The Future of Environmental Governance

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Future of Environmental Governance

AU - Reid, Colin

PY - 2019/9/4

Y1 - 2019/9/4

N2 - During the UK’s membership of the EU, the EU structures have provided a degree of external oversight, ensuring that environmental obligations are fulfilled. To fill the gaps left by the removal of these structures, the different parts of the UK are currently developing their own proposals for environmental principles and governance, which are briefly outlined. The different national schemes adopt different approaches and have to fit into different legal and policy backgrounds. Although collaboration is desirable it seems unlikely to be achieved, if only because of the different timescales for turning proposals into action. Progress with the different national schemes may be disrupted by the need to meet any commitments made by the UK government in international agreements. These agreements may include environmental provisions, and the “Backstop” to the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU contains substantial commitments on environmental governance. Some firm suggestions are made for enhancing future collaboration.

AB - During the UK’s membership of the EU, the EU structures have provided a degree of external oversight, ensuring that environmental obligations are fulfilled. To fill the gaps left by the removal of these structures, the different parts of the UK are currently developing their own proposals for environmental principles and governance, which are briefly outlined. The different national schemes adopt different approaches and have to fit into different legal and policy backgrounds. Although collaboration is desirable it seems unlikely to be achieved, if only because of the different timescales for turning proposals into action. Progress with the different national schemes may be disrupted by the need to meet any commitments made by the UK government in international agreements. These agreements may include environmental provisions, and the “Backstop” to the Withdrawal Agreement between the UK and the EU contains substantial commitments on environmental governance. Some firm suggestions are made for enhancing future collaboration.

KW - environmental principles

KW - environmental governance

KW - brexit

KW - devolution

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85073066828

UR - https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/publications/b98acbe6-0cd7-48cd-b3d4-cb7e96b33254

U2 - 10.1177/1461452919855841

DO - 10.1177/1461452919855841

M3 - Article

SN - 1461-4529

VL - 21

SP - 219

EP - 225

JO - Environmental Law Review

JF - Environmental Law Review

IS - 3

ER -