Last week, IEEP UK hosted its annual Spring Parliamentary Reception in the House of Commons, where guests from across the environmental sector – including policymakers, politicians, academics, journalists, and representatives from CSOs and the private sector – gathered to hear from a fantastic line up of speakers. With the event taking place at a critical moment in the political calendar in the wake of the UK-EU Reset Deal, the theme of the reception was The UK and EU: Time for an Environmental Reset?

IEEP UK’s Chair Malini Mehra opened proceedings by providing context on the new UK-EU Reset Deal, its implications for the environment and why the environment is a highly significant area when considering UK-EU relations. Pippa Heylings MP, who sponsored the event, used her speech to welcome increased UK-EU cooperation on environmental matters – particularly regarding the linking of UK and EU ETSs – in the new Reset Deal. Highlighting that there is space for this working relationship to develop even further, she called for the UK to align with the EU’s Deforestation-free Products Regulation, be reinstated to the North Seas Energy Cooperation Group, and engage in wider cross-border climate innovation, particularly within renewable energy research.

Dame Glenys Stacey, Chair of the Office for Environmental Protection, spoke on the regressive nature of the current form of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill currently passing through parliament. Her speech also noted the OEP’s concern with Recommendation 19 of the Corry Review, which called for the OEP to support regulators to “take more risk”, welcoming IEEP UK’s blog post published last month which highlighted the problematic nature of this recommendation.

IEEP UK’s Executive Director, Ben Reynolds, used his speech to welcome some of the aspects of the Reset Deal that have received less coverage, particularly those suggesting a closer working relationship with the European Chemicals Agency. Ben also spoke on the recommendations for future closer UK-EU environmental collaboration outlined in IEEP UK’s recent briefing, particularly those that were not included in last week’s Deal, such as the UK returning to full membership of the European Environment Agency.

The event, and particularly Dame Glenys Stacey’s speech, has been covered in ENDS Report here.

The photos of the event below are courtesy of Jonathan Goldberg. For more photos, see here.