Amidst the acrimony and blue-on-blue infighting, the actual case for British membership in Europe is in danger of getting lost. No doubt we need a better level of debate, but we also need a debate with the green case for Europe at its core. That is why today’s new report on the green evidence for Europe by the Institute for European Environmental Policy and leading conservation groups is important.
As the report states: ‘Membership of the EU has had, and continues to have, a significant positive impact on environmental outcomes in the UK as well as other parts of Europe, with cleaner air, water and oceans than otherwise could be expected’. That is not to say the European Union is perfect and conservationists do not want further reforms, such as on the common agricultural policy. However, the balance sheet sits firmly in favour of the green gains of our European membership.
Yet, this campaign is not just about the facts. We need a much bigger debate on the emotional and cultural benefits that being in the European Union bring. Yes, it is about reform. But, it is also about environmentalists getting off the sidelines and making the case Europe. The evidence is clear: cleaner rivers and beaches; better protection for nature and wildlife; and a stronger hand to bring countries together to deal with environmental challenges. The bigger picture exists. Outside the EU Britain would be in weaker position to deal with climate change or protect nature, and British businesses would be in a poorer position to trade on green innovation outside the single market. The challenge is for environmental and green minded supporters to make that case.
The state of our beaches and habitats in the 1980s is too often forgotten. As an 80s child, camping holidays at the British seaside have left their mark on me. Under the last Conservative government, the United Kingdom was not called the dirty man of Europe for no reason. In the mid-90s, 83 per cent of our household waste went to landfill and just 7 per cent was recycled and composted. That figure has been transformed since, by a combination of British government and European policy working together. Ninety-nine per cent of our beaches now meet EU standards on cleanliness.
Meanwhile, our renewable energy capacity is growing, thanks to national targets set by the Renewable Energy Directive. In 2013, 15 per cent of electricity produced in the UK came from renewable sources. Not only is our carbon footprint shrinking as we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, but this has created opportunities for renewable energy companies to grow.
Europe has played a positive role in dealing with habitat and wildlife loss across the 28 member countries and more widely in international agreements. Of course there is more to do, but without European protections we would have seen a race to the bottom on nature. As leading conservation journalist Mike McCarthy has said, European rules provide much stronger protection for nature and biodiversity than domestic law. The Nature Directives (on birds and habitats) have been at the core of this approach for 30 years and have led to the recovery of some bird species. They have also created a network of nature zones across the EU protecting some of the most important environmental sites in the world.
The environmental movement needs to stand up to recent attempts to silence its voice in the referendum campaign. Despite the bluster from Brexiteers there is nothing in law or Charity Commission guidance which prevents charities or environmental groups from joining the debate. The reality is that this is going to be tough campaign. It always was going to be. Environmental campaigners are amongst the most innovative activists I know. We need to use some of that innovation to inspire people about the green record and future potential of Europe.
Labour people should also understand the importance of being part of our international union. Solidarity, internationalism and social justice need to run through the positive campaign for Britain’s membership of the European Union if we want to speak to British and progressive interests in the referendum. Nowhere is this more important than on the environment. By working together with our European partners we are better able to tackle pollution at home and resolve bigger questions about managing scare resources. By our desire to protect resources and sense of a global commons, we can create a framework to raise standards in Europe and enhance our influence globally. The Paris climate change talks achieved a better outcome because the EU negotiated as a team of 28 countries. Europe – often driven by the UK – has been at the forefront of driving up ambition and pushing for stronger action to reduce carbon emissions. Isolation runs against the grain of environmental and climate challenges facing us. The single market with common rules create the conditions in which businesses can innovate and compete in low carbon technology. Air pollution transcends national borders. Fish and wildlife migrate. As Labour’s clause IV states: by the strength of our common endeavour we achieve more than we can achieve alone.
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Andrew Pakes is editor of New Ground, the SERA – Labour Environment campaign magazine, and tweets @Andrew4MK
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