mired in sewage scandals and weakened laws. The promised “green Brexit” has turned into an ecological retreat, leaving our environment dirtier, our wildlife less protected, and our citizens exposed. Read More
News Credit: The Guardian
Picture Credit: Guardian Design